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. 2024 Feb;26(2):1098612X231214907.
doi: 10.1177/1098612X231214907.

Correlation between aggression at the veterinary clinic and problem behaviors at home for cats in the USA

Alison Gerken  1 , Kyuyoung Lee  2 , Melissa Bain  3 , Sun-A Kim  4
Affiliations

Correlation between aggression at the veterinary clinic and problem behaviors at home for cats in the USA

Alison Gerken et al. J Feline Med Surg. 2024 Feb.

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine whether cats that exhibit aggression during veterinary visits are more likely to have behavior problems at home.

Methods: An online, anonymous, cross-sectional survey was developed and distributed to residents in the USA who were aged over 18 years and who were the primary owners of at least one cat. The survey collected information about cat and household factors, and utilized a validated questionnaire instrument for obtaining behavioral information of pet cats.

Results: Aggression at the veterinary clinic was reported in 42.6% of the cats. The frequency of aggression exhibited at the veterinary clinic was lower in cats that lived in multi-cat households. Most cats did not receive medications intended to reduce fear, anxiety and/or pain before veterinary visits. Aggression at the veterinary clinic was positively associated with behavior problems at home, including stranger-directed aggression, owner-directed aggression, resistance to restraint, familiar cat aggression, dog-directed aggression, house-soiling, separation-related behaviors and scratching claws on inappropriate surfaces indoors.

Conclusions and relevance: Cats that exhibit aggression at the veterinary clinic are more likely to exhibit aggression and anxiety-related behaviors at home. Veterinarians should screen cats that exhibit aggression at the veterinary clinic for behavior problems at home to institute prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Keywords: Feline aggression; cat aggression; cat behavior problems; feline behavior problems; veterinary visit.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interestThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Correlation matrix of question 93 scores from the Fe-BARQ (‘Does your cat growl, hiss, scratch or bite when examined or treated by a veterinarian?’) with Fe-BARQ questions from Fe-BARQ sections 7–10 and 24
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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