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For general discussion on feline fear please see [[Feline Fear Overview]]. The basis of pet ownership is the bond people feel with their pets. Clients expect that the positive feelings that they, and others, have for the pet will be reciprocated. So, fear related problems in cats are a source of distress for owners, who cannot understand why a cat is avoidant of them and their visitors. Since the cat's primary means of coping with threat are avoidance and escape, [[Feline Aggression Towards People|aggression]] is less likely with cats than it would be with dogs. However, with the wrong approach and enough perseverance, any fear-related problem can [[Feline Aggression Towards People|progress to aggression]]. Since aggressive attacks by cats can cause serious injuries, once aggress is seen the whole style of treatment must change and some cat owners will be reluctant to proceed at all, so it is vital that the cat is not unintentionally provoked.

For general discussion on feline fear please see [[Feline Fear Overview]]. The basis of pet ownership is the bond people feel with their pets. Clients expect that the positive feelings that they, and others, have for the pet will be reciprocated. So, fear related problems in cats are a source of distress for owners, who cannot understand why a cat is avoidant of them and their visitors. Since the cat's primary means of coping with threat are avoidance and escape, [[Feline Aggression Towards People|aggression]] is less likely with cats than it may be with dogs. However, with the wrong approach and enough perseverance, any fear-related problem can [[Feline Aggression Towards People|progress to aggression]]. Since aggressive attacks by cats can cause serious injuries, once aggression is seen the whole style of treatment must change and some cat owners will be reluctant to proceed at all, so it is vital that the cat is not unintentionally provoked.

Fear of people is more likely in poorly [[Feline Socialisation|socialised cats]] or those that have been threatened or harmed by people in the past. Cats that are feral and have had no early rearing experience with people are a significant challenge and may be unsuitable as domestic pets. Cats that have a good early socialisation history but which have developed fear as a result of one or two aversive events may be easier to treat initially, but they often present a greater challenge as the full extent of the range of human-related stimuli they react to (clothing, size, vocal tone) becomes apparent over time.  

Fear of people is more likely in poorly [[Feline Socialisation|socialised cats]] or those that have been threatened or harmed by people in the past. Cats that are feral and have had no early rearing experience with people are a significant challenge and may be unsuitable as domestic pets. Cats that have a good early socialisation history but which have developed fear as a result of one or two aversive events may be easier to treat initially, but they often present a greater challenge as the full extent of the range of human-related stimuli they react to (clothing, size, vocal tone) becomes apparent over time.  

==Prevention==

==Prevention==

Studies, such as those by McCune, indicate that fearfulness/boldness is a heritable trait that is strongly influenced by paternity, and that willingness to approach and interact with unfamiliar people and objects is strongly influenced by experience during the sensitive period of development<ref>McCune, S. (1995) The impact of paternity and early socialisation on the development of cats' behaviour to people and novel objects. ''Applied Animal Behaviour Science''. 45(1-2), 109-124.</ref>. Since the [[Feline Socialisation|‘socialisation’ period]] of the cat ends at around 7 weeks, breeders must take responsibility for exposing kittens to a wide range of people and other species before homing.

Studies, such as those by McCune, indicate that fearfulness/boldness is a heritable trait that is strongly influenced by paternity, and that willingness to approach and interact with unfamiliar people and objects is strongly influenced by experience during the sensitive period of development<ref>McCune, S. (1995) The impact of paternity and early socialisation on the development of cats' behaviour to people and novel objects. ''Applied Animal Behaviour Science''. 45(1-2), 109-124.</ref>. Since the [[Feline Socialisation|‘socialisation’ period]] of the cat ends at around 7 weeks, breeders must take responsibility for exposing kittens to a wide range of people and other species before homing.

Owners seeking to acquire a kitten should be advised that:

'''Owners seeking to acquire a kitten should be advised that:'''

* Kittens that are the progeny of aggressive or fearful parents should be avoided.  

* Kittens that are the progeny of aggressive or fearful parents should be avoided.  

* Kittens that are reared in domestic environment, with exposure to unfamiliar people and a range of typical domestic stimuli and events are those which are most likely to develop without fear and anxiety problems.

* Kittens that are reared in a domestic environment, with exposure to unfamiliar people and a range of typical domestic stimuli and events are those which are most likely to develop without fear and anxiety problems.

This acquiring an adult cat, for example from a shelter, should be advised that:

'''Those acquiring an adult cat, for example from a shelter, should be advised that:'''

* When introducing new cats to the home, they should be provided with a secure space that includes all resources (food, water, latrine sites) and a number of hiding places.

* When introducing new cats to the home, they should be provided with a secure space that includes all resources (food, water, latrine sites) and a number of hiding places.

