Changes

Clicks are then only delivered when the cat carries out a specific behaviour, such as sitting. Once the cat is reliably sitting to get a click this behaviour can be ‘named’. Just as the cat is about to sit, the trainer says the command word that is intended to cue the behaviour: for example saying ‘sit’. After doing this a further 20-30 times most cats will be reliably trained to sit on cue.

Clicks are then only delivered when the cat carries out a specific behaviour, such as sitting. Once the cat is reliably sitting to get a click this behaviour can be ‘named’. Just as the cat is about to sit, the trainer says the command word that is intended to cue the behaviour: for example saying ‘sit’. After doing this a further 20-30 times most cats will be reliably trained to sit on cue.

Cats that have already begun to associate the presence of visitors with the availability of food treats may be asked to sit and then repeatedly clicked and treated whist they stay calm. Alternatively, the cat may simply be clicked and rewarded repeatedly throughout the period while it remains calm whilst the person is present. The limitation to this kind of training is that the sound of the click may produce a startle response that increases fear and anxiety and cats can sometimes to be more difficult to motivate through the provision of food than their canine counterparts.  

Cats that have already begun to associate the presence of visitors with the availability of food treats may be asked to sit and then repeatedly clicked and treated whist they stay calm. Alternatively, the cat may simply be clicked and rewarded repeatedly throughout the period while it remains calm whilst the person is present. The limitation to this kind of training is that the sound of the click may produce a startle response that increases fear and anxiety and cats can sometimes be more difficult to motivate through the provision of food than their canine counterparts.  

====Pheromonotherapy====

====Pheromonotherapy====

Pheromonotherapy may be used to assist behavioural therapy. The pheromone F3 [Feliway, CEVA Animal Health] can be used to reduce general anxiety so that the home or training environment is less threatening and it has been particularly beneficial in cases of cat to cat aggression within the same household. F4 [Felifriend, CEVA Animal Sante] is a social pheromone used by cats to identify familiar individuals and when applied to unfamiliar individuals this can increase the cat’s tendency to approach and show affiliative behaviour. This can also be useful because it reduces escape responses. Combinations of pheromone therapies are especially helpful when the target of aggression is a member of the family or regular visitor to the household of a cat that has been recently re-homed. F4 may produce dissonant emotional states (which can induce a panic reaction) when the person or animal to whom F4 has been applied is already familiar to the cat from some aversive encounter and therefore invokes visual triggering of hostile responses. Further work in this area is essential but at the moment F4 should be used with care, applying it only to unfamiliar individuals, preferably from species with which the cat was socialised as a kitten.

Pheromonotherapy may be used to assist behavioural therapy. The pheromone F3 [Feliway, CEVA Animal Health] can be used to reduce general anxiety so that the home or training environment is less threatening and it has been particularly beneficial in cases of cat to cat aggression within the same household. F4 [Felifriend, CEVA Animal Sante] is a social pheromone used by cats to identify familiar individuals and when applied to unfamiliar individuals this can increase the cat’s tendency to approach and show affiliative behaviour. This can also be useful because it reduces escape responses. Combinations of pheromone therapies are especially helpful when the target of aggression is a member of the family or regular visitor to the household of a cat that has been recently re-homed. F4 may produce dissonant emotional states (which can induce a panic reaction) when the person or animal to whom F4 has been applied is already familiar to the cat from some aversive encounter and therefore invokes visual triggering of hostile responses. Further work in this area is essential but at the moment F4 should be used with care, applying it only to unfamiliar individuals, preferably from species with which the cat was socialised as a kitten.

====Psychoactive Medication====

====Psychoactive Medication====

In some cases of fear-aggression, the use of psychoactive medication may be useful to support behavioural therapy. In the case of fear-related aggression Selegiline [Selgian, CEVA Animal Health], used at a dose rate of 1.0 mg/kg once daily, may be used to reduce apprehension. The effect of this drug is to increase exploratory behaviour and confidence in fearful situations. It can also enhance the perception of reward, and thereby improve responses to counterconditioning procedures. However, by encouraging the animal to approach closer to the target of the fear-related aggression there is an increased risk of injury if the person startles the cat by making a sudden noise or movement. This appears worst during the initiation of treatment [the first 4-6 weeks of medication].  

In some cases of fear-aggression, the use of psychoactive medication may be useful to support behavioural therapy. In the case of fear-related aggression Selegiline may be used to reduce apprehension. The effect of this drug is to increase exploratory behaviour and confidence in fearful situations. It can also enhance the perception of reward, and thereby improve responses to counterconditioning procedures. However, by encouraging the animal to approach closer to the target of the fear-related aggression there is an increased risk of injury if the person startles the cat by making a sudden noise or movement. This appears worst during the initiation of treatment [the first 4-6 weeks of medication].  

Serotonergic drugs such as Fluoxetine and Clomipramine [Clomicalm, Novartis] may be used to reduce aggression where anxiety is a causative factor. However, in many cases of fear-related aggression anxiety over the consequences of launching an attack may be the only thing that prevents it. Reduction of anxiety in these cases can cause disinhibition of this anxiety, producing greater risk of attacks and injuries. Great care must therefore be taken when considering the use of any psychoactive drug; they can only be used safely and effectively after a thorough assessment of the case, and in combination with a well organised behavioural therapy plan and management to reduce risk of injury. No drug is currently licensed for the treatment of feline fear-related aggression, so informed consent must be obtained at the time of prescribing.

Serotonergic drugs such as Fluoxetine and Clomipramine may be used to reduce aggression where anxiety is a causative factor. However, in many cases of fear-related aggression anxiety over the consequences of launching an attack may be the only thing that prevents it. Reduction of anxiety in these cases can cause disinhibition of this anxiety, producing greater risk of attacks and injuries. Great care must therefore be taken when considering the use of any psychoactive drug; they can only be used safely and effectively after a thorough assessment of the case, and in combination with a well organised behavioural therapy plan and management to reduce risk of injury. No drug is currently licensed for the treatment of feline fear-related aggression, so informed consent must be obtained at the time of prescribing.

====Summary of Treatment of Fear-Related Aggression Towards People====

====Summary of Treatment of Fear-Related Aggression Towards People====

If clients can be satisfied with this kind of situation, then the prognosis is generally good. However, cats that have already inflicted injuries without any deliberate provocation are potentially an ongoing danger. For example, cats that rush out from hiding places and attack without warning cannot be safely managed. This is why it is very important to differentiate motivations such as misdirected predatory play from genuine fear-related aggression, because the two often have different treatments and outcomes.

If clients can be satisfied with this kind of situation, then the prognosis is generally good. However, cats that have already inflicted injuries without any deliberate provocation are potentially an ongoing danger. For example, cats that rush out from hiding places and attack without warning cannot be safely managed. This is why it is very important to differentiate motivations such as misdirected predatory play from genuine fear-related aggression, because the two often have different treatments and outcomes.

[[Category:To Do - Behaviour]][[Category:Feline Aggression]]

 

[[Category:To Do - Behaviour References]]

[[Category:Feline Aggression]]

[[Category:Feline Problem Behaviour]]