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38 Aggression, Cat

Differential Diagnosis Acute General Treatment to eliminate more common and likely dif-
• Depends on specific cause and General supportive care ferentials using the history and pathophysi-
VetBooks.ir Initial Database Chronic Treatment • Report suspected cases of food-borne
pathophysiology
ologic results.
Depends on initial outcome and residual
illness to the state’s FDA Consumer Com-
• Thorough, complete history, including all
Safety/ReportaProblem/ConsumerComplaint
foods and products fed to the animal during compromise to physiological functions plaint Coordinator (http://www.fda.gov/
the past 2-4 weeks; any husbandry conditions Nutrition/Diet Coordinators/default.htm)
or activities allowing potential exposure to If the patient’s normal diet is a suspected cause,
other etiologic agents capable of producing change the food. Select new diet based on status Technician Tips
similar clinical presentations of major organ functions and on supportive Ask about all foodstuffs, including treats or
• Minimum database: physical examination, treatment goals. table scraps.
complete blood count, complete biochemical
profile, urinalysis Behavior/Exercise Client Education
Prevent access to extraneous sources if cause is • Product label should be kept as long as
Advanced or Confirmatory Testing determined to be from environmental exposure. product from a package is being fed. Label
Detection of suspected substance in food the contains key information (e.g., lot codes,
animal was eating before illness. Detection Possible Complications best-by dates, manufacturing location) to
assays should be validated for the substance in Chronic deficits to major organ system function allow follow-up sampling.
food. Identical microbial pathogens should be (e.g., renal, hepatic, endocrine) are possible. • Report a pet food product complaint elec-
confirmed in food and biological samples from tronically through the Safety Reporting Portal
the animal. Check with laboratory for specific PROGNOSIS & OUTCOME (https://www.safetyreporting.hhs.gov) or call
tests and preferred sample preparation. If food your state’s FDA Consumer Complaint
must be preserved before identifying appropriate Grave prognosis for aflatoxicosis. Prognosis for Coordinators (https://www.fda.gov/Safety/
laboratories and tests, it is usually best to other conditions varies by extent and duration ReportaProblem/ConsumerComplaint
double-bag in self-sealing plastic bags and freeze. of exposure to etiologic agent, organ compro- Coordinators/default.htm).
Product label should also be saved. mise, and treatment response.
SUGGESTED READING
TREATMENT PEARLS & CONSIDERATIONS National Research Council (NRC). 2005. Mineral
tolerance of animals revised, Washington, D.C.:
Treatment Overview Comments National Academy Press.
Change food to remove causative agent; stabilize • Food is generally easy to implicate, but rarely AUTHOR: William J. Burkholder, DVM, PhD, DACVN
critical physiologic functions; if definitive confirmed as the cause when necessary EDITOR: Jennifer A. Larsen, DVM, PhD, DACVN
cause established, administer specific therapy diagnostics are performed. Before investing
as indicated. in testing food for adulterants, it is prudent

Aggression, Cat Client Education
Sheet

BASIC INFORMATION of feline development when cats learn about extent to which seasonality affects aggression
other species) in neutered cats is unknown.
Definition • In utero and perinatal malnutrition
Feline aggression can be a threat, challenge, • Intracranial disease (e.g., toxoplasmosis, Clinical Presentation
or attack directed toward one or more ischemic encephalopathy, intracranial neo- DISEASE FORMS/SUBTYPES
individuals and can be intraspecific (between plasia, rabies), hepatic encephalopathy, lead May be passive (covert) or active (overt) and
cats) or interspecific (between different poisoning, arthritis, sensory deficits, hyper- involve a threat, challenge, or an actual attack
species). thyroidism, epilepsy, feline lower urinary • Passive aggression may involve behaviors such
tract disease, or any source of pain as staring, sitting in doorways, or blocking
Epidemiology • Medications such ketamine and glucocorti- access; owners may not recognize this as
SPECIES, AGE, SEX coids have been implicated. aggression.
Onset commonly occurs at social maturity (2-4 • Feline elimination disorders may be associ- • Active aggression is usually more obvious:
years of age) but can be seen at any age. Aggres- ated with unresolved intercat aggression hissing, spitting, growling, actual fighting,
sion is seldom recognized as a problem in kittens between cats in the same household. and biting.
because they are assumed to be playing.
CONTAGION AND ZOONOSIS HISTORY, CHIEF COMPLAINT
RISK FACTORS Bite or scratch wounds, pathogen transmission • Sudden onset of aggression between two or
• Underlying anxiety disorder through bites or scratches (e.g., cat-scratch more cats in a household or aggression to
• Hand rearing (failure to learn social rules disease, retrovirus) humans (owners or visitors). Aggression to
from other cats) humans may be redirected aggression.
• Feral kittens GEOGRAPHY AND SEASONALITY • Cats may stalk and bite owners when they
• Lack of exposure to humans between 2-7 Aggression between intact cats may be more move or attempt to approach/handle cat
weeks of age (this is a critical sensitive period apparent during the breeding season, but the (overt aggression). A cat may also block access

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