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Aggression, Cat 39

to areas (passive aggression). History should • Aggression directed to household visitors: litter trays at a distance from each
other.
include a description and photos/videos of aim is to provide owners with management ○ Not all cats can be reintroduced; some
VetBooks.ir and physical signals, and the behavior • Cases that do not improve or resolve within • Anxiolytic medication may also be needed Diseases and Disorders
strategies
the physical location, body posture, vocal
must forever live separately.
a month or when the aggressive behaviors
sequences involved so that these can be used
in management and prevention.
behavior specialist
• Aggression may be associated with limited escalate should be referred to a veterinary to treat one or both cats.
○ Blood tests before starting medication;
resources (e.g., food, litter boxes, beds). auscultation possibly with an electrocar-
Acute General Treatment diogram for cats given tricyclic antidepres-
PHYSICAL EXAM FINDINGS • Any highly aroused cat should not be sants (TCAs), selective serotonin reuptake
Signs may be approached even to calm or reassure it inhibitors (SSRIs), or serotonin antagonist
• Visual (changes in body posture, piloerection) because of potential hypothalamic kindling. and reuptake inhibitors (SARIs)
• Auditory (hissing, spitting) The cat should be left alone until calm (at ○ TCAs: amitriptyline (0.5-1 mg/kg PO q
• Olfactory (spraying, scratching, or rubbing least 24-48 hours). 24h; average 5-10 mg/CAT PO q 24h)
areas rich in sebaceous glands that secrete • Aggressive cats should be separated so they (up to q 12h) or clomipramine (0.5 mg/
pheromones: chin, head, cheeks, tail base, can hear and smell but not see each other kg PO q 24h)
and whisker area) for a minimum of 3 days. ○ SSRIs: fluoxetine (0.5 mg/kg PO q 24h),
• Tactile (may involve use of teeth and/or • All situations that provoke aggression (e.g., paroxetine (0.5 mg/kg PO q 24h) or
claws) petting) should be avoided. If the aggression sertraline (0.5 mg/kg PO q 24h) for one
• General exam usually unremarkable but to people is severe, the cat should be moved or both cats
medical disorders should be ruled out to another room using heavy blankets for ○ SARI: trazodone (0.5 mg/kg; ≈2.5-3.0 mg/
protection; provided with food, water, and CAT, PO q 12h) may be useful for one
Etiology and Pathophysiology a litter tray and leave for 24-48 hours. or both cats
• The hypothalamus and amygdala are involved ○ Benzodiazepines such as alprazolam
in defense and aggression. Chronic Treatment (0.0125-0.025 mg/kg PO q 12h), oxaz-
• Monoamines and androgenic steroids act as In-house intercat aggression epam (0.2-0.5 mg/kg PO q 12h), diaz-
modulators of offensive and defensive aggres- • Each cat should separately be rotated around epam (0.2-0.4 mg/kg PO q 12h;
sive behaviors. the house for at least 2 weeks until its scent ≈1-2 mg/CAT PO q 12h) may be helpful
is present in all rooms. for victims.
DIAGNOSIS • While separated, feed and play with each ○ Buspirone (0.5-1 mg/kg PO q 8-24h) may
cat during a predictable time each day. Offer be helpful for cats that require more social
Diagnostic Overview favorite treats 5-6 times/day. confidence with the other cat.
The diagnosis is based on a history of passive • Gradually reintroduce the cats to each other ○ Some medications may take up to 6-8
or active aggressive incidents directed toward as one would a new cat. The aim is to create weeks to affect neurochemical and
other cats or people. positive associations between cats, and neuromolecular change; treatment for
feeding at a distance in each other’s presence 6-12 months or more is often necessary
Initial Database may help. (then wean gradually under veterinary
• CBC, serum biochemistry profile, urinalysis, ○ Cats must be very slowly reintroduced supervision).
diagnostic imaging: to rule out contributing only after they can be fed treats in each Intercat aggression involving non-household
medical factors and before prescribing other’s presence. At first, cats should be cats
medication in the same room during treat or meal • Contact between cats should be discontinued,
• A lead II electrocardiogram may identify cats times, possibly in cages or on harnesses even if this means confinement without visual
with cardiac conduction disturbances (QT at a distance from each other (e.g., at contact.
prolongation) that can increase risk of adverse opposite ends of a large room). The cats • Outdoor enclosures should be avoided; they
cardiac reactions to medications (rare). must be completely calm in each other’s prevent tactile contact but may allow other
presence, which may take weeks. social interaction that may cause the cats to
Advanced or Confirmatory Testing ○ If no hissing or spitting occurs and each become highly aroused.
• Diary of incidents (time, location) to cat eats the food, the harnessed/caged • Anxiolytic medication may be needed to treat
establish frequency, duration, and intensity cats are very gradually brought closer the cat(s) within the household, as above.
• Video of the cat’s interactions with other and closer to each other over a period of Aggression toward the owner
cats or people days and meals. This may take weeks to • It is important to identify and avoid all
• Video of the cat(s) when no people are home months. provocative situations (e.g., approaching,
to assess social relationships of cats ○ One cat at a time is unharnessed/uncaged petting).
to explore. If no aggression occurs, the • Owners should initiate behavior modifica-
TREATMENT other cat is released while the first is tion in which the cat is rewarded for calm
restrained/confined. behavior.
Treatment Overview ○ If no signs of aggression occur, both cats ○ The cat is taught to come or sit at the
• In-house intercat aggression: aim is for the can interact with supervision. owner’s request and rewarded with a treat.
cats to tolerate each other’s proximity by ○ Reintroduction must be very gradual. ○ If the cat solicits attention, the cat should
reducing the stress response, underlying ○ Caution is urged to avoid overzealous use be asked to sit and be rewarded. If the cat
arousal, and anxiety of crates/cages. Clients often attempt to does not sit, the owner should walk away.
• Intercat aggression to non-household cats: use cages in the hope that the cats accept • Desensitization and counter-conditioning
aim is to provide owners with management each other’s presence by continual expo- to handling and moving can be attempted
strategies sure (flooding). Flooding is almost always slowly using rewards for acceptable behavior.
• Aggression directed toward owners: aim is traumatic and may result in permanent • No physical punishment should be used. It
to help the owners manage the cat’s behavior damage. will exacerbate the problem, increase the
and risk by providing treatment and manage- ○ After cats are successfully reintroduced, underlying anxiety, and increase the risk for
ment strategies provide separate food/water bowls, bedding, injury.

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