Correlation Between Aggression at the Veterinary Clinic and Problem Behaviors at Home for Cats in the U.S.
Introduction
This study aimed to investigate whether there is a connection between cats who exhibit aggressive behaviors at the veterinary clinic and those who face behavioral challenges at home. The study used an anonymous, online survey sent to cat owners, aged 18 and older, to collect data about their cat(s) and the environment of their home, as well as questions designed to investigate their cat’s behavior.
Results indicate that there is a correlation between the two variables, leading the authors of this study to conclude that it would be in the best interest of the cat for veterinarians, upon seeing concerning behavior issues in the office, to screen for behavioral issues in their home so that the issues can be addressed in order to increase the welfare of the animal.
An interview with Alison Gerken, Behavior Services, San Francisco SPCA Veterinary Hospital, San Francisco, Calif.:
Q: What made you want to study this in particular?
Our research was motivated by the recognized need for improved screening methods for pet cat behavior issues. While behavior medicine is of equal importance to other fields of veterinary medicine, it is often overlooked during routine veterinary visits. This may be attributed to the perception among veterinary professionals and pet parents that wellness visits generally do not allow sufficient time for comprehensive behavior assessments. Consequently, the identification of behavior problems in pet cats typically relies on guardians raising concerns to their veterinarians. However, some guardians may struggle to recognize behavior issues in their cats and may have misconceptions about cat behavior.
Indeed, in our experiences, it is not uncommon for guardians to report that their cats who exhibit fear and aggression at the veterinary clinic are “fine” at home. But are they really fine? This led us to question whether behavior concerns exhibited in the clinical setting may be indicative of underlying issues at home. By establishing a connection between certain behaviors in the veterinary clinic and behavior problems at home, clinicians could better and more promptly identify potential issues and the need for comprehensive behavior assessments, rather than solely relying on guardian reports. We elected to focus on aggression in the veterinary clinic because it is generally more readily recognizable by both veterinarians and guardians.
Q: Your discussion didn’t mention specialist feline behavior consultants. What do you think the role of a certified feline behavior consultant might be here?
The primary focus of this study was to determine the correlation between aggression during veterinary visits and behavior problems at home, so the specifics of behavior assessment and treatment were beyond the scope of the study. Nevertheless, incorporating a certified feline behavior consultant or training professional into a behavioral treatment plan may be beneficial. In light of the high prevalence of cats exhibiting aggressive behavior during veterinary visits, certified consultants and trainers can play a crucial role in positively conditioning cats to the experiences of transport and gentle handling.
Q: How might feline behavior consultants work with veterinarians to help cats and their humans avoid or address aggression issues?
Feline behavior consultants may collaborate closely with veterinarians to address and prevent aggression issues in cats, thereby enhancing the well-being of both felines and their human companions.
Feline consultants and trainers should recommend that clients seek veterinary evaluation for any behavior concerns, as these observed behaviors may indicate underlying physical issues contributing to aggression and/or may necessitate the administration of pharmaceuticals or supplements for treatment, and such recommendations should come solely from a veterinarian.
Consultants can offer to communicate directly with a client’s veterinarian with the client’s permission. Once permitted, behavior consultants can share relevant observations with the veterinarian regarding a cat’s behavior or physical appearance.
Consultants can also provide clients with information from evidence-based sources and avoid speculating or providing anecdotal evidence. By relying on scientific evidence and veterinary professionals, consultants can help to empower clients to make informed, reliable decisions regarding their cat’s health and behavior.
Where additional expertise is needed, consultants can refer clients to veterinary behavior specialists. This collaborative approach enables clients to access specialized care tailored to their cat’s specific needs.
Q: Did you find anything surprising about this study?
The present study yielded an interesting finding: As the number of cats in the household increased, the frequency of aggression decreased during veterinary visits. This study is the first, to the authors’ knowledge, to identify a potential link between multicat households and decreased aggression at the veterinary clinic.
Historically, there has been concern about elevated social and stress levels in multicat households (Elzerman et al., 2020; Heidenberger, 1997; Pryor et al., 2001; Ramos, 2019; Rochlitz 2005). However, some studies have found that cats from multicat households tend to display less aggression toward humans (Amat et al., 2009; Mikkola et al., 2022) and that the presence of other cats can be beneficial for fearful cats (Yamada et al., 2020).
An alternative explanation for this unexpected finding is that guardians with multiple cats may be more attuned to cat behavior and thus more capable of recognizing and addressing aggression and behavior problems. This highlights the importance of considering guardian knowledge and behavior in understanding feline behavior dynamics.
Further research is needed to explore the emotional and behavioral benefits of intraspecies relationships among cats in multicat households.
Q: What would you like to study as a follow-up to this research?
A potential follow-up study could focus on expanding the scope of investigation beyond aggression to encompass other manifestations of fear in cats during veterinary visits. By incorporating a broader range of clinical signs indicative of fear, such as avoidance behaviors, vocalizations, or changes in body language, we can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the prevalence and impact of veterinary visit stress and its associations with behavior issues at home. This expanded scope could provide clinicians with a more diverse set of objective clinical signs to utilize when screening for behavior problems in cats at home.
Furthermore, cats who exhibit more subtle signs of fear during veterinary visits may be at risk of having behavior issues overlooked or misattributed if not adequately screened. By identifying and addressing fear-related stressors more comprehensively, we can better support the well-being of cats both in veterinary settings and in their home environments.
Q: Do you have any personal experience with cats who are aggressive in the veterinarian’s office? Either in the clinic or in your personal life?
Certainly! I have extensive experience with cats displaying aggression during veterinary visits, both in my personal life as a cat guardian and in my professional capacity as a veterinarian specializing in behavior medicine.
