Changes

Elderly people and children are particularly at risk from this sort of behaviour and injuries can be serious due to pathogenic bacterial infection after a bite or scratch.

Elderly people and children are particularly at risk from this sort of behaviour and injuries can be serious due to pathogenic bacterial infection after a bite or scratch.

==Diagnosis==

==Investigation==

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.

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.

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.  

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.