What Triggers Aggressive Cat Behavior?
Sometimes the sweetest cat can suddenly turn hostile toward you and even to other cats or animals in your home, leaving you confused about your pet’s change in behavior. What factors trigger this behavior in cats? How do you deal with an aggressive cat?
There are many reasons why cats become aggressive toward their owners and to other persons or animals they used to be friendly with. When your cat displays this behavior, the first thing you have to consider is that it may be in pain. Once you observe sudden behavioral changes in your cat, take it to the vet for a checkup. The aggressiveness may just be a manifestation of a discomfort the cat is feeling due to a health problem. If your cat turns out healthy, then it’s time to consider other factors that may be causing its aggressiveness.
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Generally, there are four factors that trigger aggressive behavior in cats.
* Rough play
Sometimes cat owners like to play rough with their kittens. After all, who doesn’t find an energetic kitten adorable? Cat owners often find themselves ‘wrestling’ with their kittens and enjoying the rough play. The problem arises as the cat grows up. Being used to playing rough with you, it starts to scratch, bite, and pounce on you like it used to when it was little. However, now that it’s bigger, the scratches and bites often result in wounds.
An aggressive cat can leave you with serious wounds that can be infected with bacteria from its saliva and nails. To control this aggressive behavior, you should discourage rough play. You can also use soft toys, particularly those with long handles that will give a safe distance between you and the cat, which the cat can direct its playful attacks on. Stop using your hands, feet, and other parts of your body to play with your cat so it will stop treating them as “targets.”
* Misdirected aggression
Sometimes cats get bothered by things that do not have anything to do with you. For example, seeing another cat outside the window can agitate them and cause them to be aggressive. The problem is that the aggressive cat doesn’t turn hostile toward the other cat outside your house; it directs its hostility toward you. To stop this behavior, you should identify the cause of your cat’s aggressiveness, and then remove it from your cat’s path. If it’s another cat outside the window, then close the curtains or the blinds.
* Defensiveness
Cats that were taken from their mothers too early tend to develop fear of humans. This is especially true if they did not receive enough petting from their owners and they were not properly socialized when they were young. You can avoid this by petting your kittens while they are still young. You can also begin to socialize them at this stage by introducing them to other cats and animals in your home.
An adult aggressive cat will be more difficult to work with, but its behavior can be curbed over time. For example, if it displays fear aggression toward you, you can allow it to go hungry for a time so you can come near it while holding a treat in your hand. Wait for the cat to approach you; don’t approach the cat first. It is important for the cat to overcome its fear. Eventually, the cat will come near and develop its trust in you.
* Territoriality
Cats are naturally territorial. When other cats invade their territory, they become aggressive toward the invaders. They usually manifest their hostility toward other cats by letting out a distinctive cry and assuming a particular posture. Sometimes they get so disturbed that they begin to pounce even on their owners or other people in the house. If a territorial battle ensues among the cats in your home, you can separate them physically by using a thick blanket or towel to cover your hands and arms. Put the aggressive cats in separate rooms until they cool down. Don’t show them your usual affection for some time until they realize their bad behavior.