Dealing with the shelter cat-astrophy: Behavior problems of the shelter cat (Proceedings)

Feline aggression is a very common behavior problem and can pose a challenge due to limited resources, space and time. More often than not a visitor or handler can easily become the target of the aggression. Bites to handlers pose a big problem in the shelter, as these animals will then have to be quarantined, which not only increases their length of stay, but further decreases their positive interactions with humans.  In this presentation we will discuss approaches to feline aggression.

Dealing with the shelter CAT-astrophy: Behavior problems of the shelter cat

Feline aggression is very common behavior problem not only in shelter animals. Aggression can involve unsolicited attacks towards people or other animals. The injuries can range from mild scratches with claws to strong inhibited bites that break the skin. Bites to human handlers pose big problem in the shelter, as these animals will then have to be quarantined for 10 days, which not only increases their length of stay, but further decreases their positive interactions with humans during this time. This can then lead to a significant rebound effect of the aggression (quarantine = no visits).  At the SPCA we have noticed that a numbers of bite cases involves young cats with a high play drive. Naturally, all young cats have the need to play, explore and “hunt”; however, some cats have a stronger need to perform these types of behaviors than others. To offer such opportunities in a shelter type situation can pose a challenge due to limited resources, space and time. The size of housing is often restricted, in addition to limited mental and physical enrichment opportunities. More often than not, a volunteer visitor or a handler is the only moving object and can easily become the target of the aggression. Play–related aggression sounds benign, but can still result in severe injuries depending on the bite inhibition. Different approaches to play aggression is needed in the young shelter cat, which starts with assessing young cats to determine play motivation and the initiation of a behavior plan specifically tailored to the needs of these young cats. In addition to implementing a behavioral treatment plan with proper mental and physical enrichment, it is equally crucial to teach handler and volunteers to read feline body language carefully.

Body language, behavior, and vocalizations are key elements to understanding our feline friends, patients and shelter animals and continuous education is needed to improve communication.  Indicators such as the look in cat's eyes, the tone of her voice, the position of her ears, and the motion of her tail can provide important clues that reveal her feelings and intentions. One can learn to "read" these signals so as to get a better idea of what's on a cat's mind. However, keeping in mind that no feline mood can be completely interpreted without taking the entire body postures, vocalization and the situation the cat is in, into account.

Vocalization

The cat has indeed many different forms of vocalization. Most cat owners know when to give their cat attention or when it is time to feed her (at least in your cat's opinion). They know when the cat is happy and most veterinarians have heard a really angry cat – those emotions are differentiated by the different tones and noises.

Facial expression

Eyes, ears and the mouth should be observed closely, as they can give important clues as to the mood of the cat. Pupils can be either constricted or dilated, but in general, fully dilated pupils can show either fearfulness or extreme playful arousal, either way not a good time to approach a cat. Fast swiveling ears for example signal a highly alert cat that might be very attentive and listening to every little sound and might readies itself to pounce. An open mouth with a lifted head and slightly flicking tongue is a cat that is doing the “Flehmen” response and is intent on taking in new smells. Most people can determine the difference between a fearful and a very confident cat's body language.

Distance increasing signs to look for!

• Happy and Content: Sitting or lying down, eyes half-closed, narrow pupils, tail mostly still, ears forward, purring. 

• Playful: Ears forward, tail up, whiskers forward, pupils somewhat dilated. Usually young cats. Different forms of play exist: object play, social play, predatory play.

• Rubbing: Chin and body against a person, tells us that the cat wants her smell on you, similarly as she rubs the couch and other things in her home. It is a sign of comfort and she might be marking her territory.

Kneading: The cat uses both paws with a massage like motion mostly on a soft surface, some people call it "making biscuits", similarly to a kitten when suckling.  When a cat does this, she is really happy.

Distance decreasing signals are not to be ignored!

• Irritated, over-stimulated: Pupils dilating, ears turning back, tail twitching or waving. The cat may growl or initiate biting as a distinct warning. Intense play can quickly turn to overstimulation in some cats, resulting in biting and scratching. Redirection is needed immediately before it escalates.

• Nervous, insecure, fearful: Ears sideways or back, pupils dilating, tail low or tucked between legs. Low body posture, wants to hide, turns away

• Frightened, startled: Ears back and flat against head, whiskers back, back arched, fur standing on end, tail erect or low. May yowl, growl, hiss, and spit.

