Abstract
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The three authors are in clinical practice and have succeeded in writing a very readable text that gives equal time to cats! There are three chapters devoted exclusively to cats on aggression, destructive behaviors, and house soiling. There are excellent chapters on the complimentary medicine approach to behavior, the effects of diet on behavior, explanations of behavioral modification techniques and pharmacological intervention and a discussion of the European approach to behavior counseling. And there is a CD with all the charts from the text including questionnaires and handouts and a printable drug formulary for treating behavior problems.
Did you know the following?
It has been reported that dominance-related aggression is more likely to be seen in females from predominantly male litters.
the most receptive time for socializing kittens to people is up to seven weeks of age.
In many species, aggressive behavior is inversely correlated with the level of serotonin in the brain, but vasopressin appears to have the opposite effect and makes animals more aggressive.
About 10% of spayed female cats and 5% of castrated male cats will mark territory with urine.
Queens with good maternal behavior produce offspring with better digestion, better resistance to disease and better weight gain.
Approximately 15% of cats seem resistant to socialization with humans.
Why should this book interest you? More dogs and cats are euthanized for behavioral reasons than for all medical causes combined. Although many veterinarians routinely counsel owners, a comprehensive and standardized approach is sorely needed. By saving the cat's life and improving the bond between owner and pet, the owner's commitment to, and level of pet care, should be greatly enhanced. In one study, behavior problems were the third most common reason for shelter surrender in cats after moving and owner allergies. In a recent Canadian study it was estimated that 11.5% of cats euthanized at veterinary clinics were for behavioral reasons and a similar US study indicated that 10–15% of euthanasias were for behavioral reasons. All veterinarians should be performing some behavioral services or they are truly not providing complete client care.