Changes

==Prevention==

==Prevention==

* Owners should be advised to avoid taking kittens that come from aggressive or fearful parents, or are reared in a barren or impoverished "non-domestic" environment..  

* Owners should be advised to avoid taking kittens that come from aggressive or fearful parents, or are reared in a barren or impoverished "non-domestic" environment.

* Fear of inanimate objects and stimuli can be prevented through proper habituation to a wide range of events and stimuli during the sensitive period [[Feline Socialisation|period before 7 weeks of age]].

* Fear of inanimate objects and stimuli can be prevented through proper habituation to a wide range of events and stimuli during the sensitive period [[Feline Socialisation|before 7 weeks of age]].

* Exposure to sound stimuli may be provided using recordings, but kittens should not be habituated to traffic sounds.

* Exposure to sound stimuli may be provided using recordings, but kittens should not be habituated to traffic sounds.

* After the end of the sensitive period, novel or potentially fear-evoking stimuli should be introduced carefully so that fear is not induced.

* After the end of the sensitive period, novel or potentially fear-evoking stimuli should be introduced carefully so that fear is not induced.

==Investigation==

==Investigation==

Key aspects include:

'''Key aspects include:'''

* Information about rearing history and parental temperament.

* Information about rearing history and parental temperament.

* Observation of a typical pattern of avoidance behaviour and fearful body language will be observed in the presence of the fearful stimulus.  

* Observation of a typical pattern of avoidance behaviour and fearful body language that will be seen in the presence of the fearful stimulus.  

* Identification of the complete range of stimuli that elicit a fear response in the affected individual.

* Identification of the complete range of stimuli that elicit a fear response in the affected individual.

* History of development of the problem (e.g. information about changes in the range and type of stimuli the cat rates to over time).

* History of development of the problem (e.g. information about changes in the range and type of stimuli the cat reacts to over time).

* Assessment of the suitability of the environment (presence of escape and avoidance opportunities, as well as general proviso of accessible resources).

* Assessment of the suitability of the environment (presence of escape and avoidance opportunities, as well as general proviso of accessible resources).

With inanimate objects or sounds it is not always obvious to the owner what the cat is reacting to, and it may be necessary to explain signs of fear to the owner and ask them to monitor the cat for a few day to identify what the cat is reacting to.  

With inanimate objects or sounds it is not always obvious to the owner what the cat is reacting to, and it may be necessary to explain signs of fear to the owner and ask them to monitor the cat for a few days to identify what the cat is reacting to.  

Often, fear of inanimate objects or sounds is not presented as a problem in itself, but is an underlying factor in other behavioural problems that the owner is concerned about (such as inappropriate elimination). Given that cats tend to become inhibited in situations where they cannot mount a proper escape response, the owner may not be aware of low-level fear reactions. Only when the full range of stimulus types and variations the cat is fearful of has been identified, is it then possible to manage and treat the problem. If the cat is afraid of a range of stimuli, they should be listed in order of the level of fearful reaction they elicit, os that a programme of graded controlled exposure (desensitisation and/or counter condition) can be designed. However, it is important that owners do not deliberately set up challenge tests to determine the cat's reaction.

Often, fear of inanimate objects or sounds is not presented as a problem in itself, but is an underlying factor in other behavioural problems that the owner is concerned about (such as inappropriate elimination). Given that cats tend to become inhibited in situations where they cannot mount a proper escape response, the owner may not be aware of low-level fear reactions. Only when the full range of stimulus types and variations the cat is fearful of has been identified, is it then possible to manage and treat the problem. If the cat is afraid of a range of stimuli, they should be listed in order of the level of fearful reaction they elicit, so that a programme of graded controlled exposure (desensitisation and/or counter conditioning) can be designed. However, it is important that owners do not deliberately set up challenge tests to determine the cat's reaction.

==Treatment==

==Treatment==

Before beginning specific behavioural therapy for a fear problem, it is important to make sure that the cat’s home environment satisfies its needs:

'''Before beginning specific behavioural therapy for a fear problem, it is important to make sure that the cat’s home environment satisfies its needs:'''

* Free access to resources such as food, water, latrine sites.

* Free access to resources such as food, water, latrine sites.

