Many cats that we work with are fearful of
body contact. The approach is the same as it would be for a nervous dog or horse and it is
important to remember that any reactive behaviours towards other animals and humans are
based in fear and not a need to control or dominate that other being.
Observations
Cats are highly susceptible to soft tissue and
skeletal damage and this can be a major contributory factor to handling issues. The owner
is often unaware that an accident has happened.
Look for any changes to the texture of the
cat's coat. Rough, coarse, raised hair or the presence of dandruff on the coat can be
indicative of tension in the skin and muscles. Touching a cat in these areas are likely to
trigger a reactive response and it is important to remember that any reactive behaviour is
not personal in any way. It is a natural defensive response.
How to start
Stroking the cat with long feathers attached
to dressage schooling sticks (wands) is an ideal way to initiate contact with a fearful,
defensive cat. It can change a cat's expectation of what body contact may mean and allows
you to start working with the cat without crowding it or putting yourself in a vulnerable
position. This technique is brilliant for cats that hide as the length of the wand allows
you to reach under the furniture or into the box without alarming the cat by leaning
towards him/her.
Watch the cat's responses at all time and work
in short sessions. If the cat attacks the feather, you can use two wands to shift the
focus. If the cat bites one or pins one down with its paws you can still keep stroking
with the other wand. Remember to keep the movements slow and flowing. Cats are wired to
attack fast moving objects.
Once the cat has learned that being stroked
with a feather is nothing to fear, you can introduce a soft artists water colour brush.
Stroking a cat over the head triggers the blinking reflex which helps to calm and settle
the cat. Stroking the whiskers against the side of the face has the same effect and
touching a cat in this way can be helpful for cats that are reluctant to eat at the vets,
following surgery, in a shelter or in a cattery.
Sheepskin mitts are another useful tool as it
diffuses the heat from the hand.
Keep the sessions short and work below the
threshold at which the cat has to react. You will be amazed at how this slowly, slowly
approach can help even older cats with well established behavioural issues.
