Behavioral awareness in the feline consultation: Understanding physical and emotional health

Abstract

Practical relevance: Awareness of the strong connection between observed behavior and physical and emotional health is essential for patient welfare. It is often a change in the individual's normal behavior that informs owners and veterinarians of the possibility of illness, pain and stress/distress. There is ample evidence in the feline literature that medical and behavioral health go hand in hand. In most feline cases, medical and behavioral conditions contribute concurrently to clinical signs. Clinical challenges: Our domestic cats do not express change in physiological and emotional states in a way that is easily recognized. Therefore, it can be difficult to diagnose medical and behavioral illnesses and ascertain contributions from each one to the final diagnosis. When various levels of stress are present, especially distress, this compromises behavioral and physical health, and influences treatment outcomes.

Aims: This review is intended to help veterinarians recognize physical and behavioral changes associated with acute stress through to chronic distress, including stress-associated diseases. An emphasis on thorough history-taking will allow the clinician to ascertain which signs are behavioral and which are medical, with the understanding that they are not mutually exclusive. Equally important is the contribution of pain, chronic disease and poor environmental situations to behavioral changes and the expression of medical disorders. Evidence base: There is an increasing amount of evidence that stress and distress have profound effects on feline health, behavior and welfare. The authors have drawn on a substantial body of published veterinary research in producing this review.

Figure 1

(a) These cats used to show affiliative behaviors – maintaining body contact during sleep, playing and allogrooming – until painful degenerative joint disease (DJD) occurred. (b) The orange tabby now has severe DJD and snaps if the Devon Rex tries to perform affiliative behaviors. Note the orange tabby’s significant muscle wasting in the hindlimbs, and the tail not curling normally when sleeping

Figure 2

Cutting a large enough hole in a high-sided litter box or container facilitates entry for cats with degenerative joint disease. Courtesy of Debra Givin

Figure 3

Handling techniques preventing negative emotions include giving the cat the choice to remain in the carrier, approaching from behind or the side, and petting over the facial glands that produce pheromones. Courtesy of the American Association of Feline Practitioners; cat provided by Morris Animal Refuge

Figure 4

This stressed/distressed cat displays ‘freezing’ – crouched, with head pulled in and lowered, and tail wrapped tightly around the body; note also the dilated pupils, splayed whiskers, rotation of the ears and nose-licking

Figure 5

Hiding at the back of the carrier or under the bedding is a sign of fear

Figure 6

This fearful hospitalized cat has disrupted the cage to make a hiding place. Providing a box or bed to hide in reduces the potential for fear

Figure 7

Feigned sleep with hypervigilance is common in caged cats. Despite this excellent cage set-up, this cat would hiss and swat at approaching humans. Courtesy of the American Association of Feline Practitioners

Figure 8

Ears are back and whiskers splayed forward in this anxious cat

Figure 9

Cats with acute pain usually crouch in the back of the cage, with head lowered. Courtesy of Sheilah Robertson

Figure 10

Muscle wasting and minimal weightbearing on the hindlimbs are signs of degenerative joint disease in this cat