* Environmental enrichment, such as interactive toys, activity feeders and cat furniture that permits climbing, scratching and exploratory behaviours.

* Environmental enrichment, such as interactive toys, activity feeders and cat furniture that permits climbing, scratching and exploratory behaviours.

* Reducing underlying problems of stress, particularly related to social stress (conflict with other cats or mishandling by the owner).

* Reducing underlying problems of stress, particularly related to social stress (conflict with other cats or mishandling by the owner).

===Presentation of stimuli===

===Presentation of Stimuli===

Stimuli must be presented systematically while the cat is relaxed, so that fear is never elicited. For each stimulus, the threshold of stimulus intensity to elicit fear should be identified, based on controllable stimulus characteristics such as loudness, proximity, size, movement, etc. The intensity threshold should be identified from historical information, rather than testing (which might cause distress). Then a means of reliably presenting the stimulus in an attenuated form must be identified. For example, sounds can be recorded and replayed at lower volume, and objects can be partially obscured or covered. Once a method of controlling the intensity of the stimulus has been found, then behavioural therapy using desensitisation and counterconditioning can be carried out. Inanimate stimuli are generally more amenable to desensitisation and counterconditioning than people or other animals.

Stimuli must be presented systematically while the cat is relaxed, so that fear is never elicited. For each stimulus, the threshold of stimulus intensity to elicit fear should be identified, based on controllable stimulus characteristics such as loudness, proximity, size, movement, etc. The intensity threshold should be identified from historical information, rather than testing (which might cause distress). Then a means of reliably presenting the stimulus in an attenuated form must be identified. For example, sounds can be recorded and replayed at lower volume, and objects can be partially obscured or covered. Once a method of controlling the intensity of the stimulus has been found, then behavioural therapy using desensitisation and counterconditioning can be carried out. Inanimate stimuli are generally more amenable to desensitisation and counterconditioning than people or other animals.

It is important not to exceed the threshold to elicit fear during training, as the cat may associate the training context with fearful experiences, and subsequently develop situational anxiety. This will undermine the cat’s security and could cause it to refuse to enter the certain rooms or the home. It is also important to exclude other animals and children from the environment during training, as their presence could increase arousal and stress, and their presence could interfere with the cat's ability to avoid or escape from a stressor.

It is important not to exceed the threshold to elicit fear during training, as the cat may associate the training context with fearful experiences, and subsequently develop situational anxiety. This will undermine the cat’s security and could cause it to refuse to enter the certain rooms or the home. It is also important to exclude other animals and children from the environment during training, as their presence could increase arousal and stress, and could interfere with the cat's ability to avoid or escape from a stressor.

Training sessions involving controlled exposure to stimuli should only be undertaken when the cat is already voluntarily in the environment where training is to take place. Cats should not be carried to the place where training is to take place, because any accidental negative associations made in that situation may also affect the cat’s attitude toward handling, resulting in [[Feline Fear of People|fear of]] or [[Feline Aggression Towards People|aggression toward the owner]].

Training sessions involving controlled exposure to stimuli should only be undertaken when the cat is already voluntarily in the environment where training is to take place. Cats should not be carried to the place where training is to take place, because any accidental negative associations made in that situation may also affect the cat’s attitude towards handling, resulting in [[Feline Fear of People|fear of]] or [[Feline Aggression Towards People|aggression towards the owner]].

===Desensitisation===

===Desensitisation===

Choice of appetitive stimulus is an essential component for success in counterconditioning; it must be something that the cat unconditionally enjoys. The previously fear-eliciting stimulus must be presented at an intensity at which the appetitive stimulus is more pleasurable than the fearful stimulus is aversive. Otherwise conditioning can be reversed, and the cat can become fearful of eating or play because these have come to be associated with an unpleasant experience. Clients should experiment with a wide range of toys and food before beginning counterconditioning. For cats, play is often a better counterconditioning stimulus because it produces an immediate emotional response. Unlike dogs, cats may be unresponsive to the use of food in counterconditioning, unless very high palatability food is used. In addition, ad lib feeding is normally part of environmental enrichment for cats.