* The cat should be allowed to become [[Effect of Environment on Feline Behaviour|confident in its environment]] before introducing it to people.

* The cat should be allowed to become [[Effect of Environment on Feline Behaviour|confident in its environment]] before introducing it to people.

* Handling should be minimised until the cat has begin to approach and interact with people voluntarily.

* Handling should be minimised until the cat has begun to approach and interact with people voluntarily.

Feral cats may have great difficulty adapting to a domestic setting, and should not be taken on by inexperienced owners, or without support from a shelter that has experience of rehabilitating them.

Feral cats may have great difficulty adapting to a domestic setting, and should not be taken on by inexperienced owners, or without support from a shelter that has experience of rehabilitating them.

* Rearing history.

* Rearing history.

* Characterisation of the cat's response to people.

* Characterisation of the cat's response to people.

* Change in the response to people over time (starting with responses during development)

* Change in the response to people over time (starting with responses during development).

* Types of people, features of appearance and kinds of activity the cat reacts to.

* Types of people, features of appearance and kinds of activity the cat reacts to.

* Details of the owner’s previous attempts to treat or manage the problem, including their reactions to the cat’s fearful behaviour

* Details of the owner’s previous attempts to treat or manage the problem, including their reactions to the cat’s fearful behaviour.

==Treatment==

==Treatment==

The most important first step is to determine the owner's expectations and what might actually be achievable. Treatment is likely to involve a significant level of compromise by the owners, as it is unlikely that attempting to completely resolve a fear of people will be either successful or in the interest of the cat. Owners have to accept that avoidance is normal in cats and that that cat a fearful cat is unlikely to become highly sociable.  

The most important first step is to determine the owner's expectations and what might actually be achievable. Treatment is likely to involve a significant level of compromise by the owners, as it is unlikely that attempting to completely resolve a fear of people will be either successful or in the interest of the cat. Owners have to accept that avoidance is normal in cats and that a fearful cat is unlikely to become highly sociable.  

A treatment programme will include a combination of:

'''A treatment programme will include a combination of:'''

* Environmental modification

* [[Effect of Environment on Feline Behaviour|Environmental modification]]

* Client education

* Client education

* Provision of avoidance and escape opportunities

* Provision of avoidance and escape opportunities

* Controlled exposure (desensitisation and counterconditioning)

* Controlled exposure (desensitisation and counterconditioning)

* Psychoactive medication

* [[Role of Drugs in Behavioural Therapy|Psychoactive medication]]

* Pheromones

* [[Pheromonotherapy - Cat|Pheromones]]

Stress and emotional problems are of an additive nature; stress experienced in one aspect of life will heighten stress and emotional responses in other situations. It is important to improve the environment to provide the cat with a multitude of easily accessible resources and environmental enrichments, so that underlying sources of stress are reduced.

'''Stress and emotional problems are of an additive nature; stress experienced in one aspect of life will heighten stress and emotional responses in other situations.''' It is important to improve the environment to provide the cat with a multitude of easily accessible resources and environmental enrichments, so that underlying sources of stress are reduced.

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 a 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|(Felifriend)]] may improve tolerance of approach and handling by people when applied to them<ref>Mills, D.S., Dube, M.B., Zulch, H. (2012) Stress and Pheromonatherapy in Small Animal Clinical Behaviour. Wiley-Blackwell.</ref>. However, it appears only to be effective when the cat has not already accumulated a number of aversive experiences involving the particular person and situation. These cats may experience dissonance between the visual stimulus associated with threat and danger, and the pheromone cue that signals familiarity. Pheromones like F4 should only be used in conjunction with sensitive handling and behavioural techniques<ref>Mills, D.S., Dube, M.B., Zulch, H. (2012) Stress and Pheromonatherapy in Small Animal Clinical Behaviour. Wiley-Blackwell.</ref>.

There is some evidence that a synthetic analogue of the F4 fraction of feline facial marking pheromone [[Pheromonotherapy - Cat|(Felifriend)]] may improve tolerance of approach and handling by people when applied to them<ref>Mills, D.S., Dube, M.B., Zulch, H. (2012) Stress and Pheromonatherapy in Small Animal Clinical Behaviour. Wiley-Blackwell.</ref>. However, it appears only to be effective when the cat has not already accumulated a number of aversive experiences involving the particular person and situation. These cats may experience dissonance between the visual stimulus associated with threat and danger, and the pheromone cue that signals familiarity. Pheromones like F4 should only be used in conjunction with sensitive handling and behavioural techniques<ref>Mills, D.S., Dube, M.B., Zulch, H. (2012) Stress and Pheromonatherapy in Small Animal Clinical Behaviour. Wiley-Blackwell.</ref>.

