Changes

==Treatment/Intervention==

==Treatment/Intervention==

'''Early intervention is very important in the treatment of compulsive disorders'''. Compulsive behaviour becomes more pervasive over time as the animal ‘learns’ that performing compulsive behaviour provides reliable relief from negative emotional situations. Compulsive behaviour can ultimately become a substitute for a wide range of normal behaviour so that, even when presented with a substantially-improved environment, the cat continues to behave compulsively.

'''Speedy intervention is important in the treatment of compulsive disorders'''. Compulsive behaviour becomes more pervasive over time as the animal ‘learns’ that performing compulsive behaviour provides reliable relief from negative emotional situations. Compulsive behaviour can ultimately become a substitute for a wide range of normal behaviour so that, even when presented with a substantially-improved environment, the cat continues to behave compulsively.  

'''The use of medication for these conditions is sometimes controversial''' because it may be regarded as merely reducing the incidence of unsightly behaviour that is an expression of the animal’s attempts to cope with wholly-unsatisfactory living conditions. This criticism could be fairly aimed at the medication of wild felids that continue to be poorly-maintained in some zoos or circuses. However, the use of medication is absolutely justifiable if it enables the animal to engage in normal behaviour in an enriched environment, where it may otherwise continue to stereotype. In this situation, the drug is being used to facilitate rehabilitation. This is the model that should be adopted for domestic cats: drugs are most useful where their use will enhance the animal’s response to environmental improvement.  

*Environmental enrichment (in particular, restoring that cat's control over resource access and reducing sources of frustration).

*Identifying and treating specific emotional problems, such as fears and phobias.

*Medication to reduce compulsiveness (sometimes to reduce underlying emotional problems such as fear of anxiety).

'''Punishment of compulsive behaviour, or attempts to physically prevent it, are misguided'''. Compulsive behaviour forms part of the animal’s '''coping strategy''' so that preventing one expression of compulsion just forces the animal to find other opportunities. For example, using flavour or odour aversion to deter [[Feline Pica|pica]] related to one type of material, such as wool, will merely encourage the cat to find something else to suck or chew instead. The motivation to carry out some kind of related compulsive behaviour remains. Punishment may increase stress that contributes to the problem.

'''The use of medication for these conditions is sometimes controversial''' because it may be regarded as merely reducing the incidence of unsightly behaviour that is an expression of the animal’s attempts to cope with wholly-unsatisfactory living conditions. However, the use of medication is absolutely justifiable if it enables the animal to engage in normal behaviour in an enriched environment. In this situation, the drug is being used to facilitate rehabilitation and restore normal motivation and decision making. Medications such as clomipramine and fluoxetine, which are anxiolytic and anti-compulsive, are most useful where their use will enhance the animal’s response to environmental improvement.

 

'''Attempts to physically prevent compulsive behaviour or punish the animal, are inappropriate and ineffective'''. Compulsive behaviour forms part of the animal’s '''coping strategy''' so that preventing one expression of compulsion just forces the animal to find other opportunities. For example, using flavour or odour aversion to deter [[Feline Pica|pica]] related to one type of material, such as wool, will merely encourage the cat to find something else to suck or chew instead. The motivation to carry out some kind of related compulsive behaviour remains. Punishment may increase stress that contributes to the problem.

==Common Feline Compulsive Disorders (and related conditions)==

==Common Feline Compulsive Disorders (and related conditions)==