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Compulsive Behaviors in Cats: How to Recognize and Manage Them

Sandy RobinsIt’s not only people highlighted in reality TV shows who suffer from obsessive compulsive disorders; cats do, too. Repetitive and exaggerated behaviors such as sucking on fabrics and chewing plastics, excessive grooming, or bolt-out-of-the-blue aggression are signs of typical compulsive issues in cats. How a pet parent reacts to and understands these issues can go a long way toward controlling and even eradicating them.

According to feline behaviorists, neither age and nor gender are mitigating factors in compulsive behavior. However, wool sucking along with repetitive meowing has been found to be more common among so-called oriental breeds such as Siamese and Birman cats.

Dr. Nicholas Dodman, president and CEO of the Center for Canine Behavior Studies (they study feline behaviors too), who authored The Cat Who Cried for Help: Attitudes, Emotions, and the Psychology of Cats, ranks excessive grooming, known as psychogenic alopecia, as the most common abnormal repetitive behavior among cats generally. Wool-sucking and pica, the ingesting of weird objects, come in second, and, lastly, Dodman says that feline hyperesthesia, often referred to as twitchy skin syndrome, which results in a cat launching unprovoked attacks or suddenly appearing startled and then dashing away, is often also considered to be a compulsive disorder.

Psychogenic Alopecia

Cats are often mislabeled as independent, selfish, and uncaring creatures. In fact, the opposite applies; they are very caring and empathic and very conscious of their surroundings. Thus, all kinds of changes and conflict in their lives can evoke stress and anxiety. One common reaction to their personal situation is over-grooming.

“Feline psychogenic alopecia may begin as a displacement behavior arising from situations of conflict, frustration, or anxiety, but might in time become compulsive,” says Dodman. In an article published on the CCBS website, he spells it out: “The diagnosis of psychogenic alopecia as a compulsive disorder is reserved for those cases in which no underlying medical problem is evident.

“In most cats, over-grooming resulting in alopecia where they have pulled out chunks of fur and licked their skin raw, has an underlying skin disorder such as an allergic reaction to fleas or other external parasites. Inhalant allergies and even food allergies could be the root cause, and it’s important to seek veterinary assistance to rule all these causes out before the excessive grooming can be diagnosed as behavioral.”

In her book Cat vs Cat, Pam Johnson-Bennett says: “Because cats are such meticulous groomers, a cat parent may assume that the behavior is nothing unusual. Displacement grooming is a normal way for cats to recue their anxiety and calm themselves during or after a stressful situation. You may see this after a cat miscalculates a jump and falls to the floor. Although it may look as if she is embarrassed, it has more to do with her need to get her bearings because she was caught off-guard. Also being denied something she wants like getting on a counter and being repeatedly removed and even scolded can prompt displacement grooming,” she explains.

However, Johnson-Bennett points out that it’s easy to dismiss these small stressors. So, they build and suddenly the cat has huge bald patches!

“Interactive play comes to the rescue yet again,” she writes. “Use it to boost confidence and release endorphins.  Pouncing and play games offer mental and physical stimulation.” And she warns, “if you see your cat sitting in a particular position before she’s about to start compulsively grooming, get out the wand and other toys and play instead!”

But play may not be the complete answer. Sometimes medication is necessary to help break the cycle.

Wool Sucking and Pica

Cats who love to chew on a blanket or a piece of cloth may be likened to young children who walk around sucking on pacifiers or hugging security blankets. This behavior often occurs in kittens who have been removed from their mothers too young and have not had the opportunity to nurse until their mothers properly weaned them. Soft, cuddly fabrics become a substitute for mama cat.

The sucking itself is not a problem, but if the sucking turns into chewing and swallowing, it can lead to problems such as gastrointestinal obstructions. Boredom and loneliness, especially when cats are left alone all day, can lead to separation anxiety and can prompt them to turn to material sucking and chewing to soothe themselves. This can lead to pica, the ingestion of material, plastic, and other non-food items.

Often the urge to suck on fabrics subsides as a kitten becomes an adult. However, problematic chewing can recur in adulthood as a defense mechanism for dealing with a stressful situation such as household tensions between cats or separation anxiety.

In the case study on compulsive wool sucking published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior with which Dodman was involved, two hundred and four Siamese and Birman cats enrolled in the study were tracked for various physical characteristics, current and previous medical conditions, presence of an abnormally intense appetite, and environmental factors. The research ultimately showed that early weaning and small litter size were associated with increased risk of wool-sucking in Birmans only. The presence of a medical condition was associated with increased risk of wool-sucking in Siamese cats. The presence of an abnormally intense appetite was seen in all affected cats. However, no relationship was found between physical characteristics and wool-sucking in Siamese or Birman cats.

Dodman also points out that medical conditions that can trigger abnormal ingestion of inappropriate material include hunger, nutritional deficiencies such as anemia or inadequate dietary fiber, diabetes, or tumors.

Feline Hyperesthesia

“This is a complicated behavioral condition with some features that appear compulsive and others that appear frankly neurological,” says Dodman. “Because of the overlap between symptoms of other issues, it is thought to possibly be a form of partial seizures with compulsive components. There is an apparent sensitivity to touch (episodes may be induced by stroking along the spine), which can trigger attacks and accounts for the name of this syndrome,” he further explains.

Feline hyperesthesia is often referred to as rippling skin syndrome, rolling skin syndrome, or twitchy skin syndrome. Signs include dilation of pupils, excessive skin rippling, and frenetic self-directed grooming that may result in hair loss.  Grooming may be so intense it may manifest as self-directed aggression often focused on the tail (tail-chasing).

Affected cats may emit excessive and unusual vocalizations and appear to hallucinate (act afraid of their tail) and run away. They may appear “manic” (excited look, frantic running, jumping) and are frequently extremely sensitive to touch.  Sometimes aggressive bouts are preceded by attention-seeking and enhanced affection to people. Affected cats are often anxious and restless, constantly wandering and pacing. Sometimes the aggression can be directed at people.

“Almost all aggressive behavior can be traced back to a specific cause. Idiopathic aggression – the name given to totally unprovoked aggression that has no known cause — is rare,” says Johnson-Bennett. “This type of aggression is too difficult and too dangerous for a cat parent to try and correct without professional help.”

