Overcoming Fright

  Both bunnies and kitties can suffer from fright. Fear is a strong emotion that causes one or all of three results: freezing, fighting, or fleeing. When working with cats and rabbits, Freezing is when the animal is overcome with fear causing them to panic with temporary paralysis. Others engulfed in fear lunge, snort, hiss, box, charge, and, in extreme cases, bite as ways to fend off threats. Still others run away at the onset of fear. If they live in a state of chronic fear, it can cause physical illness and, if not remedied, death. Moments of fear are normal for rabbits as their prey nature relies on it for survival. Feral cats also rely on fear factors for survival. However, house cats and rabbits can live more enjoyable fear-free lives if they receive help. I call the process of helping them 'Fright Behavior Modification.' During this process, I suggest natural intracranial stimulation factors that help divert deep brain electrical activity overpower abnormal avoidance/withdrawal/aggression reactions and replace them with non-fear based ones. Improving associative mental connections that would otherwise trigger negative outcomes by turning them into positive ones releasing intermodal happy hormones activates a brain-reward function. In accomplishing this, I inhibit fear responses and replace them with pleasure. Animals who once were seclusive, aggressive, or avoided human contact reverse roles and become friendly to human interaction, confident, and non-combative. Fright is the basis for many behavior disorders. Helping caregivers and their animal companions find contentment and happiness is my mission.