Changes

{{KeyPoints

{{KeyPoints

|points = <br>

|points = <br>

*Early experience during the sensitive period affects the way a cat interacts with people.

*Recognise and predict signs of fearful arousal.

*A lack of appropriate handling between two and seven weeks of age can lead to defensively aggressive behaviour which can become pre-emptive in situations causing fear.

*Avoid uncontrolled exposure to fear-eliciting situations and events.

*Kittens should be reared in complex and stimulating environments with a wide range of noises and contact with people and animals so these do not produce fear, anxiety or stress in the future.

*Identify and grade the stimuli and events that evoke fear.

*Fear-related aggression towards people in the home is treated using desensitisation and counter-conditioning procedures, often supported by pheromonotherapy.  

*Desensitise and counter condition the cat to these stimuli and events, starting with stimuli that evoke the least response.

*Identify contexts and other stimuli that contribute to raised fearful arousal.

*Desensitise and counter condition the cat to these contexts and stimuli.

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====Pheromonotherapy====

====Pheromonotherapy====

'''Pheromonotherapy may be used to assist behavioural therapy'''. The [[Pheromonotherapy - Cat#F3|pheromone '''F3''' (Feliway)]] 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 [[Feline Aggression Towards Other Cats in the Same Household|cat to cat aggression within the same household]]. [[Pheromonotherapy - Cat#F4|'''F4''' (Felifriend)]] 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 [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Affiliative Behaviour|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) 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) 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 [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Affiliative Behaviour|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====

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.

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.

==Prognosis==

==Prognosis==

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[[Category:To Do - Behaviour References]]

[[Category:To Do - Behaviour References]]

[[Category:Feline Aggression Towards People]]

[[Category:Feline Aggression Towards People]]

[[Category:Feline Problem Behaviour]]

[[Category:Feline Problem Behaviour]]

[[Category:JBowen prereview]]

[[Category:JBowen reviewing]]