- Joined
- Feb 18, 2019
- Messages
- 47
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- 134
This is recent case that I took in for my cat rescue. Sometimes I get a case so aggressive that I we have to implement behavioral medication. I am testing a plethora of petting techniques and things that I would not normally advise that people do with their cat like petting above the head (you should have your hand below the head if they are scared/timid/etc) to try and find out the plan for working with her behavior issues. It is important to figure out exactly how appropriate/inappropriate her actions are and finding out a rational line where the aggression starts and the antecedents/reasons behind the aggression. She growls from 6 feet away. As of now there really isn't a rational reason for her aggression since she does it regardless of petting length, type, distance away from her, etc.
Right now we are working the angles with behavior modification and things like feliway and calming food from Royal Canin - but also the vet up in Saint Louis found contracted tendons due to a declaw done in the past. So there are quite a few things that could be causing it that we are exploring - including fixing the tendon issue and behavior medication if all other reasons are explored.
We also thought hyperesthesia since she twitchs her back - so we are exploring that possibility too. It just takes time to figure out these cases...especially since it mostly occurs around her neck/back area. I honestly hope she does not have so large of a trauma or bad previous life that she cannot be turned around. Many have told me to euthanize her and that would certainly be the easiest option but not the right option until I see if she can be work with. She just got put on amitriptyline and gabapentin.