Cat Behaviour Flashcards

Flashcards on Cat Behaviour

Kitten Development

Kittens are born deaf and blind and dependent on their mother.

3 week old kitten behaviour

Learn predatory behaviour.

Socialisation phase

3-14 weeks, they are most receptive to new experiences at this time the kitten should meet new people, dogs, noises.

14 week old cat

A feral cat cannot be tamed.

Juvenile phase

14 weeks to 6 months, dominated by playing to help learn hunting and socialising.

Action and Reward

Learn by a reward following a action

Feral cat diet

A feral cat needs to consume 10 mice a day to meet its nutritional needs.

Cats feeding habits

Cats naturally prefer to graze on small meals each day rather than larger meals

Active eating

Involves puzzles so the cat works for its food.

Newborn kittens feeding time

Newborn kittens spend 8 hours feeding.

Weaning

Kittens reduce their reliance on their mothers milk this is around 4 weeks of age

Sleeping time for cats

Farm cat will sleep for 9 hours whereas a house cat will sleep 13 hours.

Cats vision

Cats vision is well adapted to darkness; this is to be successful when hunting prey.

Neutered cats

Pet cats neutered are more home-loving and wont display troubling behaviour e.g. spraying

Female cat sexual maturity

Female cats become sexually mature at 6 - 12 months of age.

Physical act of mating

Takes less than a minute and causes the queen to ovulate

Shared maternal duties

Females may share maternal duties by acting as a surrogate mother.

Cat aggression reasons

If a cat is aggressive it may be in pain, scared or lacking socialisation.

Warnings signs before attacking

growling and hissing, ears flat back, large pupils , arched back, swishing tail and snarling to show canines

Interpretation of body language

Need to be done in the context of other signals e,g, cat may swish its tail when excited or angry

Body language associated with aggression

Dilated pupils, ears flat against head, tail healed in an upside down U shape and arched back (also used when greeting)

Body language associated with relaxed disposition

Narrow pupils, eyes in a downward position, ears moving in different directions and fanning forwards

Cats ears usage

Cats ears are moveable and act as a funnel sound into the internal ear.

Kittens ears external development

By day 6-14 the canal opens and hearing slowly develops.

Ways a cat expresses scent

The 7 ways of producing scent are Urine, Faeces, Anal and perianal glands, cheek and chin glands, interdigital glands and dorsal tail glands

Distinctive cat sounds

Cats hear a complex range of sounds. Humans cannot hear all the vocal communication.

Purring

Contentment or self soothing.

Wail

Angry or unhappy.

Types of aggression

Ill or in pain, competing for territory and low tolerance for physical contact

Resolving of cat behaviour

Finding the trigger will be key to resolving the behaviour.

Scratching usage

Mark territory and scent areas, scratch odour from sweat and scent glands are deposited.

Cat breeds more vocalised

Oriental breeds such as siamese are naturally more vocal.

Extinction

Ignoring unwanted behaviour in doing so cat learns the behaviour does not result in getting what it wants.

External parasite treatment

Fleas and ticks.

Internal parasite treatment

Intestinal worms.

Effects of ageing

Sleep more, move less, be more prone to diseases and groom less.

Socialisation window age

A kitten's key socialisation window is 3-14 weeks.

Cat communication

Cats communicate through smell, sound and sight. Will aim to avoid physical confrontation.

Alert collapse

Collapse with normal mentation.

Depressed collapse

Collapsed but responds to stimuli, sluggish, lethargic, conscious, abnormal

Unconscious collapse

Check pulse and heart rate, not responding

Unconscious collapse - normal heart rate

Neurological disease, hypoglycaemia

Unconscious collapse - abnormal heart rate

Severe shock, immediate attention could lead to death.

Stupour

An animal is aware of its surroundings but disorientated.

Coma

Body functions are present, the animal may not be roused. - cannot be not woken up

Heart rate sign of unconsciousness

weak, could stop

Muscles sign of unconsciousness

relaxed, no resistance

Gently extend legs reasons

This allows the chest cavity to open up (increase volume)

Breathing detection

Visually seeing the chest moving up and down.

Young animals, small species or brachycephalic (flat nose)breeds

Requires mouth to mouth and nose resuscitation due to their size

Shock

Changes that develop when the body attempts to compensate for limited heart function, blood, volume, or circulation.

Hypovolemic shock

Due to loss of blood - traumatic injury or loss of fluid to metabolic processes such as dehydration, vomiting or diarrhea.

Distributive shock

AKA toxic shock caused by anaphylaxis or series infection (septicaemia) - blood flow being directed away from the circulation system, because of a problem with peripheral blood vessels.

Cardiogenic shock

Due to heart failing - no longer pumping blood to lungs

Obstructive shock

Due to something stopping the blood flowing, such as a blood clot (embolism)

State of Shock

Is prolonged the organs will fail.

Cat Temperature

38.0 - 38.5

Cat Pulse

120 - 180 BPM

Cat Respiration

20 -30 per min

Bleeding from the heart

arterial spurting in rhythm of the heartbeat.

Incised wounds

Clean edges often caused by sharp objects e.g. glass. The animal might not feel pain will heal quickly if cleaned regularly

Laceration

Torn wound irregular wound caused by barbed wire, fighting with other animals, hit by car. Bleed prevusually, contaminated with dirt, bacteria, pathogens easily infected, flush with saline solution reduce risk of infection

Puncture

Small holes, cause serious underline damage. Caused by bites, nails, depth can allow bacteria to track further into the body causing complications heal bottom upwards. Need to be flushed thoroughly.

Abrasion

A graze skin surface isn't broken, the result of being hit by cars aka road rash. Abrasion can be caused by dog fights. Extremely painful and can get infected.

Contusion

A bruise injured tissue or skin, must be monitored closely. Cold compress is only useful in the first few minutes of impact occurring.

Degloved

Skin removed skin is removed from underlying tissue. Heavily contaminated often caused by road traffic collision, tissue usually dies sloths away from the bone due to damage. Needs surgery

Support bandaging

Help reduce pain levels and swelling and gives additional support for internal fractures.

Protection bandaging

Self mutilation.

Pressure bandaging

Ensure hemorrhage is appropriate afasted.

Immobilisation bandaging

Aid pain relief

Direct impact fracture

Most common fracture.

Dealing with a fracture

Carefully restrain the animal - do not interfere with the fracture area

Seizure cat

15-2 hours of recovery time

Drowning - rescue

Never risk your own life trying to save an animal in water

Heatstroke

Often caused by excessive exercise, left in hot car, seizures

Heatstroke signs

rapid breathing, reddish tongue, pale gums

Head Trauma Cat

Usually caused by RTC or severe animal attack

Hypoglycaemia

Low level of glucose in the blood

Gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV)

A buildup of food and gases causes the stomach to dilate, causing catastrophic complications

Gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV) - signs

Signs include anxiety and panting, standing and stretching, drooling, bloated stomach and retching unusual behavior, nauseous, elevated heart rate

Managing a first aid scenario

Delegate, assess, administer first aid, call the vet and transport