Changes

The cat’s primary defence strategy is to '''escape or avoid conflict'''. Cats do not possess the same repertoire of appeasement behaviours to halt or modulate [[Feline Aggression Towards Cats|intra-specific aggression]] as are seen in dogs, so physical confrontation at close quarters is likely to escalate quickly and result in serious injury to both parties. To avoid such situations, cats use distance increasing and maintaining behaviours, such as body postures, vocal signals and scent marks. If escape is impossible, then cats will often freeze and deliver a range of threatening behaviours, including postural and vocal signals, designed to repel or hold the threat at bay. Meanwhile, the cat will re-evaluate its opportunities for escape. Attacks may be sudden and brief, and again aimed at repelling the threat so as to re-open an opportunity for escape. Cats will most often become aggressive when conflict is over a survival resource (including territory) or when escape from conflict is impossible; such as when the animal is debilitated or confined. However, if a cat has repeated experience of sustained threat or punishment when it attempts to escape, then it may learn to shift to an offensive pattern of aggression instead of escape. Aggression is most likely to be sustained when a cat is defending territory from an intruder.

The cat’s primary defence strategy is to '''escape or avoid conflict'''. Cats do not possess the same repertoire of appeasement behaviours to halt or modulate [[Feline Aggression Towards Cats|intra-specific aggression]] as are seen in dogs, so physical confrontation at close quarters is likely to escalate quickly and result in serious injury to both parties. To avoid such situations, cats use distance increasing and maintaining behaviours, such as body postures, vocal signals and scent marks. If escape is impossible, then cats will often freeze and deliver a range of threatening behaviours, including postural and vocal signals, designed to repel or hold the threat at bay. Meanwhile, the cat will re-evaluate its opportunities for escape. Attacks may be sudden and brief, and again aimed at repelling the threat so as to re-open an opportunity for escape. Cats will most often become aggressive when conflict is over a survival resource (including territory) or when escape from conflict is impossible; such as when the animal is debilitated or confined. However, if a cat has repeated experience of sustained threat or punishment when it attempts to escape, then it may learn to shift to an offensive pattern of aggression instead of escape. Aggression is most likely to be sustained when a cat is defending territory from an intruder.

==Aggressive signals==

==Aggressive Signals==

Feline aggressive signalling shares some similarities with other species; for example, staring eye contact, and body postures that attempt to make the individual look larger and more threatening by '''increasing its apparent stature''' (piloerection, sideways body arched posture). A cat may alternatively attempt to reduce the threat it poses by '''flattening onto the ground''' and adopting a self-defensive posture. Whole body postures are a reliable indicator of the cat’s attitude to a situation but because it takes tome to short from one body posture to another, and therefore do not indicate the moment-by-moment shift in the cat’s reaction. For this it is better to look at facial signals such as head and ear position, and other expressions involving the mouth and eyes.  

Feline aggressive signalling shares some similarities with other species; for example, staring eye contact, and body postures that attempt to make the individual look larger and more threatening by '''increasing its apparent stature''' (piloerection, sideways body arched posture). A cat may alternatively attempt to reduce the threat it poses by '''flattening onto the ground''' and adopting a self-defensive posture. Whole body postures are a reliable indicator of the cat’s attitude to a situation but because it takes tome to shift from one body posture to another, they therefore do not indicate the moment-by-moment shift in the cat’s reaction. For this it is better to look at facial signals such as head and ear position, and other expressions involving the mouth and eyes.  

'''Important warning signs''' include:

'''Important warning signs''' include:

*Stiffening of the shoulders and legs  

*Stiffening of the shoulders and legs  

*Mydriasis

*Mydriasis

*Vocalisation (e.g. Hissing and spitting)

*Vocalisation (e.g. hissing and spitting)

It is very important that owners do not attempt to soothe or calm a cat when it is showing this behaviour (they must not pick the cat up, for example). Cats that are frozen in a self-defensive crouch are very close to launching an attack if provoked. It is best to break eyes contact, move away and allow the cat to settle.

