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Facial and flank pheromones are used by cats to mark their core territory; an area in which cats do not expect to encounter hostility from conspecifics. Behavioural therapy involving controlled exposure is best performed in an environment where the cat already feels secure, such as within its core territory. The use of synthetic analogue of F3 (Feliway) may enhance this core territory effect, to help provide a setting within which behavioural therapy can take place. However, studies have indicated that the "calming" effect of the synthetic pheromone does not necessarily increase tolerance of handling and other procedures<ref>Kronen, P.W.,, Ludders, J.W., Erb, H.N., Moon, P.F., Gleed, R.D., Koski, S. (2006) A synthetic fraction of feline facial pheromones calms but does not reduce struggling in cats before venous catheterization. ''Vet Anaesth Analg". 33(4):258-65</ref>, so behavioural therapy must still respect the tolerance limitations of the individual cat.
Facial and flank pheromones are used by cats to mark their core territory; an area in which cats do not expect to encounter hostility from conspecifics. Behavioural therapy involving controlled exposure is best performed in an environment where the cat already feels secure, such as within its core territory. The use of synthetic analogue of F3 (Feliway) may enhance this core territory effect, to help provide a setting within which behavioural therapy can take place. However, studies have indicated that the "calming" effect of the synthetic pheromone does not necessarily increase tolerance of handling and other procedures<ref>Kronen, P.W.,, Ludders, J.W., Erb, H.N., Moon, P.F., Gleed, R.D., Koski, S. (2006) A synthetic fraction of feline facial pheromones calms but does not reduce struggling in cats before venous catheterization. ''Vet Anaesth Analg". 33(4):258-65</ref>, so behavioural therapy must still respect the tolerance limitations of the individual cat.
There is some evidence that a synthetic analogue of the F4 fraction of feline facial marking pheromone ([[Pheromonotherapy - Cat|F4 (Felifriend)]]) is applied to the person acting as the stooge and the environment is one in which an [[Pheromonotherapy - Cat|F3 diffuser (Feliway)]] is operating. However, F4 should be used with care as it can induce [[Feline Fear Overview|panic]] in cats that already have memories of specific aversive events involving people. These cats experience a dissonance between the visual stimulus associated with threat and danger, and the pheromone cue that signals familiarity.
If the cat has already shown different levels of fear according to the appearance of the people it has encountered, then a list should be made of the features of appearance the cat tolerates least. Typically, animals least like tall people wearing dark clothing, hats or hoods, because these make them seem more threatening. This enables therapy to start with people who dress and behave in the ways that the cat is most likely to accept. A good starting point is to start with female volunteers sitting down and wearing light coloured casual clothing. Cats that show signs of fear when they hear unfamiliar voices may be desensitised to these noises using recordings or radio programmes.
If the cat has already shown different levels of fear according to the appearance of the people it has encountered, then a list should be made of the features of appearance the cat tolerates least. Typically, animals least like tall people wearing dark clothing, hats or hoods, because these make them seem more threatening. This enables therapy to start with people who dress and behave in the ways that the cat is most likely to accept. A good starting point is to start with female volunteers sitting down and wearing light coloured casual clothing. Cats that show signs of fear when they hear unfamiliar voices may be desensitised to these noises using recordings or radio programmes.
As the cat becomes confident with several different people dressed on different occasions in a wide selection of clothes, the next stage is for the cat to encounter these same people while they are standing up. This will make them appear larger and therefore more dangerous. In successive stages the volunteers should begin to move about slowly, then more rapidly, but always remaining disinterested in the cat.
As the cat becomes confident with several different people dressed on different occasions in a wide selection of clothes, the next stage is for the cat to encounter these same people while they are standing up. This will make them appear larger and therefore more dangerous. In successive stages the volunteers should begin to move about slowly, then more rapidly, but always remaining disinterested in the cat.
Treatment Summary:
Treatment Summary: