Thesis Type

Open Access

Degree Name

Master in Applied Behavior Analysis and Clinical Science

Committee Member(s)

Dr. Stephanie Trauschke

Dr. Kara Wunderlich

Dr. Rachelle Yankelevitz

Abstract

Of the nearly sixty million feral cats, most are deemed unadoptable and thereby unable to be rescuable given their aggressive behaviors towards humans. There are currently no evidence-based socialization training procedures used to socialize adult feral cats with the main interventions for the fearful adult feral cats being trap-neuter-return (TNR) or euthanasia. The purpose of the current study was to decrease undesirable behaviors of an adult feral cat to facilitate safe and reciprocal interactions between her and humans. The study evaluated the use of a differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) procedure without extinction on an adult feral cat to decrease human-directed aggression while being approached, exposed to aversive sounds, and exposed to unfamiliar toys.

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