Helping Owners

Advise cat parents to be on the lookout for excessive sucking or chewing on fabrics, behaviors such as hunting and pouncing at unseen prey, running and chasing, paw shaking, freezing, excessive vocalization and a manic look, self-directed aggression such as tail chasing, and overgrooming to the point of pulling out fur in patches. While these may start out as signs of conflict or anxiety, if not attended to, they can become compulsive disorders over time.

Ask cat parents about conflicts in the home and whether there are ways to eliminate it. They may need a referral to a veterinary behavior specialist who can help them to recognize and manage such conflicts, whether they are between cats and humans, cats and other cats, or cats and other animals in the home. Other things to try:

  • Environment enrichment may help to distract a cat from compulsive behavior.
  • A tall cat tree or cat condo strategically placed near a window helps keep cats engaged.
  • A fountain not only attracts a cat to drink water but also adds sound and motion enhancements to the environment.
  • Offer the cat an indoor garden of safe plants to nibble on, ideally placed near a water fountain or water dish.
  • Wand toys allow cats to chase, pounce, and play.
  • For cats who enjoy exploring, leash-training can provide safe outdoor excursions. A catio is another option that can provide distractions from self-harming.
  • Suggest puzzles that can be filled with treats or a portion of a meal.
  • If wool sucking or over-grooming are involved, a diet that includes a high-fiber kibble may help redirect the cat from compulsive behaviors to focus on nibbling. A veterinary nutritionist may have suggestions.

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

Sandy Robins is an award-winning pet lifestyle journalist and author of For the Love of Cats, Fabulous Felines: Health and Beauty Secrets for the Pampered Cat, The Original Cat Bible, and Making the Most of All Nine Lives: The Extraordinary Life of Buffy The Cat.
 
 

The Importance of Managing Pain in the Fear Free Practice

Michael Petty, DVM, CVPP, CVMA, CCRTIf you have ever hit your finger with a hammer, the immediate response is often one of surprise or even frustration. The next day, as you are having trouble using that finger, a common emotion is disappointment at the discomfort you are experiencing and wishing that you had been more careful. What causes that reaction?

The “fear center” and the “pain center” occupy adjacent areas of the brain. The thalamus is the area of the brain that registers pain, and on either side of the thalamus is the limbic system, which is responsible for emotions including fear, anxiety, and the sequelae of stress (FAS).

These two areas of the brain “talk” to each other and send signals back and forth. The thalamus sending signals to the limbic system is what causes your reaction to hitting your finger with a hammer. When this thalamic-limbic crosstalk happens in an animal in acute pain, the animal may lash out at the owner or veterinary staff.

So now consider an animal who is in pain and has been presented to you. If experiencing acute pain, the animal may lash out due to a combination of pain and FAS. If experiencing chronic pain, many of these pets act dull and disinterested. The owner may even comment that the pet just doesn’t socialize and lacks the energy and mobility that she used to demonstrate. Even worse is the animal who has chronic pain, say from osteoarthritis, and now has an acute injury on top of it. The distress in some of these animals is almost too much to bear.

It is easy for us to recognize and treat acute pain, but the diagnosis of chronic pain states can be difficult for a variety of reasons. It takes time to take a thorough history and perform a complete pain exam on dogs and cats. However, there are many resources available to make that task easier, including pet owner-friendly screening checklists for osteoarthritis (Cat, Dog) and expert tips for the OA exam (feline OA exam).

Even with successful diagnosis, the treatment of chronic pain can sometimes be difficult especially if your treatment is narrow in focus. But it is essential to make a timely diagnosis of chronic pain and provide effective analgesia to be successful in therapy. And it is also important that the owner understands your diagnosis, whether through education alone or with the help of radiographs and teaching tools (feline and canine chronic pain). The owner is an essential member of the pain treatment team, both in the evaluation of treatments over time but also in enlisting them in the day to day therapies that might be required.

My approach to the treatment of chronic pain in dogs, for example, is to build a pyramid of treatments, and on the base layer I start with an NSAID. The NSAID I use most commonly is Rimadyl® (carprofen), which I really like for its effects on both pain and inflammation. For many chronic OA cases, there are other factors that can influence the ability to manage both pain and disease progression, and they should all be looked at.

For example, consider the animal next. Is he overweight? One study showed that in an obese dog, losing only about 10 percent of body weight can significantly improve lameness1. In other words, weight loss for an overweight dog can amplify the pain relief achieved with an NSAID alone

What about exercise? Again, one human study showed that one-half hour of exercise 5 days a week for people with knee OA was the equivalent of – you guessed it: an NSAID! So now you have tripled your pain-relieving efforts by building a solid foundation of multi-modal therapies, upon which you can add other therapies as needed.

It is beyond the scope of this writing to discuss all possible treatments: medications, physical therapy, acupuncture, and so forth, but I encourage everyone to read or re-read the 2015 AAHA Pain Management Guidelines for a thorough review of all of the pain management options we have for both acute and chronic pain.

What does the future hold for us? The most exciting thing I have seen on the horizon is the introduction of anti-NGF monoclonal antibodies. NGF, or Nerve Growth Factor, is one of several major “players” in the transmission of pain via the nociceptors. The use of these monoclonal antibodies holds great promise to reduce the sensation of pain in our patients with osteoarthritis. More information about the action of anti-NGF monoclonal antibodies can be found at the New Science of OA Pain website.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR RIMADYL: As a class, NSAIDs may be associated with gastrointestinal, kidney and liver side effects. These are usually mild but may be serious. Pet owners should discontinue therapy and contact their veterinarian immediately if side effects occur. Evaluation for pre-existing conditions and regular monitoring are recommended for pets on any medication, including Rimadyl. Use with other NSAIDs or corticosteroids should be avoided.

See full Prescribing Information at:
https://www2.zoetisus.com/content/_assets/docs/Petcare/rimadyl-prescribing-information.pdf

Reference:

  1. Marshall WG, Hazewinkel HA, Mullen D, et al. The effect of weight loss on lameness in obese dogs with osteoarthritis. Vet Res Commun 2010;34(3):241–53.

