Aggressive cat behavior: how to deal with it

The presence of a lively fluffy beauty in the house makes life more interesting. But if a cat shows aggression, especially for no reason, you need to be able to deal with it. Such situations are quite frequent, and the ability to remove an attack of aggression in a cat will help establish a strong and loving bond with the pet.

Identification of aggressive behavior

Understanding a cat’s body language in familiar circumstances will help you recognize when it is behaving in an uncharacteristic manner. “This gives owners the ability to more accurately read their cats and understand their feelings and motivations, as well as help them respond more appropriately to behavioral problems such as aggression,” explains the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. 

Cats use their eyes, ears, tail, and voice to communicate with their owners. If you get to know a cat better, you can learn to understand by its behavior what it wants: food, games or affection.

Some cats are naturally noisy and do odd things, such as running down the hallway in the middle of the night, tossing their toy mouse into the air and howling playfully. However, this is not aggressive behavior. It is not at all difficult to understand when a cat is not just a bully, but behaves frankly aggressively.

Signs of sudden aggression in a cat:

• Hiss.

• Biting.

• Paw spanking.

• Growl.

• Released claws.

• Open mouth.

• Rigid stand.

If a cat suddenly begins to show certain signs of aggressive behavior that do not correspond to its character and do not have an obvious reason, you first need to take it to a veterinarian. It will rule out medical reasons. After he confirms that the pet is healthy, other possible reasons why the cat is showing aggression can be identified and eliminated.

Why is the cat aggressive?

In general, cats are often quick-tempered. According to the Cornell Cat Health Center, “aggression, defined as hostile or aggressive behavior aimed at putting down or intimidating another person, is a fairly common behavioral problem in cats.” 

Among the reasons for attacks of aggression in a cat can be called age. Kittens and young cats up to 2 years old are the very embodiment of the “debaucher”. Other reasons are lack of socialization (this is especially true for cats that were isolated from people in the early stages of life) and maternal instinct – cat mothers are extremely belligerent about their kittens.

The most common reasons why a cat has become aggressive may be playful, inter-feline and territorial forms of aggression.

Game or aggression?

Cats love to play, but sometimes the game can turn into aggression. This usually occurs in kittens who are just beginning to recognize their limits. If they start biting or hitting their littermates too hard, the siblings will quickly put them in their place. A cat that is about to move to a new level of play shakes its hind legs and flattens its ears, and its pupils may dilate.

Cat aggression towards another cat

Aggression between cats is the second most common after play aggression: “Cats do not know how to coexist peacefully for various reasons, including incompatible temperaments, territorial rivalry, or intolerance of a lack of personal space.” 

If a conflict suddenly arises between cats that once got along, it may be due to the fact that one of them has a change in smell, for example, after visiting a veterinary clinic.

Ownership and fear

Many cats go into attack mode when they are startled or provoked by people or other pets. It happens that the cat becomes aggressive, attacks guests or other pets, even if before that she behaved extremely nicely with the owner. If the pet decides that someone or something intends to invade its territory, it will go berserk and attack.

Fortunately, there are ways to curb hostile cat behavior.

How to calm an aggressive cat

By identifying the cause of a cat’s aggression, you can better manage its behavior. Some causes are temporary and easier to control. For example, in the case of maternal aggression, you just need to stay away from the mother cat and let her do her thing. As for other triggers, you may need to get a little creative.

Play aggression is the most common form of unfriendly behavior in cats. One way to reduce or even prevent such aggression is to not engage in combat games with your pet. The form of the game in which the cat attacks the owner contributes to its aggressive behavior.

If the cat begins to move to a tough game, you can switch her attention to a soft toy. Stuffed dog toys are also great for aggressive cats because they are made from a more durable material than most cat toys and won’t fall apart after the first bite.

As soon as the cat designates his possessions, he will make sure that other animals and people know who is the owner here. When introducing new pets to each other, or if one of the cats begins to aggressively dominate the other after a long and peaceful coexistence, it may be necessary to arrange separate places for them to eat, sleep and toilet, and then slowly renew their acquaintance.

When a cat is aggressive towards a person, you should not touch the animal that is on the defensive – this way you can create even more chaos. If two or more cats are fighting, make a short loud noise or some other distraction. He will distract the animals, and they will scatter in different directions.

If a cat is scared and lonely, a human may be tempted to pet or comfort it. But she may take this gesture as a threat. Therefore, do not approach or touch her until she is ready for this. The cat will let you know when the time is right.

Sometimes it seems that it is cats who train their owners, and not vice versa. “When trying to manage a pet’s aggressive behavior, don’t punish it, as this can cause the cat to become fearful of humans or be interpreted as a call to play and inadvertently encourage aggressive behavior,” explains Cornell. “If you just walk away, leaving a cat engaged in play aggression alone, it will learn that inappropriate aggressive play results in no play at all.” Bottom line: reward good behavior, not bad behavior.

When to Seek Veterinary Care

If the cat shows unusual aggression for which there is no specific explanation, it is necessary to visit a veterinarian. He must diagnose and exclude internal pathologies. 

Animal aggression can be reduced by spaying or castration, as well as treatment of the underlying disease. These include epilepsy, trauma, dental problems, diabetes, hyperthyroidism (fast metabolism), hypertension (high blood pressure), primary brain disease, feline leukemia, feline immunodeficiency, and feline infectious peritonitis (viral disease). Treating these conditions can reduce or eliminate a cat’s aggression. Early intervention is the best thing you can do to keep your pet healthy.

With these tips and advice from a veterinarian, and a lot of patience, owners will learn how to soothe their furry friends and enjoy a long and happy life together.