Understanding feline emotions: … and their role in problem behaviours

Abstract

Practical relevance: Despite its importance, emotional health is a subject that is sadly neglected in the context of companion animals. Understanding emotions is at the heart of veterinary behavioural medicine and is key to preventing, managing and treating reported behavioural problems in domestic cats. Clinical challenges: On a daily basis, veterinary practices are presented with the physical health impact of emotional health and with emotionally motivated behaviours that are undesirable to owners and/or detrimental to the cat. Emotional health is of equal importance to physical health and lies at the very core of veterinary medicine. Clinically, the emotional motivation for a behaviour must be identified before an assessment is made of whether the motivation is contextually appropriate and whether the cat's response is justified and normal, or abnormal in the circumstances. Evidence base: The majority of referenced evidence for our understanding of emotional motivations in mammals has come from the human field, but recently there has been increasing interest in the emotional health of non-human animals and a resulting growth in research. This review draws on the published literature and the author's personal experience to explore how emotions can influence feline behaviours. Global importance: Understanding the importance of emotional health is a major factor in ensuring positive welfare for cats, wherever they are kept as companion animals. It impacts on their physical health and their quality of life, and also on the relationship between cat and owner.

Figure 1

Young kittens have a high drive for social play. Courtesy of Claire Bessant

Figure 2

One positive emotional motivation is the care system, which is dedicated to maintaining the bonds to individual offspring through recognisable parental care. Image ©iStock/oksun70

Figure 3

Pain – whether acute (a) or chronic (b) – is an important emotional motivation in the veterinary clinical context. For example, for cats with osteoarthritis, chronic pain may make accessing preferred sleeping places more difficult, and modification of the environment is important. Courtesy of Sheilah Robertson (a) and Deb Givin (b)

Figure 4

Eye aversion can be used as a form of avoidance behaviour, particularly when cats are in close proximity and physical avoidance runs the risk of inducing chase

Figure 5

In the presence of a trigger for negative emotion, repulsion is one response that is used to increase distance and decrease interaction. Repulsion can be achieved through ‘aggressive’ behaviours, such as swiping (a), as well as more passive behaviours, such as staring (b). Images ©iStock/Edith64 (a) and ©iStock/tzahiV (b)

Figure 6

Hunting may be seen as problematic by owners, but for the cat this is a positive emotional motivation. Image ©iStock/joegolby