Changes

==Introduction==

==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.  

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.  

*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.  

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.

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].

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 which may precede an aggressive outburst.

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 which may precede an aggressive outburst.

==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.

There have been various schemes suggested for categorising feline aggression. The first question to consider is whether the aggression is normally motivated or not. Normal aggression is contextually appropriate and usually relatively well controlled and predictable so it carries a good prognosis as long as the cat’s behavioural needs can be met within the domestic environment. Abnormal aggression can result from physical illness or inappropriate learning.

There have been various schemes suggested for categorising feline aggression. The first question to consider is whether the aggression is normally motivated or not. Normal aggression is contextually appropriate and usually relatively well controlled and predictable so it carries a good prognosis as long as the cat’s behavioural needs can be met within the domestic environment. Abnormal aggression can result from physical illness or inappropriate learning.

==Feline Aggression Studies==

==Feline Aggression Studies==

<font color="red">Better title needed. Not sure whether below is too UK based</font>

<font color="red">Better title needed. Not sure whether below is too UK biased</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%.

==Aggression Towards People==

==Aggression Towards People==

The most common motivational causes of aggression from cats to people include fear, anxiety, frustration and misdirection of predatory instinct. These produce offensive and defensive patterns of aggression. In some cases the human victim may not be the primary target for the aggressive behaviour and a diagnosis of redirected aggression may be made, but from a therapeutic point of view the motivational diagnosis, which is appropriate to the cat’s response to the primary target, is all important in formulating a successful treatment plan.  

The most common motivational causes of aggression from cats to people include '''fear, anxiety, frustration and misdirection of predatory instinct'''. These produce offensive and defensive patterns of aggression. In some cases the human victim may not be the primary target for the aggressive behaviour and a diagnosis of redirected aggression may be made, but from a therapeutic point of view the motivational diagnosis, which is appropriate to the cat’s response to the primary target, is all important in formulating a successful treatment plan.  

[[Category:To Do - Behaviour References]]

[[Category:To Do - Behaviour References]]

[[Category:Feline Aggression]]

[[Category:Feline Aggression]]

[[Category:To Do - Behaviour GGP]]

[[Category:To Do - Behaviour BS]]