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.Sponsored by our friends at Zoetis Petcare. ©2021 Zoetis Services LLC. All rights reserved RIM-00324

Repairing a Broken Human-Animal Bond

Rachel Lees RVT, KPA CTP, VTS (Behavior)As a veterinary behavior team member, I strive to strengthen and improve the human-animal bond in every patient and client I encounter. In behavior medicine, though, we are often fighting a losing battle. By the time clients find us, they have exhausted funds trying different training techniques. The relationship between person and pet is hanging by a thread.

These battered bonds are often related to behavior problems such as destruction to the home, inappropriate elimination, and aggression. In a 2013 study by Jennifer Y. Kwan and Melissa Bain, 65 percent of owners relinquished pets for behavior reasons. This study also supported the use of positive reinforcement, finding that use of punishment-based methods resulted in less satisfaction with a pet’s behavior, which can be damaging to the bond.1

The word “repair” means to restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken or to restore to a sound or healthy state. How can we repair a nearly broken human-animal bond?  The role of a veterinary technician or assistant can be crucial in mending and strengthening this bond.

A skilled veterinary behavior professional should be able to demonstrate the prescribed behavioral therapy plans, coach the client through them, and be flexible with both pet and owner learning styles.2 In my practice, I describe my role as “case manager”:  the person with whom each client is in contact with most frequently. It is my job to relay information clearly and effectively to the veterinarian and be sure that the entire behavior team (veterinarian, trainer, and owner) are working toward the common goal of restoring the bond.

Counseling aspects of behavioral medicine and marriage/family therapy have many commonalities.3 One of the most profound similarities is how change occurs in the context of treatment. In behavior medicine, our clients may come in with negative thoughts, anger, and fears associated with their pet. The veterinary technician or assistant’s role in the behavior team is to change the emotional experience of the pet along with that of the pet owner. When a family walks into our practice and their pet has been displaying owner-related aggression, my first questions are the following:

  • How are you feeling about your pet?
  • Do you feel safe in your home?
  • What is your current relationship with the pet?

The client needs to express their concerns if treatment is going to be attempted. Behavioral therapy is essential, but the context and triggers of the problem are less important until people can form a more positive association with the pet. After the veterinarian discusses the behavioral diagnosis, I typically break down the information in a more down to earth fashion so the entire family can understand the mental concerns their pet has developed. In this way, the family can begin to relate to the pet and see things through their eyes, and this can jump-start the process of rebuilding the bond.

A second similarity to human-based therapy is the difficulties and barriers associated with clients.4 Most of our clients walk into the consultation room and expect to be told they did something wrong. They may be defensive, anxious, and closed off, reluctant to give a detailed behavioral history, which can impact treatment.

Sometimes clients are fearful about sharing a pet’s aggressive behaviors because they do not want to euthanize their pet. They feel as if they will be judged and forced to make an unwanted decision. One of my strongest skills as a behavior team member is gaining the trust of clients and building a strong rapport early on. I want each client and pet to have a wonderful experience with our clinic, but I also want to have a strong connection with that client, share empathy, and understand each issue from their perspective.

Clients may be at the end of their rope, but usually there is an inch of that rope left to work with. I think of the rope as the bond between owner and pet. Hang on to that tiny piece as it is still technically intact! Each client walks into the practice for a reason even if there is only a tiny strand of the bond remaining. If you can open them up, connect, and gain their trust, you can begin to reshape the negativity they feel toward their pet and repair the relationship.

One of the most important terms when repairing the human-animal bond is “empathy,” the ability to have a deep emotional understanding of another’s feelings and experiences.5 For veterinary behavior team members, this ability is crucial for success with any client or patient.  They should be able to identify and empathize with the fear and anxiety the pet and client may be experiencing. This is the first step in modifying the behavior of both. Psychologist Marshall Rosenberg stated it best: “When we understand the needs that motivate ourselves and others’ behaviors, we have no enemies.” 6

I think this is important to recognize when working to rebuild or strengthen a human-animal bond. It is important for the client and veterinary behavior team to see things from the pet’s perspective. The client can then learn that the pet is not their enemy. The pet is not performing these behaviors to spite them. The pet is fearful, stressed, or anxious and may be trying to keep themselves safe.  Being able to take a walk in someone else’s shoes, or paws, is a vital step in deepening the human-animal bond.

Mending the human-animal bond is not an easy task. It takes the expertise of a strong, educated, and skilled veterinary behavior team to even begin to reunite and mend the connection between client and pet. When working in a general practice, any sign that the human-animal bond is deteriorating between a client and patient should be brought to the team’s attention so the veterinarian can make a referral to a veterinary behavior practice.

As veterinary team members, we all want to save the lives of pets. This begins with keeping a strong bond between client and pet. Giving appropriate, science-based recommendations on training and behavioral therapy can be the first step in this process, starting with puppy and kitten visits. If we all work toward a common goal, we can make a difference.

References: 

  1. Kwan Y. Jennifer, Bain J. Melissa. Owner Attachment and Problem Behaviors Related to Relinquishment and Training Techniques of Dogs. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science. 2013; 168-183. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888705.2013.768923

2-6.  Shaw K. Julie, Martin Debbie.  Canine and Feline Behavior for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses. 1st edition.  John Wiley; 2015.

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

Rachel Lees, an Elite Fear Free Certified Professional, is a veterinary technician specialist in behavior, a KPA certified training partner, and lead veterinary behavior technician at The Behavior Clinic in Olmsted Falls, Ohio. She loves helping people create and maintain a strong human-animal bond.
 
 
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How Animal Shelters “Catify” to Benefit Cats and Adopters

Jen ReederFor too long, a common refrain uttered by people thinking of getting a new cat was, “I’d go to a shelter but it’s too sad.”

Fortunately, rescue advocates across America are working to change that perception by creating cat-friendly shelters that offer enrichment along with aesthetically pleasing designs.

Kate Benjamin, coauthor of the bestselling books “Catification” and “Catify to Satisfy,” which she wrote with Animal Planet star Jackson Galaxy, and founder of Hauspanther, a company that helps people and organizations design cat-friendly spaces, said “catifying” shelters benefits cats, caregivers, and potential adopters. The overarching approach is to create a space as inviting as a cat café.