In addressing fear and aggression during veterinary visits, my approach typically involves several key strategies:
- Conducting thorough evaluations of the cat’s physical health and wellness to identify any underlying medical conditions that may contribute to increased stress.
- Utilizing medications and/or supplements to alleviate anxiety associated with veterinary visits.
- Implementing management techniques within the home and veterinary environment and adhering to low-stress handling protocols during veterinary appointments to minimize fear and discomfort.
- Employing behavior modification techniques aimed at teaching the cat alternative coping skills and fostering a more positive emotional response to veterinary visits.
Whether it’s with my own cats or with feline patients under my care, I prioritize a comprehensive and tailored approach to address fear and aggression so that cats can receive veterinary care in a humane, safe and thorough manner.
Q: What would you like feline behavior consultants to take away from your study?
We hope that this study will prompt animal care professionals to conduct comprehensive behavioral assessments, thereby facilitating the identification of additional behavioral concerns when one of their clients reports aggression during veterinary visits. Moreover, we also hope that this study will underscore the importance of encouraging guardians to address any behavior concerns with their veterinarian.
References
Amat, M., de la Torre, J. L. R., Fatjó, J., Mariotti, V. M., Van Wijk, S., & Manteca, X. (2009). Potential risk factors associated with feline behaviour problems. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 121(2), 134-139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2009.09.012
Elzerman, A. L., DePorter, T. L., Beck, A., & Collin, J. F. (2020). Conflict and affiliative behavior frequency between cats in multi-cat households: a survey-based study. Journal of feline medicine and surgery, 22(8), 705–717. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X19877988
Heidenberger, E. (1997). Housing conditions and behavioural problems of indoor cats as assessed by their owners. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 52(3-4), 345-364. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-1591(96)01134-3.
Mikkola, S., Salonen, M., Hakanen, E., & Lohi, H. (2022). Fearfulness associates with problematic behaviors and poor socialization in cats. iScience, 25(10), 105265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2022.105265
Pryor, P. A., Hart, B. L., Bain, M. J., & Cliff, K. D. (2001). Causes of urine marking in cats and effects of environmental management on frequency of marking. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 219(12), 1709–1713. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2001.219.1709
Ramos D. (2019). Common feline problem behaviors: Aggression in multi-cat households. Journal of feline medicine and surgery, 21(3), 221–233. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X19831204
Rochlitz, I. (2005). A review of the housing requirements of domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus) kept in the home. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 93(1-2), 97-109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2005.01.002
Yamada, R., Kuze-Arata, S., Kiyokawa, Y., & Takeuchi, Y. (2020). Prevalence of 17 feline behavioral problems and relevant factors of each behavior in Japan. The Journal of veterinary medical science, 82(3), 272–278. https://doi.org/10.1292/jvms.19-0519
Dr. Alison Gerken is a board-certified veterinary behaviorist at the San Francisco SPCA. She completed her residency in clinical veterinary behavior medicine at the Florida Veterinary Behavior Service under the mentorship of Dr. Lisa Radosta, and she graduated from the University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 2017. Dr. Gerken has a special interest in feline behavior.
Dr. Kyuyoung Lee (DVM, MPVM, PhD) is a research professor in the School of Medicine at Korea University and a veterinary epidemiologist. He obtained his degree in veterinary medicine at Chungnam National University in South Korea in 2010 and his Master of Preventive Veterinary Medicine (MPVM) and PhD in epidemiology at the University of California, Davis in 2016 and 2020, respectively. At UC Davis, he was a postdoctoral researcher at the Center for Animal Disease Modeling and Surveillance until 2022. His major research interest is infectious disease epidemiology, but he has also been closely engaged in clinical veterinary research.
Dr. Melissa Bain is a veterinarian and professor of clinical animal behavior, and is board certified by both the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists and the American College of Animal Welfare. She received a master’s degree in advanced clinical research from the UC Davis School of Medicine in 2007. She is a past president of both the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists and the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, and is currently on the board of the American College of Animal Welfare. In 2016 she was selected as the Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year, awarded by the American Veterinary Medical Association, and in 2019 she received the Companion Animal Welfare Award from the World Small Animal Veterinary Association.
Dr. Sun Kim received her DVM from Chungnam National University, South Korea, in 2005 and a PhD degree from Seoul National University, South Korea, in 2023. She completed a veterinary behavior medicine residency at UC Davis in 2020. Dr. Kim then worked as a clinical professor at Chungbuk National University before relocating to Cornell in 2024 as the Dave and Cheryl Duffield Assistant Professor in the Duffield Institute for Animal Behavior and Department of Clinical Sciences. She is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists.
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Mike is an emerging animal behaviorist sitting in Minnesota in the US. He carries an MSc in social science research methods (U. of Kentucky) and brings a passion for understanding how the methods we favor shape the knowledge we privilege. Coming from careers in teaching and non-profit program evaluation, he found companion animal behavior by accident helping anxious feline friends in a unique shelter in Ohio. It is a privilege and a joy to combine these and advance the journal in this exciting time of growth.
Alexandra is a certified dog behavior consultant and holds a PhD in neuroscience. She has spent over a decade in academic research and is author of numerous scientific articles on different aspects of brain development, including olfaction, neurogenesis, and memory formation. Her work as a behavior consultant focuses on creating trusting relationships between humans and their dogs through communication, respect, and science-based knowledge. Alexandra is very dedicated to promoting more science within the dog training world. She supports dog guardians and professionals to build a solid understanding of scientific principles and provides guidance on how to apply these to life with dogs. She runs Canine Mindscape in Alicante, Spain.
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