• Fearful, aggressive: Crouched position, ears flattened, whiskers back, tail between legs or wrapped around body, pupils dilated. May meow loudly, growl, hiss, and spit.

• Aggressive, offensive: Ears back, pupils very constricted, tail up or down with fur standing on end. Hard stare or growl, hiss and swat.

Aggression towards people is a common feline behavior problem and can be roughly classified into fear-related, play-related, petting-induced, redirected and pain-related. Understanding feline-specific needs are crucial to prevent or treat human-directed aggression. Especially in a shelter environment stress needs to be recognized as a major element in aggression; however, exactly how stress mechanisms interact during feline aggression is yet poorly understood. Nonetheless, it is important to understand that the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis is activated by behavioral responses. It is important to keep this in mind when addressing human directed aggression in the shelter, because often times exposure to unfamiliar people is perceived as a stressor or threat, and therefore the presence of a person can activate the physiological stress response.

When faced with the history of aggression in the shelter the veterinarian needs to determine whether the aggression is caused by medical or internal (metabolic/organic), psychological, or external triggers (people, animal, noises, smells, etc.).  Pathological reasons for aggression have been reported to be more common in cats than in dogs. Medical problems can lead to irritable, pain-induced, or truly pathological aggression; therefore, a detailed medical work-up based on clinical signs is of utmost importance when treating any form of aggression.  This can be a limiting factor in a shelter environment due to allocation of the resources.

Forms of aggression

Fear aggression

Cats with fear-aggression towards humans view humans as a threat. The triggers can include tactile, visual, auditory, and olfactory stimuli of humans. Fear behaviors are triggered by the “Flight or Fight” nervous system and are not under voluntary control.  This from or aggression can be seen frequently in the shelter or at a veterinarian's office.  Due to the physiological aspect, these cats can show high arousal (dilated pupils, tense body language, hiss, piloerection) and when not given an opportunity to flee might attack in a defensive or even offensive manner.  Most cats with this form of aggression display avoidance, or freeze-responses, and overt attacks are their last resort. There is no age or breed predilection for this forms of aggression. This behavior can be within the range of normal cat behavior, and is mostly determined by genetics and by environmental factors.

Play aggression

This a commonly reported form of aggression in young shelter cats due to confinement and can involve unsolicited attacks, anywhere from light scratches to hard uninhibited skin breaking bites. This form of aggression does often not include overt warning signs due to the nature of the aggression being play also thought to serve predatory practice. The postures of these cats include low body posture, hiding, stalking, chasing and pouncing. Shelter staff and volunteers should be educated as to play using their hands or feet, but rather, should use appropriate wand or string toys from the beginning.

Petting induced aggression

Feline social interactions often include the solicitation of attention by rubbing against humans and a cat might appear to accept or even enjoy physical affection from people but then suddenly becomes over-stimulated by these interactions and might turn towards the hand and bite. This is a common presentation in the shelter and is to some degree normal cat behavior, but might be seen due to deprivation of physical interactions and over stimulation during visits by volunteers. Underlying pain and discomfort to touch in certain areas must be ruled out.

Other forms of aggression include redirected-aggression where by aggressive arousal is elicited by any trigger other than the target and can include the sound, sight or smell of other animals or people, as well as any underlying pain and discomfort. The aggression is directed towards a seemingly irrelevant, but close-by target. This can be seen in a shelter with a cat displaying primary intercat aggression and handling or visiting staff or volunteers are the victims.

Rarely and often over-diagnosed is territorial and status aggression during which valuable resources such as territories, resting spots, food, mates or litter boxes are being defended. Territorial and status aggression is displayed by a very confident cat and it can occasionally be directed at humans, but most likely will be directed towards other cats.

The treatment of any form of human-directed aggression should combine management strategies, behavior modification, and can in some cases involve the use of medications.

Treatment plan

• Management: Safety and Avoidance
• Identify trigger(s): Avoid and Redirect, Watch closely for playful body postures and redirect to appropriate play, Environmental Enrichment

• Behavior modification:

• De-escalate aggressive behavior and reward for calm and relaxed behavior, never use physical punishment, implement multiple short visits (log outside the room)

• Other treatments:

Psychotropic medications, Pheromone or neutraceutical therapy, regular nail trims and clicker training