“If you can see a cat being a cat – really climbing and scratching and playing and being a cat, not just hiding in a cage – you can picture that cat in your home,” she said. “You can get to know their personality better.”

Cats can feel stress in an unfamiliar environment such as a shelter, where they might not be able to engage in typical feline behavior like climbing, hiding, and scratching. So Benjamin said a top priority is creating hiding spaces, such as installing wooden, painted boxes on the ground or on walls.

“Hiding spaces have been proven in scientific studies to help reduce stress in cats. It gives them choice and control over their environment,” she said. “This is a great DIY project if a shelter has somebody who has power tools and some woodworking skills.”

She noted hiding spaces can be up high to allow climbing and perching, since cats feel safer with a better view of their surroundings. Other design suggestions include the following:

    • Cat trees and towers. Just be sure they aren’t covered in carpet and are painted and sealed for easy cleaning.
    • Shelves and cat hammocks. Benjamin offers hammock designs that can easily be crafted from fleece by volunteers and hung in boxes or mounted to a climbing wall.
    • Ramps. These are terrific for kittens or senior cats with mobility issues.
    • Benches near cat cubby holes. Potential adopters can sit near the cats and have a better chance for interaction.
    • Thoughtful toy storage. Instead of tossing toys in a pile on the floor, Benjamin suggests creating a storage or display system so a visitor can easily grab a wand toy and play with the cats.
    • Catios. These screened outdoor patios give shelter cats protected time outdoors.
    • Color-themed blankets. Matching blankets can be comfortable for cats and make the space more appealing to potential adopters.

    Benjamin emphasized that shelter staff shouldn’t feel overwhelmed if they don’t have much money or space for renovations. It’s fine to start small.

    “You can just buy $4 shelves and install them properly – make sure all the cracks are sealed,” she says.

    If a shelter only has a closet that’s used for out-of-cage time and meet and greets, she says to avoid just putting a folding chair inside.

    “Maybe you only have $500 to work with. Build a bench, put the litter box underneath it, add some shelves, maybe a piece of art on the wall, a hiding box,” she advises. “Somebody just has to be committed to making that happen.”

    Benjamin credits Kate Hurley, DVM, and her colleagues at the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program with helping to fuel the “catification” movement through scientific research, as well as cat lovers who work and volunteer in shelters but may have already catified their homes. (Durability and the need for sanitizing are two big differences between residential and shelter catification.)

    Often working with Rescue Rebuild, a program of Greater Good Charities, Benjamin has helped transform cat spaces at shelters like Santé D’Or in Los Angeles, Calif.;  Dumb Friends League in Denver, Colorado; Liberty Humane Society in Jersey City, New Jersey; and the domestic violence shelter Sojourner Center in Phoenix, Ariz., which has a companion animal program.

    Her latest project is Operation Catification, a training program for shelters set to launch in January 2022. Shelter representatives can apply for the 12-week course, which Benjamin will instruct; at the end of the course, some of the final projects will receive grants, and one shelter will win a full makeover with Rescue Rebuild. (Interested animal shelters can email the program coordinator at OperationCatification@GreaterGood.org to be notified as soon as the application period begins.)

    “The idea is to create an environment that brings out the best in cats because it reduces that fear, anxiety and stress, and shows them off in their best light,” Benjamin said. “Catification is mostly environmental enrichment for cats – then it has this extra icing on the cake of being beautiful.”

    This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

    Award-winning journalist Jen Reeder is former president of the Dog Writers Association of America. She hiked over 1,000 miles to fundraise for Blackhat Humane Society on the Navajo Nation using the Walk for a Dog app.
     Photos, top to bottom: Kate Benjamin for Sojourner Center; courtesy Dumb Friends League; Kate Benjamin for Sante D’Or; courtesy Rescue Rebuild for Liberty Humane Society; courtesy Rescue Rebuild for Liberty Humane Society
     
     

From Hiss to Kiss: Feral Kitten Clicker Training

Nancy PetersonClicker training is a simple and fun way to replace unwanted behaviors in frightened kittens with new, desirable behaviors. A tool called a clicker is used. If the sound of the clicker frightens the kitten, a quieter, retractable ballpoint pen can be used. Here’s how it works.

A kitten hisses as you approach the cage. Wait until she stops hissing, click and toss in a treat as close to her as possible, and quietly step back. It shouldn’t take long for her to realize that she gets two rewards when she’s not hissing: a treat and the scary person steps back.

Even if the kitten doesn’t eat the treat, she’s learning. If she eats, repeat your approach, click, treat and back away for two or three more times. If she doesn’t eat after the first few clicks, come back later and try again. Paws up if she ate the treats while you were gone. If she left the treats, carefully remove them and try again the next day with better treats.

What Makes Clicker Training So Effective?

The click lets you capture the exact moment that is being rewarded, and the kitten will make the association between her action and the click and treat. Once the desired behavior is learned, the kitten will let you approach without a click or treat.

Clicker training puts the kitten in control. She chooses to repeat the behavior because she understands that something positive will follow. In a shelter where she may feel like she has lost all control, this is powerful.

You might wonder why clicking is preferable to a “yes” or “good” to mark the behavior. It’s because the kitten will only hear the clicker sound during training, whereas “good” or “yes” are words she’ll hear in other situations. This can confuse her, and the words may lose their meaningfulness. In addition, people’s speech varies, but the sound of the clicker is consistent.

How Else Can Clicker Training Be Used?

When you’re clicker training, you may “catch” the kitten doing something you want repeated. For example, if your goal is for her to come to the front of the crate, click and toss in a treat if she takes even one step toward the front.

As the kitten begins accepting the click-and-treat game, up the ante by putting the treat nearer to the front of the crate. Step back and let the kitten finish the treat. Then, stand still and watch for any movement toward the front of the crate. Click exactly during that movement, give the treat, and step back. The kitten is learning that she can make you click and treat if she moves toward the front of the crate. Once she understands that a step toward the front of the crate is rewarded, wait for her to take two steps before clicking and treating.

When a behavior is understood, give it a name, or cue, such as “Come.” Once the cue is learned, it’s not necessary to click, and rewards can be given less frequently.

How Long Should a Clicker Training Session Last?

