Getting Started - Cat Aggression
Cat aggression can
be a serious and dangerous behavior problem. Because there are
many types of aggression. Making a diagnosis, determining the
prognosis (the chances of safe and effective correction) and
developing an appropriate treatment plan is best done by a
veterinary behaviorist or
veterinary behavior consultant.
It's important to rule out any possible medical causes for the
aggression. Before addressing the behavior, it's best to take
the cat to your regular
veterinarian for a thorough physical examination and diagnostic
tests to rule out underlying physical discomfort or hidden
illness.
Then to
treat or modify the cat's aggression, the type of aggression
must be identified: fear, territorial, parental, play,
redirected, predatory, petting-induced, pain-induced, social
status, medical or learned.
Sometimes, aggression is situational. In other words, certain
circumstances may trigger the cat's aggression. Is the
aggression specific to one family member, strangers, other pets
in the household, or strange pets? Keeping a behavioral
diary helps identify these circumstantial triggers.
Cats may display
more than one type of aggression. Treatment usually includes
behavior modification techniques and changes to the cat's
environment. Drug therapy may also be helpful for some forms of
aggression. |