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Feline Aggression - Overview (view source)
Revision as of 18:57, 17 March 2014
, 18:57, 17 March 2014no edit summary
==Introduction==
The cat’s primary defence strategy is to escape or avoid conflict. Cats do not possess a repertoire of appeasement behaviours to halt or modulate intra-specific aggression so physical confrontation may result in serious injury to both parties. As solitary hunters, survival depends on individual fitness so cats tend to avoid conflict in order to protect themselves.
*If escape is impossible, then cats will frequently freeze and deliver a range of threatening behaviours, including postural and vocal signals, designed to repel or hold the threat at bay.
*Meanwhile, the cat is re-evaluating its opportunities for an escape.
*Attacks may be sudden and brief, and again aimed at repelling the threat so as to re-open an opportunity for escape.
Cats will most often become aggressive when conflict is over a survival resource [including territory] or when escape from conflict is impossible; such as when the animal is debilitated or confined.
The feline aggressive sequence shares some similarities with other species; non-specific increases in body tension and threatening eye contact for example. In addition there are a range of feline aggressive displays which involve whole body and facial components. The cat may attempt to present itself as as an active threat by increasing its apparent stature [piloerection, sideways body arched posture], or it may attempt to reduce the threat it poses by flattening onto the ground and adopting a self-defensive posture. These whole body postures are a reliable indicator of the cat’s attitude to a situation but they are relatively static and do not indicate the moment-by-moment shift in the cat’s reaction. For this it is better to look at facial signals such as head and ear position, and other expressions involving the mouth and eyes [insert illustrations of facial posture].
One very important point is that the transition from a static defensive posture to an attack may be very sudden in cats. It is therefore very important to be able to read and appropriately respond to changes in facial signalling that indicate the cat’s increasing sense of vulnerability and which may precede an aggressive outburst.
==Warning Signs of Aggression==
Important warning signs include:
*Tail twitching
*Flattening of the ears
*Stiffening of the shoulders and legs
*Dilatation of pupils
*Hissing and spitting
It is very important that owners do not attempt to soothe or calm the cat when it is showing this behaviour. Cats that are frozen in a self-defensive crouch are very close to launching an attack when provoked. They should look away from the cat and slowly move away.
==Classification==
==Classification==
As with dogs, the term "aggression" can be used to refer to a number of different behavioural responses, ranging from hissing and spitting to infliction of physical injury. Aggression should be considered to be a perfectly normal feature of the feline behavioural repertoire and the term ‘aggressive’ should not be used to define a cat’s personality. The natural feline predatory sequence contains “aggressive” elements and these are learnt and perfected through play. Social conflict may also be manifested in normal and appropriate “aggressive” displays, which are designed to diffuse tension and avoid physical confrontation. Within the context of problem behaviour it is therefore essential to determine the motivation for aggressive behaviour and to identify elements of normal feline behaviour, such as predation, play or social related aggression.
As with dogs, the term "aggression" can be used to refer to a number of different behavioural responses, ranging from hissing and spitting to infliction of physical injury. Aggression should be considered to be a perfectly normal feature of the feline behavioural repertoire and the term ‘aggressive’ should not be used to define a cat’s personality. The natural feline predatory sequence contains “aggressive” elements and these are learnt and perfected through play. Social conflict may also be manifested in normal and appropriate “aggressive” displays, which are designed to diffuse tension and avoid physical confrontation. Within the context of problem behaviour it is therefore essential to determine the motivation for aggressive behaviour and to identify elements of normal feline behaviour, such as predation, play or social related aggression.
The approach to categorisation used here will be to define aggression in terms of its immediate target, its motivation, its offensive or defensive or frustration-related nature and then to attach labels according to the circumstance or context of the aggression. It is always important to remember that every cat is an individual and every behavioural problem must be treated on that basis.
The approach to categorisation used here will be to define aggression in terms of its immediate target, its motivation, its offensive or defensive or frustration-related nature and then to attach labels according to the circumstance or context of the aggression. It is always important to remember that every cat is an individual and every behavioural problem must be treated on that basis.
