Changes

* Stop attempts to soothe the cat by giving it attention as this may reward fearful behaviour.

* Stop attempts to soothe the cat by giving it attention as this may reward fearful behaviour.

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The prevalence of fear of inanimate objects and stimuli in cats is unknown. Cats that have a fear of loud noises, such as fireworks or thunder, may hide whilst outside the home so that their behaviour goes unobserved. At home, cats may hide or become inhibited when frightened by loud noises, and do not show the overt signs of distress observed in dogs (pacing, whining, etc). Clients often misinterpret this apparent passivity as a lack of fear, especially when the cat engages in self-maintenance behaviour, such as grooming, that are associated with being relaxed of settled. Increased grooming can be a form of displacement activity or an attempt at self-appeasement that is an indicator of stress.

The prevalence of fear of inanimate objects and stimuli in cats is unknown. Cats that have a fear of loud noises, such as fireworks or thunder, may hide whilst outside the home so that their behaviour goes unobserved. At home, cats may hide or become inhibited when frightened by loud noises, and do not show the overt signs of distress observed in dogs (pacing, whining, etc). Clients often misinterpret this apparent passivity as a lack of fear, especially when the cat engages in self-maintenance behaviour, such as grooming, that are associated with being relaxed or settled. Increased grooming can be a form of displacement activity or an attempt at self-appeasement that is an indicator of stress.

Fear of inanimate visual stimuli may develop as a result of associations with noise stimuli e.g. light flashes that resemble lightning before the sound of thunder. A minority of cats, usually coming from an inappropriate rearing environment, do suffer from specific fears and phobias of visual stimuli. Cases include fear of flapping or flying objects such as kites and polythene bags. Cats will also show increased fear of visual stimuli that startle the cat while it is in the presence of another stimulus that it fears, or when it is in an unfamiliar environment. This can create negative associations with almost any kind of stimulus, so that it evokes fear in the future.

Fear of inanimate visual stimuli may develop as a result of associations with noise stimuli e.g. light flashes that resemble lightning before the sound of thunder. A minority of cats, usually coming from an inappropriate rearing environment, do suffer from specific fears and phobias of visual stimuli. Cases include fear of flapping or flying objects such as kites and polythene bags. Cats will also show increased fear of visual stimuli that startle the cat while it is in the presence of another stimulus that it fears, or when it is in an unfamiliar environment. This can create negative associations with almost any kind of stimulus, so that it evokes fear in the future.

Fear responses of cats can be quite context specific. They may react fearfully to otherwise familiar stimuli when they are encountered in an unfamiliar context, or when the cat encounters the stimulus when it is outside of its own familiar territorial boundaries. This may be because a significant part of the cat’s emotional self-control is based on its ability to rapidly engage avoidance behaviour and also to discriminate the level of threat likely in a given environment according to the scent marks that have previously been left there.

Fear responses of cats can be quite context specific. They may react fearfully to otherwise familiar stimuli when they are encountered in an unfamiliar context, or when the cat encounters the stimulus when it is outside its own familiar territorial boundaries. This may be because a significant part of the cat’s emotional self-control is based on its ability to rapidly engage avoidance behaviour and also to discriminate the level of threat likely in a given environment according to the scent marks that have previously been left there.

==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.

* Use of [[Pheromonotherapy - Cat|F3 pheromone diffusers]] may help to enable adult cats to adjust to a [[Effect of Environment on Feline Behaviour#Introducing a Cat to a New Home/Environment|new environment after re-homing]].

* Use of [[Pheromonotherapy - Cat|F3 pheromone diffusers]] may help to enable adult cats to adjust to a [[Effect of Environment on Feline Behaviour#Introducing a Cat to a New Home/Environment|new environment after re-homing]], noise (e.g. a party) and other potentially frightening situations.

==Diagnosis==

==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===

The F3 pheromone fraction (Feliway) can be used to increase the familiarity and security of the home environment which will indirectly alter the cat’s reaction to stimuli. Individual spots of F3 might be sprayed onto static environmental stimuli of which the cat is otherwise mildly fearful.

The F3 pheromone fraction (Feliway) can be used to increase the familiarity and security of the home environment which will indirectly alter the cat’s reaction to stimuli. Synthetic F3 might also be sprayed onto static environmental stimuli of which the cat is otherwise mildly fearful.

===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 may be presented according to a strict plan of desensitisation and counterconditioning the prognosis is good. The prognosis is guarded if the stimulus is regularly encountered at fear-eliciting intensity during behavioural therapy, because memory-blocking drugs are very limited in their use in the cat. Drugs that reduce apprehension, such as selegiline, may be useful in these cases and can also speed up therapy in intensely fearful individuals. Drug therapy is also useful for individuals that have a wide range of fears, with a pattern of generalisation.

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.  

 

 

[[Category:Feline Fear and Stress]]

[[Category:Feline Fear and Stress]]

[[Category:To Do - Behaviour References]]

[[Category:To Do - Behaviour References]]