Changes

==Introduction==

==Introduction==

Tolerance or appreciation of human contact is learned as a '''result of early experience''' during the [[Feline Socialisation|sensitive period]]. In many cases aggressive cats are the product of an unsatisfactory start in life and problems arise. For example, a lack of appropriate handling between two and seven weeks of age will cause a cat to grow up to be wary of people and to have a predisposition towards defensively aggressive behaviour if it is placed in a situation where it feels threatened. Experience teaches these individuals that their [[Feline Aggression - Overview|aggressive behaviour]] is very effective at maintaining distance between themselves and any person of whom they are suspicious. Before long the aggressive display is used as a '''pre-emptive''' rather than a '''reactionary behaviour'''. This results in a noticeable change in the cat’s strategy for dealing with fear. Early in the course of the problem, the cat will show noticeable signs of fear, attempting to use defence strategies such as running away or hiding. However, over time it will begin to select aggressive responses more readily so that a more offensive pattern of behaviour is seen. By the time some of these cases are brought to the attention of the veterinary practice or referred for specific professional advice the initial fearful motivation for the behaviour may be obscured by the cat’s overt hostility and offensive behaviour.  

Tolerance of human contact is learned as a '''result of early experience''' during the [[Feline Socialisation|sensitive period]]. For example, without appropriate handling between two and seven weeks of age a cat may grow up to be wary of people and to have a predisposition towards defensively aggressive behaviour, especially if it is placed in a situation where it feels threatened. Early traumatic experience has been found to be associated with increased aggress in cats<ref name="Ramos"/>.

 

 

In the absence of positive experience with people, cats will avoid contact with them. However, if this is not possible and the cat is forced to remain in contact with people that it is afraid of, [[Feline Aggression - Overview|aggressive behaviour]] can become an effective strategy for maintaining distance from them. With repeated negative experience in which escape and avoidance are impossible, cats may shift from an avoidant strategy to offensive aggression. By the time some of these cases are brought to the attention of the veterinary practice or referred for specific professional advice the initial fearful motivation for the behaviour may be obscured by the cat’s overt hostility and offensive behaviour.  

It is important to question the owner about any previous traumatic experience involving people, the use of inappropriate punishment for behaviour in the past or the presence of inappropriate and unintentional reward of the present behaviour.  

It is important to question the owner about any previous traumatic experience involving people, the use of inappropriate punishment for behaviour in the past or the presence of inappropriate and unintentional reward of the present behaviour.