Changes

The general method employed is:

The general method employed is:

*Identify the general class of target.

*Detail the characteristics of the target(s): age, height, hair colour, types of movement, clothing/appearance. List all of the features which affect the cat’s response so that they can be introduced during training.

*Grade the response to the target according to appearance or behaviour. Some cats are more aggressive towards men or children and may react differently according to their clothing, what the person is carrying or how they are moving. List all of the features which affect the cat’s response so that they can be introduced during training.

*Identify a way to present targets in a graded manner, starting with people with an appearance that is least likely to evoke any reaction. For example, some cats are more aggressive towards men or children and may react differently according to their clothing, what the person is carrying or how they are moving.

*Find a group of willing volunteers who will be able to act as stooges for training.

*Use volunteers who can be presented to the cat in a range of situations (and differing appearances) as part of training.

*Prepare the home environment with suitable escape places for the cat to use.

*Prepare the home environment with suitable escape places for the cat to use.

*Training is begun with the least fear and aggression evoking examples of the target class at a distance which does not trigger aggression.

*The cat may be kept on a harness and line for added safety.

*Training begins with people who are least likely to evoke a response, presented at a distance or in a manner that will not trigger aggression.

*The cat is provided with food rewards as a lure to leave the escape place and explore the environment with the target present.

*The cat may be kept on a harness and line for added safety, if there is a significant chance of an attack but the cat should be completely accustomed to the harness and leash before training with people starts.

*Over a number of sessions, that person is brought closer, making sure that, at no point, fear or aggressive arousal is elicited. They may also walk or run around faster, make noises, move about or carry items in a way that would previously have evoked more fear and aggression. These changes are introduced gradually, systematically and with sufficient distance to avoid aggression or fear.

*The cat is provided with food rewards as a lure to explore the environment with the target present.

*Over a number of sessions, that person is brought closer, making sure that, at no point, fear or aggressive arousal is elicited.

*Once the cat is not reacting to this, the person may stand up, move about, or make noises. These changes are introduced gradually, systematically and with sufficient distance from the cat to avoid eliciting aggression or fear.

*Training only continues with other progressively more fear eliciting persons as the cat ceases to respond to the less evocative ones.

*Training only continues with other progressively more fear eliciting persons as the cat ceases to respond to the less evocative ones.

By identifying the elements of a person’s appearance that the cat responds to, it is possible to do a lot of training with a limited number of volunteers, who can be dressed or disguised. Above all, in this example, it is important to note that ‘unfamiliarity’ is an element of the fear so the volunteers must not try to befriend the cat at any stage during training. Familiar individuals may only be used during training if they can be disguised or kept at a distance so that the cat cannot recognise them.

By identifying the elements of a person’s appearance that the cat responds to, it is possible to do a lot of training with a limited number of volunteers, who can be dressed up or disguised. Above all, in this example, it is important to note that ‘unfamiliarity’ is an element of the fear so the volunteers must not try to befriend the cat at any stage during training. Familiar individuals may only be used during training if they can be disguised or kept at a distance so that the cat does not recognise them.

====Clicker Training====

====Clicker Training====

In some instances clicker training may be an effective way of training cats to respond appropriately to the presence of people. First of all the cat is trained to associate the sound of a click with the delivery of a small food reward. This is achieved by clicking and then dropping a piece of food approximately 20-30 times until there is some sign of positive anticipation on the part of the cat.

In some instances clicker training may be an effective way of training cats to respond appropriately to the presence of people. The is trained to associate the sound of a click with the delivery of a small food reward. This is achieved by clicking and then dropping a piece of food approximately 20-30 times until there is some sign of positive anticipation on the part of the cat. Clicks are then only given when the cat carries out a specific behaviour, such as sitting. Once the cat is reliably sitting to get a click this behaviour can be ‘named’. Just as the cat is about to sit, the trainer says the command word that is intended to cue the behaviour: for example saying ‘sit’. After doing this a further 20-30 times most cats will be reliably trained to sit on cue (although often their responses are quite slow).

Clicks are then only delivered when the cat carries out a specific behaviour, such as sitting. Once the cat is reliably sitting to get a click this behaviour can be ‘named’. Just as the cat is about to sit, the trainer says the command word that is intended to cue the behaviour: for example saying ‘sit’. After doing this a further 20-30 times most cats will be reliably trained to sit on cue.

Cats that have already begun to associate the presence of visitors with the availability of food treats may be asked to sit and then repeatedly clicked and treated whist they stay calm. Alternatively, the cat may simply be clicked and rewarded repeatedly throughout the period while it remains calm whilst the person is present. The limitation to this kind of training is that the sound of the click may produce a startle response that increases fear and anxiety and cats can sometimes be more difficult to motivate through the provision of food than their canine counterparts.  

Cats that have already begun to associate the presence of visitors with the availability of food treats may be instructed to sit and then repeatedly clicked and treated whist they stay sat. Alternatively, the cat may be clicked and rewarded repeatedly throughout the period while it remains present with the person. The limitation to this kind of training is that the sound of the click may produce a startle response that increases fear and anxiety and cats can sometimes be very difficult to motivate with food rewards.  

====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 [[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 (such as people) this can increase the cat’s tendency to approach, rather than escape or avoid, and show [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Affiliative Behaviour|affiliative behaviour]]. 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 when the person or animal to whom F4 has been applied is an individual that the cat has past fearful experiences with.  

====Psychoactive Medication====

====Psychoactive Medication====

In some cases of fear-aggression, the use of psychoactive medication may be useful to support behavioural therapy. '''Selegiline''' may be used to '''reduce apprehension'''. The effect of this drug is to increase exploratory behaviour and confidence in fearful situations. It can also enhance the perception of reward, and thereby improve responses to counterconditioning procedures. However, by encouraging the animal to move closer to the target of the fear-related aggression there is an increased risk of injury if the person startles the cat by making a sudden noise or movement. This appears to be worst during the initiation of treatment (the first 4-6 weeks of medication).  

In some cases of fear-aggression, the use of psychoactive medication may be useful to support behavioural therapy. '''Selegiline''' may be used to '''reduce apprehension'''. It is licensed for the treatment of behavioural problems with an emotional origin in dogs, but is not licensed for use in cats. The effect of this drug is to increase exploratory behaviour and confidence in fearful situations. It can also enhance the perception of reward, and thereby improve responses to counterconditioning procedures. However, by encouraging the animal to move closer to the target of the fear-related aggression there is an increased risk of injury if the person startles the cat by making a sudden noise or movement. This appears to be worst during the initiation of treatment (the first 4-6 weeks of 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 of frustration are underlying factors'''. It may also be used to reduce impulsiveness, thereby making attacks less sudden and unsignalled. However, with all psychoactive medications that alter anxiety and fear, there dis a risk of disinhibition. Drugs 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==