Chapter 1: Fear Flashcards
Neonatal period
Birth until eyes and ears open (~2 weeks old)
Main goal is to acquire food and keep warm
No fear response
Bond with whoever provides food
No lasting negative effects from traumatic events
Transition period
Last 1 week
Start play fighting
Can eliminate on their own
Socialization period
Start developing attachments, curious, see surroundings as “safe”
Startle easily recover quickly
3 weeks- 9 weeks
Peak sensitivity 3-4 weeks
Prime time to teach being handled
Easier to deal with stressful events in the future
Later development period
As they mature, they become more wary of environment
Corresponds with ability to ambulate
Fear of objects/ environment lasts a lifetime
What can owners do in terms of socialization
Many owners seclude until vaccines are finished
But you should socialize during the socialization period
Expose to different sights/ sounds/ people/ animals/ environments
Kitty kindergarten
Kitten socialization checklist
Domestication vs. Tameness
Tame: will not flee from human approaching
Domestication: species or population that becomes adapted to living in captive environments with humans is that occurs over many generations
What is flight distance
The closest distance a human can approach before the animal flees
Do tameness and domestication go hand in hand? Why or why not?
An animal can be tame but not domesticated or domesticated and not tame
Do not equate either of these with being safe from a bite, a tame and/or domesticated animal will still bite under certain circumstances
How do you recognize fear in cats?
Fear response less obvious than dogs
Usually start by making themselves look small: lean against wall, hold feet under themselves, tuck tail, ears down and back
If stimulus persists or is very intense, make themselves bigger: arched back, piloerection, puffy tail
What are signs that a cat is scared?
Appear tired Remain still Hiss Hyper vigilance Ears change direction frequently Tail twitch Dilated pupils
