When clients contact me for behavioural help, I always ask for a vet referral before getting started. Sometimes this surprises owners, so I thought it useful to share why this is so important.
A vet absolutely needs to see the animal, to discuss and investigate the problem behaviour and put appropriate treatment in place prior to behavioural intervention. Pain, discomfort or any other form of medical condition can directly cause or exacerbate any behaviour problem or complicate its treatment. It’s so important that organisations such as the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (www.apbc.org.uk) consider a vet referral an essential requirement for their members.
With most clients this runs smoothly, however some can be reluctant to consult a vet prior to our consultation. Some reasons I have come across for this include:
The cause of the behaviour problem seems obvious, and a vet check is considered unnecessary. This is common with specific issues such as aggression towards a new cat joining the household.
A general health check has been undertaken in the past, with no concerns. Or the owner feels no reason to suspect their cat is unwell.
It’s more expensive to book a vet appointment along with any exploratory tests or medications on top of the behaviour consultation.
Seeing a vet first can delay the behaviour consultation and the problem may be very difficult to live with day to day, e.g. urine spraying.
A trip to the vets may be stressful for the cat.
It’s understandable that some owners feel this way, these are all reasonable thoughts and feelings. However, reasons for veterinary involvement are super important too and not doing so can have significant consequences. Here’s why:
Cats are excellent at concealing pain.
Cats are a prey species as well as predators and showing pain shows vulnerability. So signs of pain are subtle and easily missed and conditions can go unnoticed, manifesting in behavioural symptoms. A classic example is Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC) where often the most noticeable symptom is avoiding the litter tray. If treating just litter tray avoidance without treating FIC, the behaviour is unlikely to improve, and the cat’s welfare is compromised.
The behaviourist’s advice may worsen existing or hidden medical conditions.
Take a cat fearful of a new puppy. Part of the treatment may involve placing food bowls on a raised surface, allowing him to eat away from bouncy pup. If the cat was suffering from arthritis, accessing the food may be painful, increasing his level of discomfort.
A behaviour problem may have an obvious trigger but be exacerbated by medical conditions.
Being unwell or in pain sucks. It’s makes us irritable and less able to cope with things we are usually ok with. It’s the same for animals. Consider a cat picked up by her owner and flipped on to her back for a cuddle. She doesn’t overly enjoy this but tolerates it until she is placed back down. When feeling unwell, her tolerance is lowered, and she may scratch or bite. Picking her up is the trigger, but just stopping this is unlikely to completely solve the aggression given her discomfort.
Behavioural advice can help manage medical conditions alongside appropriate medication.
For example, increasing water intake for cats suffering some forms of kidney disease can be helpful in managing the condition together with veterinary intervention. A behaviourist usually sees cats in their home, presenting an opportunity to provide specific, practical advice to encourage them to drink more water.
Essentially, having a vet on board is better all round. For the owner, tackling the problem from both a veterinary and behavioural perspective will save time and money overall as treatment is more successful and behaviour will improve faster. But really, it’s all about the cat and a good relationship between the owner, vet and behaviourist will help maintain excellent welfare standards and promote a happy and healthy lifestyle.