Sessions that are five minutes or shorter and more frequent will be more effective than longer, less frequent sessions. Keeping a training log may be helpful to monitor the kitten’s progress and, if you’re working with more than one kitten, reduce confusion on your part.

What Treat and When?

Pick a time when the kitten is hungry and a treat that is pea-size (you can break up a larger treat) and soft so the kitten can eat it quickly. That way she remembers why she got the treat and is more likely to repeat the behavior.

What’s a Target Stick and How Is It Used?

A target stick can be a plastic spoon (easy to disinfect) with a long handle. The goal is to get the kitten to touch her nose to the end of the handle, which you place near the crate door. Hold the spoon end and the clicker in the same hand. (When the clicker is held in the same hand as the spoon, the noise it makes can seem loud to a kitten. If the kitten is frightened by the noise, switch the clicker to the other hand so it’s farther away.)

If the kitten is scared by the handle, smear tasty canned food on the end. The moment she moves toward it, even if she just turns her face to it, click, remove the spoon and toss in a treat. The moment she finishes the treat, offer the handle again. If she doesn’t make any movement, place the handle an inch or two in front of her. Click and treat when she touches the handle with her nose.

Once she reliably touches the handle, offer it to her at a slight distance, so she has to move toward it. Are we having fun yet? Let the kitten absorb the experience, and train again in a few hours or the next day.

What’s the Best Way to Use the Target Stick?

Once the kitten is eagerly touching the target stick, raise the bar by getting her to follow the stick back and forth across the tabletop or onto your lap.

Do Kittens Need to Be Separated for Clicker Training?

Because they learn from one another, it can be beneficial to initially keep kittens together in their crate and train them together. A more frightened kitten may see her bolder littermate getting treats and decide you’re not so bad after all. On the other hand, it may incite aggression between kittens so observe carefully to determine whether to train them together or separately.

Clicker training is fun. It can be used to teach many practical behaviors, such as come, or tricks, such as “high five.” Practice clicker training with your personal pets to help you get the hang of it so you can effectively socialize frightened furballs. You’ll increase their chances of adoption into a forever home, and that’s worth lots of clicks and treats!

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

Nancy Peterson worked as a registered veterinary technician, trainer of dogs for people with disabilities other than blindness, and was Community Cats Program Manager for The Humane Society of the United States. She retired in 2015 and currently serves on the boards of Neighborhood Cats and The National Kitten Coalition. Nancy volunteers as a foster and cat cuddler for her local animal shelter, Colorado Animal Rescue (CARE). During COVID, she became an avid birder and is working to protect cats and birds by building bridges between cat and bird advocates.

Resources

“Getting Started: Clicker Training for Cats,” by Karen Pryor

“Fearful Kitten Socialization 101”

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/590a7f1303596e669d422f5d/t/5ed50c3595645801a7a41f3e/1591020601625/Fearful+Kitten+Socialization+101.pdf

From Hiss to Kiss: Feral Kitten Socialization

Nancy PetersonSocialization prepares kittens to interact and be comfortable with people, other animals, objects, environments and activities. It can be very rewarding to turn hissing kittens into purring furballs.

However, when there are so many kittens who need homes, socializing those with the best chance of being adopted is important. Generally, the younger the kittens, the quicker they’ll socialize.

Kitten socialization can take from two to six weeks, depending on their age, personality inherited from their mother, friendliness inherited from their father and their early socialization experiences.

Although feral kittens can be weaned at 4 weeks of age, they have the best chance of survival with their healthy mom. For that reason, trap mom and her kittens when they’re 6 weeks old.

At that age, the kittens are still within the primary socialization window, from 2 to 7 weeks of age, when It’s easiest to socialize them. That said, older kittens may still come around since individuals develop at different rates.

Generally, feral kittens older than 16 weeks should be spayed/neutered, vaccinated, ear tipped (the universal sign of a spayed/neutered cat) and returned to their colony. That frees up cage space and staff time for younger kittens.

Housing the family apart from the general kitten population may be impractical, but options exist. Use a quiet one- or two-person office, which allows the family to become comfortable in an indoor environment and daily human activities.

Place a large wire crate with small openings (so kitten body parts don’t get stuck) on a table in the office. Include a hiding box, facing away from the front of the crate, in the crate. Cover the crate with a lightweight sheet that you retract as the family grows more secure.

Food is one of the best tools for socializing kittens. Kitten kibble should always be available, but toss in small, tasty morsels when you approach the crate so kittens and mom look forward to your presence.

When you feed wet food, first place the bowls toward the back of the crate; stay nearby when you provide wet food and treats to help create trust and positive associations with you. Move closer to the crate each time you feed. Then move the bowls closer and closer to the front of the crate and remain close.

If after three days, mom is still highly stressed and charges you when you approach the crate, spay, vaccinate, deworm, ear tip, and return her to her colony.

Older kittens who have learned to swat and bite and continue doing so 1 and a half weeks after removing mom should be spayed, vaccinated, ear tipped, and returned to their colony.

If the kittens are only hissing and spitting, carry on. However, if one isn’t coming around, house him in another location and work with him individually. You can return him to his siblings once he has progressed.

When they’re eating wet food at the front of the crate, try “petting” kittens on their face and chin with a toothbrush through the crate. Offer your bent forefinger through the crate near their bowl and see if they rub against it.

Don’t offer food on your finger or allow kittens to play with your hand. They may accidentally bite or scratch you, teaching them it’s okay to bite and scratch.

Since most feral kittens are initially frightened by interactive toys, start with one that isn’t too threatening, such as a wand toy, that allows you to play with them from a distance through the crate. Aim for small sessions, while talking on the phone or attending an online webinar, for a total of two hours a day.

Once the kittens allow you to touch them through the crate, try the following while they’re eating in the crate, but not after playing with them as they’ll be too worked up.

  • Rest your hand in the crate.
  • Put light pressure on their sides and gently move them from one food bowl to another.
  • Put gentle pressure on their underside in preparation to being picked up.
  • Lift them slightly, facing away from you, with both hands. Gradually lift them a bit longer and higher.

If there’s no struggling or tension, move one kitten at a time out the door; then quickly return him to the crate. Progress until you can lift the kitten out of the crate to a dish of food placed just beyond the door. If the kitten runs back into the crate, leave the crate door open and see if he ventures out on his own.

