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June 9 - June 15, 2005 Edition
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Vet: Taming your wacky kitty June 9, 2005 By Michelle Gerhard Jasny, VMD My five-year-old daughter is obsessed with horses. Having read every children’s horsey book in the library, she has moved on to the adult equine section. As a result, my husband Max was recently reading her to sleep with a text on Equine Behavioral Modification — specifically, how to load a reluctant horse into a trailer. After she dozed off, Max came downstairs. “You know all the advice they give about horses is applicable to parenting,” he mused. “You can force an animal into a trailer by scaring or punishing it. That might work at first, but ultimately it will backfire and you end up with a horse (or a kid) who is even more anxious, terrified, or rebellious.” No, I’m not writing a column on horse behavior, other than to say I quit equine work in large part because I have absolutely no knack for horse psychology. Nor am I qualified to write a parenting advice column, as can be attested to by the daily spectacle that occurs in my house called “getting the kids ready for school,” which closely resembles loading two wild mustangs into the aforementioned trailer. I do, however, have a knack for cats, so let’s talk about the nuts and bolts of changing undesirable kitty behaviors. The basic principles can be applied to other species, as well. So you bring Bad Cat to the vet for, say, a nail clip (for which we have allotted five minutes in our schedule). Claws clipped, as you are walking out, you say, “Oh, by the way, BC has been peeing on the rug (biting strangers, clawing the sofa, fighting with the other cat). What should I do?” My first answer is that you should schedule another appointment. A behavior consultation requires a minimum of 20 to 30 minutes to do properly. One on-line pet behavior guru has an 11-page questionnaire she advises giving to owners for these consults. Behavior problems are not afterthoughts to be tacked onto the end of a routine visit. Not if you really want effective evaluation and treatment. But let’s imagine it’s a slow day at Dr. Jasny’s, so we sit down to discuss BC’s issues. What’s the problem? The first thing to assess is whether the “problem” is a normal behavior. For example, scratching on furniture is a normal kitty activity. Sure, we can try to change it, but it’s not truly pathological. Next, is there an underlying medical problem? A comprehensive work-up is often indicated. Urinating or defecating inappropriately can be the result of infections, cancer, inflammatory conditions, etc. Aggressive behavior may stem from arthritis, dental disease, and other painful conditions. Together we evaluate BC. Is the behavior new or long-term? How old is BC? Our medical work-up and differential diagnosis should be age-appropriate. A two-year-old cat probably doesn’t have arthritis pain causing irritability, but a 14-year-old senior may have trouble negotiating a flight of stairs to get to a litter box, resulting in inappropriate urination. A 10-year-old who has always been cranky and prone to aggressiveness...well, it may just be her personality. That said, some times you have to get the scared horse into the trailer. How do we change undesirable behaviors? Each specific problem has specific solutions, but the fundamentals remain the same. Begin by changing the physical environment to remove the stimulus that triggers the undesirable behavior. In plain English, if BC is sharpening his claws, cover the couch. Urinating in the bedroom? Close the bedroom door. Attacking company? Put him in a cage when friends arrive. Next, use positive reinforcement to reward positive behavior. Animals respond to praise, treats, play, petting, even massage. Figure out what floats BC’s boat, then reward him as soon as you catch him doing what you want. Rewards given immediately after the desired behavior are most effective. My kids will set the table for a cookie tonight, but not for the promise of a cookie tomorrow. Reward him every single time. Intermittent rewards only work after BC has truly learned the new behavior. Reward him for “precursor” behavior. In other words, if BC is even thinking about doing what you want, he gets a treat. If he sniffs the new scratching post, reward him. Then maybe he’ll sniff again. Reward him. He’s getting the idea. The more he hangs out at the new scratching post, the more likely he will eventually actually scratch it and leave your fancy furniture alone. Walk that scared horse by the trailer every day with a carrot in your hand. Screams or drugs? Interrupting inappropriate behavior is often necessary, but do not punish BC. Punishment will only make him more fearful or reactive. For cats, a loud noise will often disrupt the undesirable behavior. (This works for kids and horses too, but I wouldn’t recommend it.) Be sure whatever technique you use does not scare, or hurt, him too much. Then encourage the desired behavior. Move him to the scratching post and give him a treat. Carry him from the rug he’s peeing on to the litter box. Other bad habits may be eliminated by ignoring them, as long as they are not dangerous. If BC wakes you at 3 am every morning and you actually get out of bed and feed him, what has he learned? That it pays to be a pain at 3 am. If you ignore him consistently, eventually he will give up. Theoretically. Some cats are inordinately persistent. What about drugs? Medications alone are unlikely to be effective without environmental and behavioral modification. Very few of these drugs are officially approved for use in cats. Most need to be given for at least four to six months before behavior consistently improves. All have potential adverse side effects. In a society that turns quickly to pharmacological solutions for everything from depression to hyperactivity, pets are being medicated for behavioral problems more and more often. Yes, medications have their place, but they are not a panacea. I remember giving many a nervous horse a tranquilizer injection to ease that walk up the trailer ramp. That doesn’t mean we should tranquilize children who can’t sit still in school, or that drugs alone will solve more complex behavior issues in any species. Bottom line for behavior challenges: rule out medical problems, recognize normal aging changes and normal behavior, accept your pet’s inherent temperament, and have realistic expectations. Reward positive behavior quickly and consistently. Don’t expect a quick fix or a miracle. Be persistent. Be patient — whether you’re dealing with cats, horses, or kids. |
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