Choice of appetitive stimulus is an essential component for success in counterconditioning; it must be something that the cat unconditionally enjoys. The previously fear-eliciting stimulus must be presented at an intensity at which the appetitive stimulus is more pleasurable than the fearful stimulus is aversive. Otherwise conditioning can be reversed, and the cat can become fearful of eating or play because these have come to be associated with an unpleasant experience. Clients should experiment with a wide range of toys and food before beginning counterconditioning. For cats, play is often a better counterconditioning stimulus because it produces an immediate emotional response. Unlike dogs, cats may be unresponsive to the use of food in counterconditioning, unless very high palatability food is used. In addition, ad lib feeding is normally part of environmental enrichment for cats.

The duration of counterconditioning sessions will be limited by the cats' tendency to habituate to toys very rapidly. A cat may also cease to react if the same toy is presented at each session, so a range of different toys will be needed to maintain the cat's interest; part of the counterconditioning stimulus is the novelty of the toy and the play. Sessions of 5-10 minutes are perfectly adequate and would need to be repeated 2-3 times daily.

The duration of counterconditioning sessions will be limited by the cats' tendency to habituate to toys very rapidly. A cat may also cease to react if the same toy is presented at each session, so a range of different toys will be needed to maintain the cat's interest; part of the counterconditioning stimulus is the novelty of the toy and the play. Sessions of 5-10 minutes are perfectly adequate and need to be repeated 2-3 times daily.

===Pheromonatherapy===

===Pheromonatherapy===

===Pharmacological Therapy===

===Pharmacological Therapy===

Possible indications for the use of psychoactive medication for the treatment of fears of inanimate stimuli include:

'''Possible indications for the use of psychoactive medication for the treatment of fears of inanimate stimuli include:'''

* Widely-generalised fears and phobias, especially if the range of fear-eliciting stimuli continues to expand.

* Widely-generalised fears and phobias, especially if the range of fear-eliciting stimuli continues to expand.

* Longstanding cases where many fear-related associations have already formed.

* Longstanding cases where many fear-related associations have already formed.

* When welfare has been impacted: cats with significantly inhibited patterns of behaviour.

* When welfare has been impacted: cats with significantly inhibited patterns of behaviour.

* Cats with cognitive impairment, such as due to senile dementia.

* Cats with cognitive impairment, such as due to [[Feline Cognitive Dysfunction|senile dementia]].

No psychoactive medication is specifically licensed for the treatment of fear problems of this kind in cats. [[Selegiline]] is licensed for the treatment of behavioural problems of an emotional origin in dogs, including specific fears and phobias. Under CASCADE, selegiline the therefore the first choice treatment for this problem in cats.  

No psychoactive medication is specifically licensed for the treatment of fear problems of this kind in cats. [[Selegiline]] is licensed for the treatment of behavioural problems of an emotional origin in dogs, including specific fears and phobias. Under CASCADE, selegiline is therefore the first choice treatment for this problem in cats.  

Selegiline is appropriate for fearful cats that also show a high degree of inhibition of normal behaviour, such as:

'''Selegiline is appropriate for fearful cats that also show a high degree of inhibition of normal behaviour, such as:'''

* Reduced self-maintenance behaviour (grooming, eating).

* Reduced self-maintenance behaviour (grooming, eating).

* Failure to utilise resources.

* Failure to utilise resources.

==Prognosis==

==Prognosis==

For stimuli that are easily be presented according to a strict plan of desensitisation and counterconditioning the prognosis is good. The prognosis is guarded if fearful stimuli are regularly encountered at fear-eliciting intensity during behavioural therapy, because this will undermine behavioural therapy. Prognosis is also guarded when cats react to a wide, and generalising, range of stimuli. Prognosis in such case may be improved through the use of psychoactive medication.  

For stimuli that can easily be presented according to a strict plan of desensitisation and counterconditioning the prognosis is good. The prognosis is guarded if fearful stimuli are regularly encountered at fear-eliciting intensity during behavioural therapy, because this will undermine behavioural therapy. Prognosis is also guarded when cats react to a wide, and generalising, range of stimuli. Prognosis in such cases may be improved through the use of psychoactive medication.  

<br>

<br>

[[Category:To Do - Behaviour References]]

[[Category:To Do - Behaviour References]]

[[Category:JBowen reviewed]]

[[Category:JBowen reviewed]]