Once they’re comfortable outside the crate, briefly cuddle each kitten close to your body so they feel your warmth and heartbeat. When kittens are relaxed being held, cuddle them often. Once they seek your company, have other people provide treats and petting in preparation for the kittens’ adoption into a forever home.

If possible, adopt kittens in pairs or into a home with other friendly cats and no young children whose erratic movements and loud voices would be scary. Inform potential adopters that the kittens were feral and provide adopters with the resources listed at the end of this article so they understand the importance of socialization.

As with all new pets, adopted kittens should initially be confined to a kitten-proofed room with food, water, litter box, bed and toys. Hiding is normal and kittens shouldn’t be grabbed and dragged out. They can be lured with a toy onto their adopter’s lap.

Giving kittens time to adjust by talking, playing, petting and offering special treats will build trust and create a lasting bond.

Resources:

http://torontoferalcatcoalition.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/10-the_behaviour_dept_taming_feral_cats.pdf

https://marketplace.animalsheltering.org/magazine/articles/kitty-their-hands\

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/animal-emotions/202003/the-cat-human-relationship-and-factors-affect-it

https://catvets.com/public/PDFs/PracticeGuidelines/FelineBehaviorGLS.pdf

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

Nancy Peterson worked as a registered veterinary technician, trainer of dogs for people with disabilities other than blindness, and was Community Cats Program Manager for The Humane Society of the United States. She retired in 2015 and currently serves on the boards of Neighborhood Cats and The National Kitten Coalition. Nancy volunteers as a foster and cat cuddler for her local animal shelter, Colorado Animal Rescue (CARE). During COVID, she became an avid birder and is working to protect cats and birds by building bridges between cat and bird advocates.

That Hurts, But I Won’t Tell You About It: How to Find and Help Your Feline OA Patients

Jason Doolittle, DVMFelis catus – the domestic cat – is an amazing animal who delights and surprises even those of us who have spent years working with them. Among their many unique personality traits is their ability, highly evolved and adapted over thousands of years, to mask their pain when frightened, surprised, or otherwise stressed. It should be no surprise, then, that when your feline patients are in an unfamiliar environment, surrounded by sights, sounds, and smells they don’t recognize (such as a veterinary exam room), they will be inclined to mask their pain.

Cats in these situations also commonly experience fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS). FAS can cause a cat to mask their pain but could also result in behaviors easily mistaken for signs of pain. Partnering with your client, the cat owner, is essential to make an accurate diagnosis of pain in your feline patients.

Helping our feline patients with osteoarthritis (OA) starts at home, with our clients. As you are aware, cat owners are highly attuned to even small changes in their cat’s habits, personality, and idiosyncrasies that make them unique. Partner with your clients and teach them to screen for OA pain at home with a validated Cat OA Checklist produced by Zoetis. On this website, there are three simple screening steps that should only take your clients a few minutes to complete:

  1. The first step utilizes animations to show healthy cat movement in performing several activities (e.g., climbing upstairs) compared to how cats move with joint disease. Your clients will be asked to check on the animations that are consistent with how their cat moves and that are suggestive of OA-related pain.
  2. The next step evaluates, on a scale, the cat owner’s perception of their favorite feline’s emotional and physical well-being. Because OA is a chronic disease that can affect cats emotionally, this is an important step in connecting to the disease state.
  3. The third, and final, step briefly summarizes, with yes/no questions, general behavior changes.

Once complete, clients can enter their email address to receive a copy of the checklist results. In some cases, clients will see the need to bring their cat into you for evaluation; others will need some encouragement to make an appointment. Consider recommending that your clients email the checklist results so you can identify those who might need to be seen.

To help prepare you for these kitties who will be coming to your office, Zoetis has created a website that provides you with resources such as helping to build cat owner awareness of feline pain, talk through the OA checklist they have completed, and feline orthopedic exam resources, including demonstration videos. This website contains a link to a printable version of the Cat OA Checklist that could be used, for example, with a client who has come into your office with their dog but has a cat at home that you haven’t seen in several years to encourage them to seek veterinary care for their feline companion.

It is important to remember that using Fear Free and Cat Friendly principles may mean that some cats who are coming to you to be evaluated for OA may require pharmaceutical help to remain calm. Keep in mind that some anxiolytic regimens may also produce analgesia and alter your exam findings. Objective diagnostic tools, such as orthopedic radiographs, are also an important part of the complete clinical evaluation.

Orthopedic exams and diagnosing OA in cats are yet more reminders that cats are not small dogs! As you partner with your cat-owning clients by asking them to screen their cats in the environment where they are most likely to show signs of OA, you will be better able to diagnose your arthritic feline patients. This partnership will greatly enhance your reputation amongst your clients who will see you as a trusted advisor to their beloved and treasured cat companion.

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.Sponsored by our friends at Zoetis Petcare. © 2021 Zoetis Services LLC. All rights reserved. NA-02588

What to Know About Recognizing Signs of FAS in Avian Patients

Fear Free

Specific signals of fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS) differ slightly by species, but what remains constant for delivering Fear Free care is to attend to what animals communicate through their body language.

For exotic animal veterinarian Alicia McLaughlin, who practices at the Center for Bird and Exotic Animal Medicine in Bothell, Washington, paying close, constant attention to body language signals throughout interactions and care is vital for protecting the emotional experience and safety of her animal patients and the veterinary team.

In the case of Dr. McLaughlin’s exotic animal patients, signs of FAS may be slightly different and adjusted to depending upon the species. Avians in particular can be challenging for most people to read. But with practice, reading their signs of FAS becomes second nature.

Some signs of increasing fear, anxiety, and stress McLaughlin watches for in avian patients include eyes appearing more round as opposed to soft and almond-shaped. Stressed birds also do not preen themselves and are unwilling to eat even favorite treats. Birds may stand taller on their perch and lean away from a scary object or person, with feathers slicked and held close to the body. If these body language cues are ignored, birds may attempt to fly away or vocalize, or FAS may progress to defensive gesturing, with the bird opening the mouth, lunging, and threatening to bite.

Another aspect of body language to watch for is overexcitement.