It is very important that owners do not attempt to soothe or calm a cat when it is showing this behaviour (they must not pick the cat up, for example). Cats that are frozen in a self-defensive crouch are very close to launching an attack if provoked. It is best to break eyes contact, move away and allow the cat to settle.

In dogs there is a recognisable continuum of escalating aggressive signalling behaviours, starting with body tension and moving up through changes in eye contact, growling, snarling and ultimately leading to a bite if the signal recipient does not respond appropriately. A failure to deliver signals in this manner, for example jumping from body tension to a bite, is regarded as evidence of impulsivity in dogs, and is commonly associated with problems such as owner-directed aggression in dogs. The  same gradual escalation is not as apparent in cats, as their behaviour has evolved to avoid face to face confrontation. So, '''transition from a defensive posture to an attack may be very sudden''' in cats. It is therefore very important to be able to read and appropriately respond to changes in facial signalling that indicate the cat’s increasing sense of vulnerability which may precede an aggressive outburst.

In dogs there is a recognisable continuum of escalating aggressive signalling behaviours, starting with body tension and moving up through changes in eye contact, growling, snarling and ultimately leading to a bite if the signal recipient does not respond appropriately. A failure to deliver signals in this manner, for example jumping from body tension to a bite, is regarded as evidence of impulsivity in dogs, and is commonly associated with problems such as owner-directed aggression in dogs. The  same gradual escalation is not as apparent in cats, as their behaviour has evolved to avoid face to face confrontation. So, '''transition from a defensive posture to an attack may be very sudden'''. It is therefore very important to be able to read and appropriately respond to changes in facial signalling that indicate the cat’s increasing sense of vulnerability which may precede an aggressive outburst.

==Classification==

==Classification==

==History Taking==

==History Taking==

[[Feline Aggression Towards Cats|Inter-cat aggression]] presents a particular problem because many of the aggressive incidents are not directly observed by the owner or may be misinterpreted when they are. Observation of the cat during the consultation is unlikely to be useful, and a house visit is more approbate as this also enables an assessment of the living conditions of the animal. Consultations can also be augmented with video footage of the cat’s normal behaviour in its own surroundings, but it is not acceptable for clients to stage aggressive events for the purpose of making a diagnosis since this involves a serious risk of injury.

[[Feline Aggression Towards Cats|Inter-cat aggression]] presents a particular problem because many of the aggressive incidents are not directly observed by the owner or may be misinterpreted when they are. Observation of the cat during the consultation is unlikely to be useful, and a house visit is more appropriate as this also enables an assessment of the living conditions of the animal. Consultations can also be augmented with video footage of the cat’s normal behaviour in its own surroundings, but it is not acceptable for clients to stage aggressive events for the purpose of making a diagnosis since this involves a serious risk of injury.

   

   

====Important Aspects of History Taking====

====Important Aspects of History Taking====

However, few properly constructed surveys of the prevalence of aggression in domestic cats have been carried out.  

However, few properly constructed surveys of the prevalence of aggression in domestic cats have been carried out.  

