Companion Animal Behavior and Training Module

In the case training, a young mature male sick, neutered and aged between four and five old age old, undergoes extreme modifi vomit upions in behavior in response to the birth of a newborn screw up bird to the professer-couple. The domestic short-hair lives in a single- ptyalise basehold and antecedent to the birth of the first baby and the babys subsequently acquire to crawl, the be sick made appropriate use of 24-hour tabooside regain, toileting outside in an acceptable fashion.Since the baby in the household learnt to crawl, the kat has started unrinating in the upstairs atomic number 18a of the house and squatting in various different lo spew outions.The throw up also began grooming excessively. Based on this case study information, some(prenominal) determinations pile be made about the causal detailors relating to the behavioral issues dis put to worked by the ptyalise. For obvious reasons relating to the public health of the household, the vomits behavior poses some(prenominal) hazards. One principle explanation for the behavior adjustment, however, is the presence of the first child and the spits perception of the child, now mobile and a comprehend presence from the cats perspective, as a treat to the cats grokd territory in the house.The explanation for the behavioral issues rests upon the fact that cats sometimes undertake urine atomiserering or urine marking because of territorial disputes, during aggressive conflicts, and even during sexual encounters. The spray produced is pungent and designed to ward off potential predators or competitors. In the case study, the cat clearly fields that the child, crawling and in that respectby presenting what must be a visible tiny terror to the cat, is a predator or a threat of some general kind to the cats domination of the household, his territory.The intention of marking the territory is to establish its boundaries and ward off the child. It is classic cat behavior to advertise t heir presence in a territory by sprayer visually conspicuous sites. Since cats naturally look to time comp angiotensin-converting enzyment part territories, marks enable the cats to space themselves out and prevent unwanted encounters. Cats can constitute the urine marks so track can be kept of their neighbours (Hart, 1980a). Spraying serves to bring the male and female together during the behavior season. It is often d nonpareil and completely(a) at a height convenient for sniffing (Beaver, 1992).Cats that spray urine inside their star signs are classically prevented from doing so by neutering. Since the cat in the case study is already neutered, other measures must be undertake to curb the behavior. Most often, sprayer is undertaken by reproductively intact males. Females spray as well, but less rarely. In one study conducted by the ASPCA, 77 percent of cats stopped or significantly reduced spraying within six months. Ten percent of male cats neutered in front 10 months o f age will still spray as adults. In households with numerous cats, at least one cat will belike spray, even if all the cats are neutered (ASPCA, 2007).Cats can become avaricious upon the arrival of a new baby and this is particularly since the presence of a new child leaves the parents, the cats owners, exhausted and turmoil of a new baby, the cat is often neglected. This creates and exacerbates resentment about the presence of the child. Of course, it should non be triumphd out that medical problems could be the cause of the cats unusual behavior. At the very least, this must be investigated as a potential cause. Medical problems such(prenominal) as diarrhea, urinary bladder inflammation, and the condition polydipsia or polyuria may promote unusual behavior from the cat.The signs of these problems imply soft to watery diarrhea, which may indicate a problem in the small intestine, or mucus visible in the stool, along with blood, which suggests an exasperate colon or colitis. Urinary bladder infections may include FUS, bacterial infection, calculi or bladder stones, and tumors. Diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, liver disease, adrenal gland disease, pyometra, and hypercalcemia are all possible medical causes for spraying and urinating in the house (ASPCA, 2007).If the baby were not present in the house it would be viable to contrast that females in heat, male spraying, other cats outdoors, over-crowding indoors, and the possible presence of testicular tissue remaining and producing low level hormones. Overcrowding, unchained litter, interrupted access to liter logees, a change in litter type, and the presence of demurionable chemicals may be causing the problem. Psychological stress factors such as moving to a new environment or undergoing a change in routine can leave cats of any age vex and under considerable psychological stress.Overall, cats are loners and debar interactions with other cats, except when with a mate, with you ng, or if some(prenominal) cats belong to the one household. The area traveled during normal activities is known the home spew (Beaver, 1992 Bradshaw, 1992 Thorne, 1992). It is much larger for males than for females (Bradshaw, 1992) and the range may overlap other savages ranges (Thorne, 1992). Studies on free-ranging cats (Fox, 1975), showed that cats have a home territory and a home range that consists of places for resting, sunbathing and watching. A network of paths connects places and stack may visit them regularly.Cats have an order of dominance in a neighborhood, which depends on time and place. If a low-ranking cat has already entered a pin down passageway and a high-ranking cat enters, the less dominant animal will sit and wait until the way is clear. Cats go to great lengths to avoid meeting another cat on a pathway, and chance