Changes

==Investigation==

==Investigation==

A range of information is required for a proper investigation of the cause of aggression toward people, including:

A range of information is required for a proper investigation of the cause of aggression towards people, including:

*Information about the rearing circumstances and age of homing of the cat.

*Information about the rearing circumstances and age of homing of the cat.

*History of the cats reaction to human interaction, including any changes that have been seen over time.

*History of the cats reaction to human interaction, including any changes that have been seen over time.

*Detailed description of events in which aggression has been observed (including context, triggering events/stimuli, the cat's behaviour and the owner's reaction).

*Detailed description of events in which aggression has been observed (including context, triggering events/stimuli, the cat's behaviour and the owner's reaction).

*Full investigation of health problems, particularly those likely to cause pain.

*Full investigation of health problems, particularly those likely to cause pain.

*Assessment of the cat's physical and social environment (including resource availability and distribution, conflict with ether animals in the home).

*Assessment of the cat's physical and social environment (including resource availability and distribution, conflict with other animals in the home).

It should be possible to identify a pattern in interaction associated with an aggressive reaction.

'''It should be possible to identify a pattern of interaction associated with an aggressive reaction.'''

Owners often describe the cat’s behaviour as unpredictable ("Jekyll and Hide"), but there is usually a clear relationship between certain types of owner-initiated interaction and an aggressive response from the cat. After an aggressive incident the cat will often run away away, exhibit displacement behaviour (such as a brief period of grooming), or perform a head or paw shake. Displacement behaviour indicates that the cat is experiencing an amount of unresolved emotional conflict. The lack of predictability often relates to the owner's inability to interpret changes in the cat’s body language as it is approached or handled, combined with the owner’s false expectation that the cat ought to understand that their approach is intended to be friendly.  

Owners often describe the cat’s behaviour as unpredictable ("Jekyll and Hide"), but there is usually a clear relationship between certain types of owner-initiated interaction and an aggressive response from the cat. After an aggressive incident the cat will often run away, exhibit displacement behaviour (such as a brief period of grooming), or perform a head or paw shake. Displacement behaviour indicates that the cat is experiencing an amount of unresolved emotional conflict. The lack of predictability often relates to the owner's inability to interpret changes in the cat’s body language as it is approached or handled, combined with the owner’s false expectation that the cat ought to understand that their approach is intended to be friendly.  

Some cats with this form of aggression may be suffering from undiagnosed [[Feline Hyperaesthesia Syndrome|feline hyperaesthesia syndrome]] (FHS); displaying the classic signs of '''rippling skin''' and '''hypersensitivity to touch'''. FHS is therefore an important differential, or underlying factor, in cases where cats are showing aggression in association with owner interaction. Conditions such as pain ands FHS should be suspected in cases in which the cat's reaction appears very variable, or has changed dramatically over time (e.g. the cat has recently become intolerant of being touched, when previously it was tolerant).

Some cats with this form of aggression may be suffering from undiagnosed [[Feline Hyperaesthesia Syndrome|feline hyperaesthesia syndrome]] (FHS); displaying the classic signs of '''rippling skin''' and '''hypersensitivity to touch'''. FHS is therefore an important differential, or underlying factor, in cases where cats are showing aggression in association with owner interaction. Conditions such as pain and FHS should be suspected in cases in which the cat's reaction appears very variable, or has changed dramatically over time (e.g. the cat has recently become intolerant of being touched, when previously it was tolerant).

==Treatment==

==Treatment==

Underlying medical problems should be investigated and treated.  

Underlying medical problems should be investigated and treated.  

Owner education is key to effective treatment, as they must be convinced to make permanent changes to the ways in which they interact with the cat.

Owner education is key to effective treatment, as owners must be convinced to make permanent changes to the ways in which they interact with the cat.

Specific recommendations will depend on the individual case, but could include:

 

'''Specific recommendations will depend on the individual case, but could include:'''

*Teach the owner to interact with the cat in a manner that is acceptable to it; reducing physical contact and increasing verbal and visual signals for greeting. For example, using '''brief eye contact''' and '''high-pitched vocal greetings''' instead of touching the cat or picking it up.

*Teach the owner to interact with the cat in a manner that is acceptable to it; reducing physical contact and increasing verbal and visual signals for greeting. For example, using '''brief eye contact''' and '''high-pitched vocal greetings''' instead of touching the cat or picking it up.

*The owner must also be able to identify early signs of aggression and irritation, such as growling vocalisation, tail swishing and ears folded back.

*The owner must also be able to identify early signs of aggression and irritation, such as growling vocalisation, tail swishing and ears folded back.

The cat can be classically conditioned to associate the presence of a person with a food reward (without any request for physical interaction). Once the cat is accepting this, it can be trained using instrumental conditioning, to accept increasingly direct contact from the person. It may help for the owner to be given a listed sequence of behaviours, which should be rewarded. The owner must not progress to the next step unless the cat shows no signs of stress, fear or anxiety.

The cat can be classically conditioned to associate the presence of a person with a food reward (without any request for physical interaction). Once the cat is accepting this, it can be trained using instrumental conditioning, to accept increasingly direct contact from the person. It may help for the owner to be given a listed sequence of behaviours, which should be rewarded. The owner must not progress to the next step unless the cat shows no signs of stress, fear or anxiety.

A typical sequence of actions might be as follows:

'''A typical sequence of actions might be as follows:'''

*A person approaching

*A person approaching

*A person sitting near to the cat without touching

*A person sitting near to the cat without touching

==Prevention==

==Prevention==

Information about feline communication and the best way for people to interact with cats are subjects that can form part of classes offered to cat owners. This applies to owners with kittens as well as those taking on adult cats. It is particularly useful for owners who have taken on cats from shelters. Owners need to understand how to interpret basic [[Feline Communication Behaviour|feline modes of communication]]:

Information about feline communication and the best way for people to interact with cats are subjects that can form part of classes offered to cat owners. This applies to owners with kittens as well as those taking on adult cats. It is particularly useful for owners who have taken on cats from shelters.  

 

'''Owners need to understand how to interpret basic [[Feline Communication Behaviour|feline modes of communication]]:'''

*Normal greeting behaviour between cats

*Normal greeting behaviour between cats

*The lack of importance of physical contact during greetings

*The lack of importance of physical contact during greetings

*Facial and body postures that indicate the cat’s mood and intention

*Facial and body postures that indicate the cat’s mood and intention

This knowledge should be applied so that greetings between owners and their cats are sensitive to normal feline ethology and expectations. They also need to understand the effect of certain kinds of handling:

This knowledge should be applied so that greetings between owners and their cats are sensitive to normal feline ethology and expectations. '''They also need to understand the effect of certain kinds of handling:'''

*Fear or alarm caused when a cat is picked up and thereby loses its ability to engage an escape response

*Fear or alarm caused when a cat is picked up and thereby loses its ability to engage an escape response

*Holding and preventing the cat from getting away from contact is frustrating and alarming to it

*Holding and preventing the cat from getting away from contact is frustrating and alarming to it

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[[Category:Feline Aggression Towards People]]

[[Category:Feline Aggression Towards People]]