Felinoterapie, NCHK

Calming signals - pacifiers - and their application in felinotherapy - a view from the other side

D. Hypšová

Calming signals or also soothing or neutral signals (Mifková, K., 2020) were described in dogs by Norwegian trainer and breeder T. Rugaas in 1997. According to T. Rugaas, these communication signals serve to avert conflicts and aggressive behaviour between individuals. Over time, consolatory signals have also been described in other animal species, including cats. Most of the signals listed by T. Rugaas are understood by other authors as signals indicating stress in dogs - for example, yawning, looking away, turning the head, licking the nose and lifting the paw. (Beerda et al. 1998, Schilder and Van der Borg, 2004, Tod et al. 2005, Rooney et at. 2009, Mariti et al. 2012).

There is no doubt that the so-called consonant signals (CS in the article below) are part of nonverbal communication, body language. They have communicative potential. Joe Navarro, a former FBI agent and one of the leading experts on human nonverbal communication, and psychologist Marvin Karlins state in their book What Every Body Is Saying (2008) that nonverbal communication, also referred to as nonverbal behavior or body language, is a means of communication as much as verbal expression (speech) and uses facial expressions, gestures, touch, physical movement, postures, people's clothing, jewelry, tattoos, hairstyle, etc. It also uses the tone, strength and pitch of an individual's voice. Non-verbal behaviour in humans accounts for an average of 60-65% of total communication and can reach up to 100% during intimate behaviour.

Non-verbal communication is closely linked to the limbic system in the brain, whose primary role is the survival of the species and is not influenced by the neocortex, i.e. conscious thought, these are unconscious responses to neuroception, hence they have a strong cognitive value.

J. Navarro states that one of the fascinating facts about nonverbal communication is its universal applicability.

CS in cats include:

• turning your head away

• nose licking

• licking lips

• freezing

• slow movement (walking)

• trying to look smaller (lowering the centre of gravity)

• excessive yawning

• sniffing the ground (clearly visible when the cat is lurking for prey)

• walking in an arc (avoiding a possible threat)

• munching

• lifting the front paw (the paw can be ready to strike)

• increase the distance

• excessive rapid licking

• excessive rapid scratching

• excessive rapid scratching in a certain place

Self-soothing behaviour also includes :

• licking the inner thighs of a back legs

• licking the forelegs

• chewing and sometimes eating (especially indigestible materials, e.g. cables, fabrics)

• intensive moving from place to place (especially for large felines in zoos)

• stereotypical movements

• excessive food intake

Some of these behaviours are often described as pathological, e.g. excessive licking of hair on the fore and hind legs, chewing and eating indigestible objects, intensive moving from place to place, stereotyped movements, excessive food intake.

Joe Navarro proposes that when observing non-verbal communication, signals can be divided into signals indicating calmness and well-being of the individual and signals indicating discomfort and uneasiness.

From S. W. Porges' Polyvagal theory, we know that the individual is constantly scanning through neuroception for danger/safety signals from the environment in which he or she is. An individual's illusion of control over the environment is one of the most important behavioral reinforcers - reinforcers. Social interaction and learning can only take place in an environment that the individual perceives as safe. This behavior is unconscious and is controlled by evolutionarily older brain structures.

The so-called CS belongs to the category of signals indicating discomfort and restlessness. Although by sending them an individual is able to reduce the likelihood of conflict with another individual, they are not signals expressing well-being and comfort. They do not serve to resolve the situation, but to calm the individual to the point where he or she attempts to resolve the situation.

J. Navarro states that these signals of discomfort occur as an immediate response of the limbic system to a previous negative experience or perceived threat and serve to calm the organism of the individual sending the signals. These signals occur instantaneously, in real time, and thus have a strong predictive value about the current level of stress an individual is experiencing.

Their advantage is that it is we can read it immediately. With the help of touches, movements, gestures, there is more blood circulation in certain areas (for example, where the cat scratches, licks) and the secretion of endorphins, which have a calming effect on the brain of the individual. In the case of excessive yawning - we all know the saying that someone's mouth has gone dry because of fear - the salivary glands are squeezed and saliva is released into the parched mouth.

Many behaviours can be observed in humans - from thumb sucking in young children, chewing gum and smoking, biting a pencil, covering the dimple on the front of the neck between the collarbones (suprasternal notch) in women, massaging the neck, wrinkling the forehead, closing the eyes, moving the legs, rubbing the hands on the thighs, touching the mouth, cheeks, playing with the hair, closing the eyes, etc. Thus, while these signals have the potential to reduce the likelihood of conflict breaking out between individuals, their primary meaning is to communicate the emotional state of the individual sending the signals.

In the case of felinotherapy or breeding, CS is of great importance. They give us information about what makes the cat uncomfortable, what it tries to avoid and what increases its stress level. When recording interactions in felinotherapy and in training, it is important to pay attention to the CS and try to modify the environment to reduce stress and thus reduce the incidence of CS. If we see a higher incidence of CS in the recordings of training or training for felinotherapy (and in the felinotherapy itself), we need to consider different training procedures, a different design of the intervention, a change in the clientele, a change in the facility where the cat is brought, or withdrawing the cat temporarily or permanently from participation in felinotherapy.

It is advisable to consult with a veterinarian - especially if CS suddenly starts to occur with greater frequency than was usual in the past. This is for the cat's welfare and to protect the client not only from possible injury but also from synchronised stress levels. Our goal at AAI is the well-being and stress reduction of all involved, not its accumulation.

Literature used :

• Beerda, B., Schilder, M.B.H., van Hoof, J.A.R.A.M., de Vries, H.V., 1997. Manifestations of chronic and acute stress in dogs. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 52, 307e319

• Beerda, B., Schilder, M.B.H., van Hoof, J.A.R.A.M., de Vries, H.V., Mol, J.A., 1998. Behavioral, saliva cortisol and heart rate responses to different types of stimuli in dogs. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 58, 365e381

• Mariti, C. Et al., Analysis of calming signals in domestic dogs :Are they signals and are they calming?, Journal of Veterinary Behavior Clinical Applications and Research, December 2014

• Mifková, K., Communication of domestic cats (Felis silvestris f. catus) and mapping of their neutral signals - bachelor thesis, ČZU, 2020

• Navarro J., Karlins M., What every body is saying, Harper-Collins e-books 2008, ISBN 978- 0-06-143829-5

• Porges, S. W., Polyvagal theory - Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-regulation (Norton Series on Interpersonal Neurobiology), W.W. Norton & Company, 2011, ISBN 978-0393707007

• Rooney, N., Gaines, S., Hiby, E., 2009. A practitioner's guide to working dog welfare. J. Vet. Behav.: Clin. Appl. Res. 4, 127e134.

• Rugaas, T., Conciliatory Signals, Plot 2008, ISBN 978-80-86523-80-4

• Sundman, Ann-Sofie et al., Long-term stress levels are synchronized in dogs and their owners, Nature, 6 January 2019

• Tod, E., Brander, D., Waran, N., 2005. Efficacy of dog appeasing pheromone in reducing stress and fear related behavior in shelter dogs. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 93, 295