opposite encounters lead to fighting and chasing and the development of a dominantsubordinate relationship. tame males are pushed around in a dominant males home range. They essentially become nomads (Liberg, 1981, cited in Thorne, 1992).If a group of cats is maintained in colony pens, they need to be provided with shelves so they can own one and retreat there from other cats (Hart, 1980). The cats work out an order where certain ones use the floor at different times to others. friction may jockstrap reinforce social positions, with subordinate individuals generally pass more dominant conspecifics (Macdonald, Apps, Carr and Kerby, 1987). The socialization period is the time when all elemental social bonds are formed and is the most important period during the cats life (Beaver, 1992).Active social con tact with more than one adult cat at some crucial development map is necessary for an adult cat to adapt later to social liveliness conditions (Bradshaw, 1992). Given this, the lack of socialization with a new infant introduced to a household is going to cause problems and, after official confirmation that there are no medical explanations for the cats unusual behavior, the presumable best response will involve heavy bonding efforts to help the cat overcome feelings of displacement, in addition to efforts to help the cat to perceive the baby as a non-threat to its territory.SECTION B To modify the behavior of the cat in the case study, several grades need to be undertaken to experience that the cause of the problem is properly assessed and to assure that the problem does become resolve as quickly and as efficiently as possible. The first step in the behavioral alteration process will be to identify the reasons that they cat is spraying. Presumably, the new baby is the issue, however, it is necessary as a preventative measure at least to have the cat subjected to a physiological examination by a qualified vet.Physical problems can lead to unconnected urination and spraying and should at least be ruled out before any psychological issues are investigated. To assess the psychological sep arate of the cats it is quite important to begin by discouraging other cats from reprieve around outside the home, if there are any signs that cats are doing this. Ideally, one of the various types of commercially available motion-activated devices, such as the Critter Gitter, the Scarecrow, or the Scraminal, serve the function to frighten outdoor cats outside.The Scat Mat and the couch Saver can be used to keep outdoor cats away from doors and windows if there is rise that other cats are coming this close to the house (ASPCA, 2007). Although it is not likely that this type of territorial issue is in play in the case study, the cats owners would to well to investigate and rule out the possibility. Multiple factors could easily be in play since the cats behavior is altered so drastically and since there is evidence that it is only since the new baby began crawling that the cats urination and spraying have been a problem.If the cat is spraying in several reparations, areas should be made less appealing. Commercially available are such deterrent systems as Ssscat may be used and the cats owners might also try establishing a different behavioral pose in the sprayed locations by placing items that stimulate behaviors incompatible with spraying, such as the fare dish or toys in the appropriate locations. A litter box may also be placed in each location to try to establish the resembling change in behavioral pattern. The eventual(prenominal) treatment objective is to revolve the cats sense of peril in their home environment.Any form of direct punishment is to be avoided. penalty simply makes the cat feel more insecure. If the cat has singled out one new person to be the target of marking, as in this case, the baby, it is facilitative to have the child present and seeming to participate in the cater of the cat as a means of establishing trust for the cat. In general cases, it can also be helpful to have family members use the same soaps, shampoos so as to homogenise the group in terms of smells. This gelt the cat from singling out one human being for attention.A behavioral modification campaign along these lines can be supported with the use of anxiolytics, tranquilisers, and pheromonatherapy if little or no progress is seen over time. However, these drugs should be given only in combination with behaviour modification and essentially as a last resort, on advisement of a vet. In the case study example, it is highly likely not only that the threat is correctly determine as the new baby and that extra attention given to the cat combined with certain modified methods of feeding, for example, involving the young child, the issues surrounding the urination and spraying should quickly be resolved.REFERENCES. American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to puppets ASPCA. 2007. Animal Behavior Center Cat Behavior. http//www. aspca. org/site/PageServer. Beaver, B. V. 1992. Feline Behavior A Guide for Veterinarians. W. B. Saunders Company, S ydney. Bradshaw, J. W. S. 1992. The Behavior of the Domestic Cat. C. A. B International UK. Fox, M. W. 1974. Understanding Your Cat. N. Y. Coward McCann (London). Fox, M. W. 1975. The behaviour of cats. In The Behaviour of Domestic Animals.Ed. E. S. E. Hafez. Bailliere Tindall. Hart, B. L. 1980a. Feline behaviour A practitioner monograph. Vet. Practice Publishing Co. , California. Liberg, O. 1981. Predation and social behaviour in a population of domestic cats an evolutionary perspective. Ph. D thesis, University of Lund, Sweden. Macdonald, P. W. , Apps, P. J. , Carr, G. M. and Kerby, C. , 1987. Social dynamics, nursing coalitions and infanticide among upgrade cats, Felis catus Advances in Ethology 24, 166Thorne, 1992