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Cat
Diagnosing and Treating
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Aggression: Diagnosing and
Treating
Aggression is a serious and dangerous behavior problem
for cat owners. There are many different types of
aggression. Making a diagnosis, determining the
prognosis (the chances of safe and effective correction)
and developing an appropriate treatment plan are usually
best handled with a veterinary behaviorist. In some
cases medical conditions can contribute to aggression.
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Before a
behavior consultation your cat must have a thorough
physical examination and blood tests to rule out organ
dysfunction. To treat aggression, it is necessary to
determine which type of aggression your cat displays;
fear, territorial, parental, play, redirected,
predatory, petting-induced, pain-induced, social status,
medical or learned. Also determine in what circumstances
the pet is aggressive and whether the aggression is
toward family members, strangers, other pets in the
household, or strange pets. Keeping a diary can be
particularly useful. More than one form of aggression
may be exhibited. Behavior modification techniques
and/or changes to the pet’s environment will be
necessary to correct most aggressive problems. Drug
therapy can be a useful part of treatment for some forms
of aggression.
Fear aggression: what is it and how is it diagnosed?
Fear aggression arises when a cat is exposed to people,
other animals, places or stimuli (e.g. noises) that the
cat is unfamiliar with, or to situations previously
associated with an unpleasant experience. Although many
cats may retreat when fearful, those that are on their
own territory or are prevented from retreating because
they are cornered, are more likely to fight. If the
stimulus (person or animal) retreats or the pet is
harmed or further frightened in any way (e.g. a fight,
punishment), the fear is likely to be further
aggravated. In addition people or animals that do not
approach in a calm, confident or friendly manner are
more likely to be met with a fearful response. Fear
aggression toward family members might arise out of
punishment or other unpleasant experience associated
with them. Many cases of fear aggression are seen as
combinations or complicating factors of other forms of
aggression (territorial, maternal, redirected, etc.).
Fearful body postures in conjunction with aggression are
diagnostic of fear aggression. Behavior therapy perhaps
in combination with drug therapy can be used to treat
most cases of fear aggression.
Play aggression: what is it and how is it diagnosed?
Play aggression is commonly shown by young cats toward
people or other pets in the family. Overly rambunctious
play along with grabbing, stalking, pouncing, nipping or
biting of people or their clothing are common signs of
play aggression. Although it is a normal behavior it can
lead to injuries. If handled incorrectly it could lead
to more serious forms of aggression as your cat matures.
Play aggression is covered here.
Territorial aggression: what is it and how can it be
treated?
Territorial aggression can be exhibited toward people or
other animals (usually other cats) that approach or
reside on the pet’s property. Territorial aggression can
occur towards cats outside of the home, but also towards
cats that live in the household. This may be with the
addition of another cat, or when resident cats reach
social maturity at 1-2 years of age. Since the person or
other animal entering the property may also be causing
fear or anxiety, territorial aggression often occurs in
conjunction with fear aggression. Treatment on
territorial aggression is covered here.
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