Feline fear is a real issue in behavioural medicine and the behavioural consequences can be many and varied. Cats that are fearful may become more dependent on the owner whilst others may lack confidence in dealing with family members. In extreme cases, fearful cats can go on to form abnormal attachments with their owners and may display separation-related behaviours. Cats can also become agoraphobic and may show reactions to sounds, people and other animals which are indicative of a fearful motivation. The most commonly documented fear-inducing stimuli in cats include other animals (both cats and other species), strangers (human), noises and unusual experiences such as travelling or visiting the vet.
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