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Misdirected Feline Predatory Behaviour Towards People (view source)

Revision as of 09:39, 28 August 2014

252 bytes removed , 09:39, 28 August 2014

→‎Diagnosis

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==Diagnosis==

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~~When taking~~ the ~~history it~~ is important to ~~fully~~ '''characterise every incident''':

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It is important to collect a detailed history that includes information about the kind of play that owners engage in with their cats, and how they react when the cat bites or claws them.

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Often misdirected predatory behaviour begins with '''inappropriate play'''; owners using hands or feet to lure a kitten or young cat into play. For example, games that involve wiggling fingers or toes to encourage a playful predatory attack. As the kitten grows and bites and scratches become more powerful, owners then turn to punish the cat to prevent biting. This often leads to emotional conflict, fear and frustration, which further intensifies ambushing and biting. There is a progression to more serious ambushes in which the cat waits for the owner and then lunges at or attacks them. [[Frustration-Related Feline Aggression Towards People|Frustration]] arises when the owner no longer playfully reciprocates the behaviour.

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Its is also important to '''characterise every incident''':

*The cat’s posture before, during and after an “attack”.

*The contexts in which the attacks typically occur.

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*The stimuli or events that prompted the final attack.

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The behavioural history usually indicates that the problem began with '''inappropriate play''', directed at hands and feet or involving chasing games. This has been actively encouraged by the owner, for example games that involve running fingers over the backs of sofas or encouraging attacks on feet or hands under the duvet. The games become less enjoyable as the cat becomes larger and able to inflict injuries. There is a progression to more serious ambushes in which the cat waits for the owner and then lunges at or attacks them. There may be an element of [[Frustration-Related Feline Aggression Towards People|frustration]] that the owner no longer playfully reciprocates the behaviour.

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'''In many cases of misdirected predatory behaviour the attack, or the preparatory stalking behaviour that preceded it, is being inadvertently rewarded by the human response'''. The cat gains attention, further play or finds the person's reaction stimulating or exhilarating.

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'''In many cases of misdirected predatory behaviour the attack, or the preparatory stalking behaviour that preceded it, is being inadvertently rewarded by the human response'''. The cat gains attention, further play or ~~simply revels in~~ the ~~victim’s~~ reaction ~~to being pounced on.~~

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One feature of predatory behaviour that differentiates it from play, is that the '''claws are usually extended and the bite is not inhibited'''. Bite intensity is under control of reflexes fed with information from local mechanoreceptors around the mouth, so that the victim’s movements will drive the bite to intensify.

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~~Elderly people and children are particularly at risk from this sort of behaviour and injuries are likely to be serious~~.

==Prevention==

Jon Bowen

694

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