Changes

There has been some debate as to the possible motivation for these sudden assaults, but evidence suggests that a significant proportion of cats that appear to tolerate human contact in fact find it stressful<ref name="Ramos"/>. It has been suggested that the cat’s threshold for tolerance of handling is reduced due to a '''lack of habituation as a kitten''' or as the result of an '''internal conflict between adult feline behavioural responses and the perpetuated juvenile responses of a domestic cat''', or that there is a fundamental mismatch between normal affiliative behaviour between cats and the expectations of their owners. Greetings between cats are often restricted to a ‘tail up’ approach accompanied with a trill or chirrup and blinking eye contact. After this, cats may sit close to each other for a period of time, and only in a minority of situations is there any physical contact such as allorubbing or allogrooming. When there dis physical contact, it is often very brief.  

There has been some debate as to the possible motivation for these sudden assaults, but evidence suggests that a significant proportion of cats that appear to tolerate human contact in fact find it stressful<ref name="Ramos"/>. It has been suggested that the cat’s threshold for tolerance of handling is reduced due to a '''lack of habituation as a kitten''' or as the result of an '''internal conflict between adult feline behavioural responses and the perpetuated juvenile responses of a domestic cat''', or that there is a fundamental mismatch between normal affiliative behaviour between cats and the expectations of their owners. Greetings between cats are often restricted to a ‘tail up’ approach accompanied with a trill or chirrup and blinking eye contact. After this, cats may sit close to each other for a period of time, and only in a minority of situations is there any physical contact such as allorubbing or allogrooming. When there dis physical contact, it is often very brief.  

Owners often interpret any approach by a cat as a request to be handled or picked up, and are then surprised when the cat struggles to get away or tries to bite or scratch. There is also often a delay between initial contact from the owner and a bite; the cat may appears to be tolerating, or even enjoying, physical interaction before then suddenly becoming hostile. Many owners will also attempt to sustain contact beyond the tolerance of the cat, holding onto it as it tries to escape. The combined effect of this inappropriate owner behaviour is that the cat may become wary of getting close to the owner, or allowing physical contact.

Owners often interpret any approach by a cat as a request to be handled or picked up, and are then surprised when the cat struggles to get away or tries to bite or scratch. There is also often a delay between initial contact from the owner and a bite; the cat may appears to be tolerating, or even enjoying, physical interaction before then suddenly becoming hostile. Many owners will also attempt to sustain contact beyond the tolerance of the cat, holding onto it as it tries to escape. The combined effect of this inappropriate owner behaviour is that the cat may become wary of getting close to the owner, or allowing physical contact. In some cases, human interaction can become increasingly alarming to the cat, resulting in [[Fear-Related Feline Aggression Towards People|'''fear related aggression''']] , especially when the owner reacts punitively to the cat.

 

There is a significant crossover between this form of aggression and others, due to the mixture of emotional motivation that may be present:

*[[Fear-Related Feline Aggression Towards People|'''Fear:''']] Resulting from experience punishment or mishandling.

*[[Misdirected Feline Predatory Behaviour Towards People|'''Play:''']] Especially where play continues to a point at which it becomes [[Frustration-Related Feline Aggression Towards People|frustrating]] for the cat. Usually claws remain sheathed and biting is inhibited, but may still be painful.

==Prevalence and Risk Factors==

==Prevalence and Risk Factors==