It isn’t just humans that know how to act without thinking, behave automatically, or respond in certain circumstances. Animals have a natural ability to act instinctively too. This instinctive response, which readies one to respond or relate to specific situations, is often called fight or flight. Some have questioned whether this ability is based on varying degrees of complex mental capacities or emotional responses.
I don’t have much experience in this arena. Still, the motivation to explore an animal’s natural instincts came directly from a recent situation my cats and I found ourselves in. My cats, Hope, a tuxedo, and Trudeau, a Bengal, are brothers. We adopted them at birth over seven years ago. They are indoor cats only exposed to the out of doors on ‘supervised visits’. They get regular checkups at the veterinary clinic.
So, imagine my surprise, fear, and panic when another cat wandered onto our property, and my cats, who are very territorial by nature, took off after this ‘intruder’. The cats were intertwined in what looked like a classic Brazilian Ju-Jitsu choke hold. Fur was flying. Hissing, swatting, biting, and scratching occurred as the cats chased and ambushed one another.
If cats experience emotions, I can only imagine what they must have been feeling. My heart was racing from the stress of it all. Fear, panic, and anger set in, in response to the sudden change of environment. Once safely back inside the house, I surveyed the damage. Repercussions of the fight. I had more questions than answers, having never experienced the effects of an animal’s instincts firsthand.
Upon further research, I learned that in evolutionary psychology, which studies behaviour, thought, and feelings, most primal animals (including humans) are said to be motivated or have instincts to have, follow, and achieve: fighting, fleeing, feeding, and fornicating.
Regardless of the motivation, it was off to the veterinarian to ensure our cats remained healthy and to seek medical advice or intervention should they need it. They did. Just to be safe.
Although symptoms of rabies tend to be extremely rare in cats, symptoms such as weakness or paralysis of the legs, seizures, difficulty breathing, etc., would progress quickly. A rabies vaccine would protect our cats from all strains of rabies. (Of note, even indoor cats need to be vaccinated, and you could be fined if your pet isn’t vaccinated for rabies.)
And so, it was home from the veterinarians. Trudeau was sporting the ever-stylish ‘Elizabethan collar’. A protective medical device shaped like a truncated cone designed to prevent the animal from scratching the head, eyes, face, and neck. Home, for the humans to administer an extra dose of love, patience, compassion, and understanding to our cats… and to offer maybe a few extra treats and cuddles on the couch.
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Jacqueline Biollo is a former politician. The cats were a gift to her children as a token of appreciation for their love and support during her 2015 federal campaign. Jacqueline grew up with fish, guinea pigs, and rabbits – so getting used to being a ‘cat lady’ has been a new adventure – and she wouldn’t trade it in for anything… well, maybe a pony.