==Background==
==Feline Aggression Studies==
<font color="red">needs general introduction or a pointer to what is normal aggression and reciprocal links; not sure whether below is too UK based</font>
<font color="red">needs general introduction or a pointer to what is normal aggression and reciprocal links; not sure whether below is too UK based</font>
Within the general feline population house soiling and spraying are considered to be amongst the most common major problems, with aggression featuring far less than it does in the dog. However, recent figures from the annual report [2003] of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors [APBC] showed that 23% of referred feline cases involved [[Feline Aggression Towards Other Cats|aggression towards other cats]], making it the second most commonly referred problem after indoor marking [25% of cases]. A further 13% of the reported feline cases involved aggression towards people. Aggression is therefore a significant concern for many cat owners. Data on referral rates of feline aggression cases to individual behavioural clinics varies widely, with some clinics experiencing referral rates of 13% of their total caseload and others 25%.
Within the general feline population house soiling and spraying are considered to be amongst the most common major problems, with aggression featuring far less than it does in the dog. However, recent figures from the annual report [2003] of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors [APBC] showed that 23% of referred feline cases involved [[Feline Aggression Towards Other Cats|aggression towards other cats]], making it the second most commonly referred problem after indoor marking [25% of cases]. A further 13% of the reported feline cases involved aggression towards people. Aggression is therefore a significant concern for many cat owners. Data on referral rates of feline aggression cases to individual behavioural clinics varies widely, with some clinics experiencing referral rates of 13% of their total caseload and others 25%.
The nature of aggressive responses in cats is strongly related to their natural behavioural responses and to their social and communication systems in the wild. The cat has a range of subtle body postures and facial expressions which can be used to diffuse tension and avoid physical conflict and, for a solitary hunter, this is important in order to prevent injury and consequent threat to the individual’s survival. In addition cats use a range of vocalisations to further increase the success of communication so that fighting is usually the ‘last resort’ defence strategy.
The nature of aggressive responses in cats is strongly related to their natural behavioural responses and to their social and communication systems in the wild. The cat has a range of subtle body postures and facial expressions which can be used to diffuse tension and avoid physical conflict and, for a solitary hunter, this is important in order to prevent injury and consequent threat to the individual’s survival. In addition cats use a range of vocalisations to further increase the success of communication so that fighting is usually the ‘last resort’ defence strategy.
==Aggression Towards People==
==Aggression Towards People==
Inter-cat aggression presents a particular problem because many of the aggressive incidents are not directly observed by the owner or may be misinterpreted when they are. Observation of the cat during the consultation is important but house visits may be preferable and when they are not possible consultation observation is is best augmented with video footage of the cat’s normal behaviour in its own surroundings. It is not acceptable to stage aggressive events for the purpose of making a diagnosis since this involves a serious risk of injury.
Inter-cat aggression presents a particular problem because many of the aggressive incidents are not directly observed by the owner or may be misinterpreted when they are. Observation of the cat during the consultation is important but house visits may be preferable and when they are not possible consultation observation is is best augmented with video footage of the cat’s normal behaviour in its own surroundings. It is not acceptable to stage aggressive events for the purpose of making a diagnosis since this involves a serious risk of injury.
====Important Aspects of History Taking====
====Important Aspects of History Taking====
*Historical description of aggressive incidents [starting with the first that the owner can remember]. Details of each incident should include location, persons/animals present, context, time, and target of the aggression.
*Historical description of aggressive incidents [starting with the first that the owner can remember]. Details of each incident should include location, persons/animals present, context, time, and target of the aggression.
*List of all situations in which low level aggression behaviour is seen [hissing, spitting, growling, eye contact, body posture].
*List of all situations in which low level aggression behaviour is seen [hissing, spitting, growling, eye contact, body posture].
*List of stimuli/events that elicit fear or anxiety.
*List of stimuli/events that elicit fear or anxiety.
==Immediate Intervention==
==Immediate Intervention==