“Overexcitement can lead to aggression quickly,” McLaughlin says.

Signs of overexcitement include feathers ruffling on the nape of the neck. A parrot may fan out tail feathers. Parrots have voluntary control over their pupils and can dilate and constrict them rapidly in what is referred to as eye pinning, another sign of overexcitement and a red flag for potential aggression.

Carefully and continually monitoring for signs of FAS throughout preparatory visits and actual veterinary care is protective both for the ability to handle patients in the immediate situation and for building their long-term comfort with care.

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

Fear Free Euthanasia: Help Pets and People Say Goodbye Peacefully

Julie Liu, DVMPet parents will remember their animal’s euthanasia for the rest of their lives, and if their pet is agitated or anxious, they’ll remember that, too. Helping them to plan ahead can make the experience easier for your patients and their families.

When people make the difficult decision to euthanize a pet, there are many other smaller decisions they’ll have to make, such as when to schedule and whether they or their children should be present. Among the details that should be considered on your end is how you can reduce the animal’s fear, anxiety, and stress during their final moments.

When pets have a fear of the veterinarian and are brought in for euthanasia, their stress levels can escalate. The procedures that may take place before euthanasia can be scary or painful, such as being restrained by a veterinary staff member while their front leg is shaved and an IV catheter is placed. While this usually occurs away from the owner, the experience is often stressful enough that the difference is noticeable when the pet is returned to the exam room.

Even if a particular patient doesn’t routinely require anti-anxiety medications, consider them when clients are bringing pets in for euthanasia. Many pet parents have concerns about their sedating effects, but this is one instance where it truly doesn’t matter–sedation will only help the euthanasia go more smoothly. Dispense them at least a few days ahead of time to ensure that the client is able to give a test dose before the day of the pet’s euthanasia. Some anti-anxiety medications such as gabapentin also help reduce pain, so they can decrease discomfort to procedures such as IV catheter placement prior to euthanasia. If your patient is agitated or is still fearful despite oral pre-visit pharmaceuticals, consider injectable sedation prior to euthanasia. The last thing a pet parent wants to see in their time of grief is their pet flailing, vocalizing, or trying to escape. Sedation will decrease stress for the pet and their family.

If your practice routinely uses IV catheters for euthanasias, have clients rub a lidocaine numbing cream such as Supernumb on the tops of their pet’s forelegs several hours prior to euthanasia. IV catheter placement is painful, and numbing the area will make for a more compassionate experience, especially since multiple catheter attempts are sometimes needed in debilitated pets .

In your Fear Free practice, you use treats with patients during routine visits, and you can use them with euthanasia, too. Providing a smorgasbord of vanilla ice cream, lunch meat, cheese chunks, Churu, peanut butter, or whipped cream will allow clients to continue bonding with their pets while lowering their stress. Take care to avoid giving greasy foods such as burgers–while tempting to offer as a last meal, they can cause nausea and gastrointestinal upset.

If you don’t offer housecalls for patient euthanasia, I urge you to consider it. Even pets who don’t have a strong fear of veterinary visits will never be as relaxed at the vet as they will in their home, with their familiar bed and environment. You can even have classical music playing quietly in the background to help create a calming environment. I’ve euthanized several pets in their homes, and in every instance I felt that the experiences of the pet and the owner were better than they would have been in the clinic environment.

Pets deserve to have a Fear Free death as much as they deserve to have a Fear Free life. By considering a patient’s emotional health during their final days, you’ll help make their passing as compassionate as possible.

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

Julie Liu, DVM, CVA (Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist) is a small-animal veterinarian who practices in Austin, Texas. In addition to advocating for Fear Free handling of pets, she is passionate about feline medicine and senior pet care.
 

Placing Cats With FeLV: What to Know

Kim Campbell ThorntonAt University of Florida, Julie Levy, DVM, DACVIM, DABVP (Shelter Medicine) focuses on the health and welfare of animals in shelters, humane methods for cat population control, and feline infectious diseases.

One of her successes in the latter area is determining the most reliable and effective way to test cats for FeLV, a disease for which approximately three to four percent of cats in the United States test positive each year. The diagnosis affects an estimated 60,000 cats in animal shelters annually. And until recently, the diagnosis has frequently been a death sentence for cats.

In a study published last year in Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, the researchers—who included Dr. Levy—state “Overpopulation of cats in shelters, combined with limited shelter resources, apprehension about viral transmission and preconceptions about how FeLV infection may impact quality of life or adoption potential often lead to routine euthanasia for shelter cats following a single positive FeLV test.”

But their findings suggest a high national demand for a lifesaving option for cats diagnosed with FeLV and have made a difference for cats in several ways. One is that the recommended options for testing have been pared down to a small menu of the most accurate and cost-effective tests.

“In the past, veterinarians and shelter managers were confused about what kind of sample they should collect from cats, what tests they should run, and how much they could trust the results. There are so many point-of-care and laboratory options that it could be overwhelming,” Levy says. “Our work with naturally infected cats in animal shelters has helped us address outdated dogma and to streamline testing .”

That’s important because more and more shelters are working to place FeLV-positive cats in homes. Levy’s interest began because in the past, cats who tested positive for FeLV were often routinely euthanized. Because of that dire consequence, she says, testers were so fearful of misdiagnosing cats that they often ran multiple tests, sometimes with varying results.

And the disease, which suppresses a cat’s immune system, does not run a straight course. It affects different cats in different ways and at different times. Levels may change over time depending on a cat’s immune status. Some cats live with the disease with little problem. It may flare up if the cat is stressed or has a comorbidity such as an upper respiratory infection and then die back down. It’s not possible to run a test once and then expect the cat to remain the same throughout life. Accepting that screening for FeLV is often fraught with a level of uncertainty, Levy suggests pairing a simplified testing process with a goal for saving cats regardless of the results.

“Let’s just identify these cats as infected or not infected as best we can and then get them into the right homes and support them and not try to achieve some level of control or absolute knowledge that isn’t attainable,” Dr. Levy says.

But why would shelters place cats infected with a disease that is commonly considered a death sentence?

Because life-saving protocols and good guidelines for adopters mean that FeLV is not necessarily a death sentence. And because people are willing to adopt cats with FeLV and give them the care they need.