Cats often respond best to desensitisation based approaches best. Counterconditioning is difficult as cats rapidly lose interest in appetitive stimuli (like food) when anxious or fearful.

Cats often respond best to desensitisation based approaches best. Counterconditioning is difficult as cats rapidly lose interest in appetitive stimuli (like food) when anxious or fearful.

Desensitisation should follow distinct stages, moving on from one stage to the next only when it is clear that the cat is coping well.  

'''Desensitisation should follow distinct stages, moving on from one stage to the next only when it is clear that the cat is coping well.'''

* One person, sitting down and dressed in a manner that is least likely to provoke a reaction, ignoring the cat and staying still and quiet.

* One person, sitting down and dressed in a manner that is least likely to provoke a reaction, ignoring the cat and staying still and quiet.

* Additional people, sitting down and dressed and behaving in the same neutral manner as above.

* Additional people, sitting down and dressed and behaving in the same neutral manner as above.

* The same people dressed with different types of clothing, gradually moving toward an appearance that is more fearful (e.g. dark clothes).

* The same people dressed with different types of clothing, gradually moving towards an appearance that is more fearful (e.g. dark clothes).

* One person, dressed in a non-provocative manner, standing up.

* One person, dressed in a non-provocative manner, standing up.

* Additional people, dressed in a non-provocative manner, standing up.

* Additional people, dressed in a non-provocative manner, standing up.

The critical aspect of desensitisation is that the stimulus (in this case a person) is presented in such a manner that it does not trigger a fear response. Realistically, with a cat confined in a home some level of fear or anxiety is almost certain, but this should be minimised.

The critical aspect of desensitisation is that the stimulus (in this case a person) is presented in such a manner that it does not trigger a fear response. Realistically, with a cat confined in a home some level of fear or anxiety is almost certain, but this should be minimised.

Psychoactive medication may be useful if the cat shows generalised signs anxiety or inhibition, or a delayed recovery after a person has left. Cats that are generally anxious and hesitant may not have the confidence to explore and use environmental enrichments or discover hiding and escape opportunities that have been set up for them. Drugs, such as fluoxetine and clomipramine, that reduce anxiety can be a useful adjunct in these cases. Selegiline reduces specific fearfulness and increases exploratory behaviour, and can be used to treat specific fears. None of these drugs has a UK license for the treatment of behavioural problems in the cat.

Psychoactive medication may be useful if the cat shows generalised signs anxiety or inhibition, or a delayed recovery after a person has left. Cats that are generally anxious and hesitant may not have the confidence to explore and use environmental enrichments or discover hiding and escape opportunities that have been set up for them. Drugs, such as [[Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (Clomipramine, Fluoxetine)|fluoxetine and clomipramine]], that reduce anxiety can be a useful adjunct in these cases. [[Selegiline]] reduces specific fearfulness and increases exploratory behaviour, and can be used to treat specific fears. None of these drugs has a UK license for the treatment of behavioural problems in the cat.

==Prognosis==

==Prognosis==

The prognosis depends very much upon the client’s ultimate expectations for the cat. If they expect to have a reasonably sociable house pet but are willing to accept that the cat may hide occasionally when visitors come to the home, then they may be satisfied with the results of behavioural therapy.

The prognosis depends very much upon the client’s ultimate expectations for the cat. If they expect to have a reasonably sociable house pet but are willing to accept that the cat may hide occasionally when visitors come to the home, then they may be satisfied with the results of behavioural therapy.

Indicators of a poor prognosis:

'''Indicators of a poor prognosis:'''

* Cat with poor socialisation history, or parents or siblings with known fear or anxiety problems.

* Cat with poor socialisation history, or parents or siblings with known fear or anxiety problems.

* Non-compliant owner(s) with unreasonable expectations.

* Non-compliant owner(s) with unreasonable expectations.

* Previous use of coercive methods to overcome problem (e.g. forced handling)

* Previous use of coercive methods to overcome problem (e.g. forced handling).

* Longstanding problem.

* Longstanding problem.

* A home environment that does not led itself to providing the cat with avoidance/escape opportunities (e.g. open plan or confined).

* A home environment that does not lend itself to providing the cat with avoidance/escape opportunities (e.g. open plan or confined).

* Busy, chaotic household.

* Busy, chaotic household.

{{Jon Bowen written

{{Jon Bowen written

|date = June 23, 2014

|date = August 28, 2014

}}

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[[Category:To Do - Behaviour References]]

[[Category:To Do - Behaviour References]]

[[Category:JBowen reviewed]]

[[Category:JBowen reviewed]]