Abstract
Sarah Heath, Nathalie Dowgray, Ilona Rodan, Kelly St Denis and Samantha Taylor
Emotions: not a matter of good or bad
An understanding of the different motivational systems and their function is central to being cat friendly and the Panksepp model1–4 is widely used to explain the link between an emotion and its behavioural response. In describing the two different valences of emotion, Panksepp’s model uses the terms ‘negative’ and ‘positive’, which is in keeping with other disciplines, such as learning theory, where these words describe the addition or removal of something. In everyday language, however, there is a perception that something described as ‘negative’ is detrimental and something described as ‘positive’ is inherently desirable; but when triggered appropriately, all emotions are, in fact, beneficial to the individual and lead to behavioural responses that enhance survival. To remove this trap of perception, the Heath Model of emotional health, developed by Dr Sarah Heath (FRCVS), a member of the Task Force for the two new Cat Friendly Guidelines, instead uses the terms ‘protective’ and ‘engaging’ to describe the two valences of emotion (see the figure on the right and the box on page 935).
Emotions: level of arousal counts
Emotion is not only important in terms of its valence, but also its level of arousal, which can be thought of as the amount of emotion that is present, regardless of its valence. The significance of the level of arousal is related to the finite capacity of an individual for emotional input and the resulting need to be able to dissipate emotion that has served its purpose. This more extensive approach to emotional health has also been captured in the Heath Model.
The Heath Model
The Heath Model of emotional health combines the importance of emotional valence and arousal, while also considering an individual’s emotional capacity and need for the opportunity to recover from emotional input. The model offers a framework for dealing with behavioural presentations in companion animals, and it can be used within the context of veterinary behavioural medicine to improve understanding of the significance of emotional health. Terminology that is designed to be easily understood by caregivers and veterinary professionals is used, and the model emphasises the importance of understanding the aim of both emotional motivations and the behavioural responses they trigger.
The role of behavioural responses
When emotional motivations are triggered, the individual can display a range of behavioural responses. The Heath Model considers the aim of these behaviours, which is to fulfil the requirements of the emotional drive and return the individual to a state of emotional safety. For example, when the desire-seeking motivation is triggered, the individual responds by approaching and engaging with a resource (eg, food, water, shelter), thereby increasing its survival chances and achieving a state of satisfaction. Similarly, behavioural responses to protective emotions are intended to protect the individual from harm.
This can be achieved in one of two ways, and the Heath Model refers to the consequent behavioural responses using terms that assist in understanding the purpose of the behaviour – ‘repulsion’, ‘avoidance’, ‘inhibition’ and appeasement’ (see box above). First, the individual may behave in ways that enable them to increase distance from, and decrease interaction with, the trigger for their emotion – ‘repulsion’ and ‘avoidance’. Second, they can engage in behaviours that increase the availability of information about the trigger -’inhibition’ and ‘appeasement’.
Using the Heath Model in the veterinary environment
The Heath Model and its terminology have been incorporated into the new Cat Friendly Guidelines to help veterinary professionals understand the need to tailor the required approach to the individual cat and determine the best way to respond to the behaviours being performed. An understanding that protective emotions can be beneficial to the individual will increase appreciation of the need to recognise them when they occur, rather than simply seek to remove them from the emotional repertoire of the individual.
In the context of the veterinary visit, being able to identify the style of behavioural response that a feline patient is selecting, for instance as a result of protective emotions, can be helpful, as interactions with the cat and/or the environment can then be adjusted in order for the cat to perceive its behavioural responses as successful. This, in turn, reduces the risk of the intensity of the response escalating or an alternative behaviour being selected. For example, in relation to protective emotions, from a cat’s perspective being able to hide means there is no need to increase the intensity of the response (eg, by trying to physically flee) or change the response (eg, to repelling behaviours such as hissing and swiping).
In contrast, failing to recognise the purpose of a behavioural response can result in a perception of failure by the cat, triggering the emotion of frustration. Frustration is accompanied by an increase in the intensity and speed of delivery, as well as confrontational nature, of the behavioural responses. Reacting appropriately to protective behavioural responses in order to avoid the emotion of frustration is therefore important. This, along with other aspects of cat friendly interaction, is discussed in the first set of Cat Friendly Guidelines.
It is additionally important to optimise the veterinary environment to limit the intensity of protective emotions and provide opportunities for cats to feel that their emotional state has been successfully responded to. Carrying this out as part of creating a cat friendly environment is discussed in the second set of Cat Friendly Guidelines. Also encompassed within the guidelines is discussion of how to improve the experience of the cat prior to arriving at the clinic in order to reduce the impact of ‘stressor stacking’. The accumulation of multiple events that trigger protective emotions and increase emotional arousal (eg, being forcibly placed in a carrier, travelling in a car and arriving at a different location, such as a veterinary practice) can result in repulsion or frustration-related behaviours occurring at the point of examination in the clinic, often prior to any physical interaction from the veterinary professional.
The behaviour of the veterinary team and the style of their interactions with feline patients can help to optimise a cat’s emotional health, both in terms of emotional valence and arousal, and the guidelines emphasise that it is the responsibility of the veterinary team to improve the experience of cats in their practice. It is also important to recognise when anxiolytics or appropriate sedation protocols play a role in achieving this.