In a study by Ramos and Mills, looking at owner reports of aggression in cats in Brazil, human-directed aggression was seen in a number of situations, such as when stroking a cat or playing games with it <ref>Ramos, D., Mills, D.A. (2009) Human directed aggression in Brazilian domestic cats: owner reported prevalence, contexts and risk factors. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. 11. 835-841.</ref>. The overall prevalence of aggress was 49.5%, which is much higher than previously observed. For example, in a previous UK study only 13% of cats were found to show aggression toward people <ref>Bradshaw, J.W.S., Casey, R.A., MacDonald, J.M. (2000) The occurrence of unwanted behaviour in the cat pet population. In: Proceedings of the Companion Animal Behaviour Therapy Study Group Study Day; Birmingham, England.</ref>. This study found that 48% of cats showed aggression to other cats. In a Spanish study, which collected data from 451 veterinary practices, aggression towards people ranked 4th in frequency, and aggression toward other cats 5th. Inappropriate urination and defecation (which included spray marking) ranked first, with excessive scratching and vocalisation ranking 2nd and 3rd respectively<ref>Fatjo, J., Ruiz-de-la-Torre, J.L., Manteca, X. (2006) The epidemiology of behavioural problems in dogs and cats: a survey of veterinary practitioners. Animal Welfare. 15, 179-185</ref>. In a retrospective survey of referrals to a specialist behavioural referral centre in Spain, the same group found that aggression was the most frequent reason for referral<ref>Amat, M., Ruiz-de-la-Torre, J.L., Fatjo, J., Mariotti, V.M., van Wijk, S., Manteca, X. (2009) Potential risk factors associated with feline behaviour problems. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 121, 134-139.</ref>. Figures from the annual report (2003) of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC) showed that 23% of referred feline cases involved [[Feline Aggression Towards Cats|aggression towards other cats]], making it the second most commonly referred problem after [[Indoor Marking - Cat|indoor marking]] (25% of cases). A further 13% of the reported feline cases involved [[Feline Aggression Towards People|aggression towards people]]. This data is taken from a referral population, and therefore does not reflect the actual prevalence of aggression.

In a study by Ramos and Mills, looking at owner reports of aggression in cats in Brazil, human-directed aggression was seen in a number of situations, such as when stroking a cat or playing games with it <ref>Ramos, D., Mills, D.A. (2009) Human directed aggression in Brazilian domestic cats: owner reported prevalence, contexts and risk factors. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. 11. 835-841.</ref>. The overall prevalence of aggression was 49.5%, which is much higher than previously observed. For example, in a previous UK study only 13% of cats were found to show aggression towards people <ref>Bradshaw, J.W.S., Casey, R.A., MacDonald, J.M. (2000) The occurrence of unwanted behaviour in the cat pet population. In: Proceedings of the Companion Animal Behaviour Therapy Study Group Study Day; Birmingham, England.</ref>. This study found that 48% of cats showed aggression to other cats. In a Spanish study, which collected data from 451 veterinary practices, aggression towards people ranked 4th in frequency, and aggression toward other cats 5th. Inappropriate urination and defecation (which included spray marking) ranked first, with excessive scratching and vocalisation ranking 2nd and 3rd respectively<ref>Fatjo, J., Ruiz-de-la-Torre, J.L., Manteca, X. (2006) The epidemiology of behavioural problems in dogs and cats: a survey of veterinary practitioners. Animal Welfare. 15, 179-185</ref>. In a retrospective survey of referrals to a specialist behavioural referral centre in Spain, the same group found that aggression was the most frequent reason for referral<ref>Amat, M., Ruiz-de-la-Torre, J.L., Fatjo, J., Mariotti, V.M., van Wijk, S., Manteca, X. (2009) Potential risk factors associated with feline behaviour problems. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 121, 134-139.</ref>. Figures from the annual report (2003) of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC) showed that 23% of referred feline cases involved [[Feline Aggression Towards Cats|aggression towards other cats]], making it the second most commonly referred problem after [[Indoor Marking - Cat|indoor marking]] (25% of cases). A further 13% of the reported feline cases involved [[Feline Aggression Towards People|aggression towards people]]. This data is taken from a referral population, and therefore does not reflect the actual prevalence of aggression.

Due to differences in data collection and source between those studies which are available, it is difficult to evaluate the actual prevalence of feline aggression problems.

Due to differences in data collection and source between the studies which are available, it is difficult to evaluate the actual prevalence of feline aggression problems.

Referral populations are unrepresentative of the general population, as are veterinary reports.  

Referral populations are unrepresentative of the general population, as are veterinary reports.  

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[[Category:To Do - Behaviour References]]

[[Category:To Do - Behaviour References]]

[[Category:To Do - Behaviour Questions]]

[[Category:To Do - Behaviour Questions]]

[[Category:JBowen reviewed]]

[[Category:JBowen reviewed]]