The adoption study showed high national demand for a life-saving option for cats diagnosed with FeLV. In it, researchers state: “The majority of cats referred to the FeLV program were adopted, demonstrating that programs centered on adopter education and post-adoption support can create lifesaving outcomes for most FeLV-infected cats, despite uncertainty regarding their long-term prognosis.”

The study also noted that FeLV infections could not be confirmed in approximately one in five cats referred to a large FeLV adoption program, a reminder of the risk of basing a cat’s fate on a single positive test result.

That FeLV adoption program, begun by Austin Pets Alive!, was the springboard for Levy’s research to identify the most practical testing protocols.

In collaboration with IDEXX and APA, which places hundreds of FeLV-infected cats from around the country each year, University of Florida researchers enrolled 130 infected cats who were fostered, tested monthly, and then followed over time. Previously, many small studies had evaluated one test at a time, but none had compared so many different tests at the same time, in the same cats, repeatedly.

“That has allowed us to determine what the more reliable tests are and to evaluate how the status of cats changes over time,” Dr. Levy says. “It changes a lot more than we expected.” They were also able to evaluate the survival rate of cats in relation to their test results.

Originally, the study was not expected to run for more than a year, a year funded by $160,000 from Maddie’s Fund, plus professional time contributed by researchers, testing donated by IDEXX, and discounted testing from other laboratories. But the researchers recognized the value of the information they were gathering and knew they would never be able to repeat it. They didn’t want to lose track of the cats or of the very engaged group of cat owners who wanted to help.

Support from ECHF allowed the study to continue beyond that first year. Vicki Thayer, DVM, then executive director of ECHF, thought the work was important enough to support and put through an out-of-cycle proposal to ensure they could continue the work. The funding allowed staff to spend time staying in touch with the cats and to complete another two rounds of testing for a year for some longer-term results.

“ECHF has always been so tuned in to the emerging needs of cats and the emerging research opportunities,” Levy says. “This is a great example of recognizing a critical moment in time for cats on a critical disease that was killing a lot of cats, either medically or because of inappropriate euthanasia.”

Four years later, the cats are part of the largest group of infected cats that have been followed for the longest period of time. They are real-world cats under real-world conditions.

The result is a new test available through the IDEXX commercial diagnostic lab that can not only provide confirmation of infection but also information about the cat’s prognosis. Using a new quantitative PCR test, shelters can now identify whether a tested cat is likely to be a long-term survivor or develop disease and mortality early. The study also found that whole blood is the best sample for testing, rather than serum or plasma. That’s good news because whole blood doesn’t have to be processed before it’s tested.

Levy recommends using a high-quality point of care test in a “one and done” screening process for most newly acquired cats and then managing the cat appropriately according to the test results. Shelters or practitioners who want to go to the next level of testing—to follow up on a positive screening test or to screen blood donor cats, for instance—can choose the quantitative PCR, a DNA test that identifies the extent to which a cat is affected by FeLV. The long-term follow-up study by the University of Florida study showed that if there’s a lot of FeLV when cats are first diagnosed, they are more likely to develop early disease and to have a shorter lifespan.

And “manage appropriately” doesn’t mean euthanize. But that message still needs to get out to veterinarians. Too often, cats with FeLV are stigmatized as poor risks for adoption when in fact their condition can be supported like other chronic diseases. The retrovirus is impossible to cure, but a cat with FeLV can live for many years without illness and without spreading the disease to other cats if they are adopted into single-cat homes or with other FeLV+ cats.

“We need to do a better job of sharing the life-saving paradigm with veterinary practitioners,” Levy says. “It is very frustrating to place an FeLV+ cat with an informed adopter,  only to have their veterinarian  convince them that the cat should be euthanized,” Levy says. “That’s just very old school thinking.”

In fact, the Association of Shelter Veterinarians and the American Association of Feline Practitioners do not support euthanasia based solely on a cat’s infection status.

The assumption is that people won’t want to adopt cats if they don’t know how long they’re going to live or if they might require expensive treatment toward the end of their life. That’s frustrating to Levy.

“People adopt old dogs or dogs with medical conditions all the time,” she says. “They’re like, ‘Yes, this animal needs a home. I like him. Nobody knows what the future will bring. And even if he has only a few years left in life, he’s a good dog for me, and I want to be there for him.’”

They feel the same way about cats with FeLV or other diseases such as FIV, she believes. Those are often young cats who are healthy in the moment, enjoying life, and are great companions. In an adopter satisfaction survey, 74 percent of respondents had a “very positive” experience living with an FeLV-positive cat adopted from APA and 21 percent had a “positive” experience; 73 percent were “very likely” to adopt a FeLV cat again and 11 percent were “somewhat likely” to do so.

The shelters that are starting adoption programs for cats with FeLV are proving Levy’s point, using creative and fun programs to place the cats.

“Very often, the thing that tips a shelter over to trying it is when a favorite cat turns up positive or a foster home ends up with a positive cat and they can’t possibly euthanize it,” Levy says. “So they take this ‘dangerous’ step of adopting it out and it goes so well. They’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, why didn’t we do this sooner?’”

That’s what happened at Tree House Humane Society in Chicago. A foster caregiver raised some neonatal kittens who tested positive later and no one could bring themselves to euthanize them. They adopted them out and the adoptions were so successful that they now feature FeLV cats at their new cat café. They are popular adoptees thanks to good education and public relations. A cat café in Seattle has a similar program, focusing on FeLV cats from local shelters.

The Austin model provides good data on the viability of such adoption programs, especially when they are combined with the education and support of local veterinarians, as well as how to put them in place. The programs create optimism and enthusiasm for saving cats who could be considered some of the most vulnerable in the shelter system.

“We need to be better at providing the continuing education to private practitioners, so they also feel this optimism about caring for these cats,” Levy says.

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

Kim Campbell Thornton is content manager for Fear Free Pets and is an Elite Fear Free Certified Professional. She has been writing about dogs, cats, wildlife, and marine life since 1985 and is a recipient of multiple awards from the Cat Writers Association, Dog Writers Association of America, and American Society of Journalists and Authors. When she’s not writing or editing, she’s snuggling with Harper and Keeper, her Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
 
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