COVER STORY
move?’ The response to this growing phenomenon is interesting: Does HereFirst fight back? Or, in the depths of his feline soul, does he fight back and do his gesturing? Or, depending upon his age, does he eventually give in to the role change? If he elects not to, then it can become a real problem.
From Boys to Men
This is particularly common during the breeding period. Posturing, threatening and fighting. Hissing and growling. Aggressive interactions between boy cats often include elements of territorial aggression as well. Neutering helps hugely but neither the fighting experience nor the cats’ ages affect the success of castration. Owners should ensure there is a lot of in-home territory, vertical as well as horizontal (tall perches in front of windows, for distraction, stimulation, safety and that crucial environmental control: the ability to see who is where, when). The cats should
be rewarded when they both display calm behavior. We are not looking for love letters in the sand here as much as toleration. Remember the underlying theme: ‘Good Things Happen in Each Other’s Presence’. Scent-swap. Also, Feliway plug-ins may calm the environment. If so, spritz a little on each cat’s collar. Sometimes temporary low-dose medication is useful. Occasionally, when withdrawn, the cat may become aggressive again. At other times, however, that toleration behavior is imprinted well enough.
Fear-Based Aggression (Defensive Aggression): When a cat sees someone or something she sees as a threat, the three responses tend to be freeze or fight until escape is possible—in which case, flee. Defensive behavior all around. We have all seen the signals: dilated pupils, flattened ears, tucked-under limbs, low body position, leaning away from the stimulus, batting, clawing,
Non-Verbal Communication
Learning how to interpret a cat’s body language is invaluable in helping cat owners assess the animal’s emotional state
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© Can Stock Photo/taden
Keep an eye on your cat's body language. To that end, here is a scenario. In fact, you probably already know the signs. It is only a matter of putting them together and monitoring at what point Noodles starts demonstrating even one of these signals. It is the same as reading a human's body language: one sign may not a message mean, but put a couple together, or anticipate what might be coming, and you are ahead of the game. For example, you are absentmindedly petting your cat who has already begun to indicate she has had enough. What was the first sign? Probably the body tensing. Even twitching a bit. Or she has ceased purring. Perhaps her tail has begun to switch back and forth. Cats are not dogs—a little switching does not mean they are enjoying whatever is happening. Maybe her fur has begun to ruffle just a little bit. Perhaps she has shifted into second gear, the ‘I SAID I’ve had enough’: She has shifted her body position. Perhaps she is looking back at your hand. Cats tend not to do this if they are relaxed and feeling mellow, enjoying the stroking. Her ears have juuust begun to flatten, getting into ‘airplane mode’. You still have not stopped? Third gear: ‘NO MORE!’ Some
BARKS from the Guild/March 2015
cats never bother with this point, they just jump off or give you a filthy look and a swipe, either with claws in or out, and then leap. Otherwise, Noodles might let out a complaint. A low growl. An irritated ‘mrrowrw’. Her pupils are fully dilated by now. Pay attention from the beginning, owner/servant/staff member/cat lover. And you will not only be able to read her mind at the earliest sign but will also have a much better chance of extending the stroking, a wee bit at a time, without getting attacked, every time she is on your lap. Aggressive Postures:
Offensive: • Rigid, straight-legged upright position • Rigid rear legs with rear raised and back sloped down toward the head • Tail stiff and lowered or straight down • Direct stare • Upright ears with their backs swiveled slightly forward • Fur ruffled, including the tail (piloerection) • Narrowed pupils • Directly facing opponent, cat or human, possibly moving forward slowly • Might be growling or yowling
Defensive: • Crouching • Head tucked in • Tail curved around body, tucked in • Eyes wide open with pupils dilated • Ears flattened sideways or backward on the head • Ruffled fur • If anxious, whiskers might be pulled in. If fearful, whiskers might fan out and forward to estimate distance between herself and the threat • Turning sideways to threat, not straight on • Open-mouthed hissing or spitting • Might deliver quick smacks with front paws, claws in or out