You must have noticed that your cat often gets aggressive towards people including you! It is because most animals have a behavioral pattern that allows them to show aggression from time to time. Cat’s usually don’t bite but in case of extreme aggressive attitude of your cat, it is preferred that you take professional advice on the matter.
Types of Cat Aggression
To resolve the sudden aggression of your cat, it is imperative that you know the reason behind it. Principally there are 5 kinds of aggression that your cat might be experiencing which have been discussed below:
i) Play Aggression
Cats showing aggression during playtime is very normal but there have to be certain limits imposed on them. It is usually found in cats younger than 2 years of age and who do not have any companion cat in the house. Although they mean no harm but they tend to bite your hands or feet playfully. These bites do not cut through the skin so are usually harmless. These instincts come naturally to cats as they need them for survival otherwise. This in no way means that you should allow your cat to bite you. You should always use toys instead! This will inculcate in the cat the idea that attacking humans is not allowed.
Cat aggression can be initiated by the cat and at times by you as well. On your side it starts whenever you encourage your cat to bite or play with your hands and feet instead of toys. There are 3 ways in which you can avoid any such an occurence. First of all, you must be familiar with your cat’s behaviour because it is only then that you’ll know when your cat is going to attack. Usually the posture invloves the cat freezing in a low crouch before pouncing, twitching its tail, flicking its ears back and forth, and/or wrap its front feet around a person’s hands or feet while biting. The moment you suspect your cat will attack, either throw a toy in her direction horizontally or use another toy to distract her from attacking you.
If your cat attcks you, do not resist or shove your hand or feet away as this will give your cat the signal that you’re playing. Stay calm and move the cat away with your free hand.Always shout a “no” when your cat is either trying to or actually attacking you which delivers to her the message that this is not to be done.
After your cat has attacked you, leave it in solitude in a room for about 5 minutes so that the passion subdues.
ii) Redirected Aggression
This kind of aggression in a cat materializes when the reason of aggression and the prey for attack are different. This may usually be because of the presence of another cat or dog that instigates your cat into an aggressive mode but since, your cat cannot attack the animal, it attacks the nearest moving object. In such a situation, you must remain calm and remove the object of irritation from the sight or smell of the cat.
iii) Fearful/Defensive Aggression
In case your cat fears something, it will attack anyone who comes in contact with it. It is not meant to harm you but is a means to defend itself from alien intrusion. To allay your cat’s fears, remove the thing that is causing your cat to act in such a way. Your cat may also be aggressive because of pain. If the reason of aggression is pain, then, take your cat to a veterinarian as soon as possible to determine the ailment. When a cat is fearful, it will usually crouch on the floor with its ears standing backwards and it may also be rolling on one side. If this is so then do not touch the cat or do anything that might instigate the cat because at that moment the cat will not listen to you!
iv) Territorial Aggression
This kind of aggression is only caused by other cats and is most often directed at them. Cats are very protective of their territory and will get aggressive if they smell or see a cat entering its territory. To avoid such urges in cats, first of all get your cat examined by a vet in case the aggression is due to some illness. If it is not then seek help from professionals as you must never try to tackle the situation on your own. This might end up in you getting cat bites which can be very harmful. Also, punishing your cat will only exacerbate the situation so don’t do that. You may however take precautionary measures by confining your cat’s whereabouts to a certain limit until the problem of aggression is solved.
v) Aggression due to Over-stimulation (Petting)
Cat sometimes catch you off-guard by biting when you are petting. Although the reason behind it has not been known as yet, it is usually associated with the fact that the cats have had enough of petting and they don’t want it anymore! You should look for signs and immediately stop petting instead of waiting for the cat to bite you. Such warning signs are the cat moving its ears to and fro, its directing its mouth towards your hands again and again, and its tail twitching. Once you’ve spotted these signs, let go of your cat and let it do whatever it wants to.
If however, it is too late and the cat manages to put your finger between its teeth, do not under any circumstances try to resist. Stay completely still and distract it by making a loud noise by banging the table with your other hand.
To avoid such instances, you can observe and time your petting the cat. This should give you a good idea as to the amount of time you can spend petting your cat. Once that has been determined, also look for signs that your cat starts showing when you think it has had too much of petting. If you want to increase this time, do so gradually, adding 20 to 30 seconds at one time. If you cat bites then revert to your old schedule of petting for another couple of days before increasing the time. You can also increase the petting time by offering treats to your cat. In this way it will associate treats with petting and may allow you to pet for a longer period of time. Do look out for signs of aggression throughout and stop immediately if you spot any.
Avoid petting places such as the tummy of your cat, especially the male ones. Since rubbing this part arouses in them sexual desire, it might bite you as this is how a normal sexually aroused cat behaviour is.
vi) Unprovoked and Violent Aggression
Sometimes your cat shows aggression very violently and without any reason. This is a very rare case and not applicable to most cats. However, those who do follow such a behaviour pattern have to be dealt with extreme care and perseverance. Your first decision should be to get your cat examined by a vet just in case it is suffering from some medical illness. If not then you can throw a mouse-like toy across her vision feild as a distraction and then walk past it, completely ignoring her. If your cat attacks from behind, shout in such a loud voice that it leaves her too surprised and confused to continue with the attack.
You can also avoid the cat from attacking you by using a long, towel-like piece of cloth and covering your feet with it so that they are invisible to the cat. Then you can lead the cat quietly out of the room with the help of the cloth and close the door behind. Make sure the cat doesn’t see your feet while you’re pushing it outside. When training your cat, never sprinkle water or hit it! This will only frighten the cat and a frightened cat will become more aggressive.
Another idea that you can work upon is that you can take long strips of a cloth, long enough to be tied around your ankle. Apply Vicks Vapo Rub or mentholatum on the strips and tie them around your ankle. If you go to the cat then, it will never come near your feet. You wont need to do it every time. Just a few times and your cat will start associating it with your feet and wont bite them.
Training your cat can be very hectic but you have to be persistent. Look for signs that your cat shows when it is about to attack. Once you figure out those, you will know when the cat is in an aggressive mode. Pick her up from the scruff and use your other hand to hold her from behind her back legs. Make sure the whole weight of the cat’s body is on the other hand and not the one holding the scruff!! Leave it gently in the bathroom farther away so that you can easily close the door. The period of seclusion must not exceed 5 minutes. By that time, the cat will be over with her aggression. Try to figure out what ticks her and avoid it. You can also give her specific medicines with the advice of your doctor but that would only be temporary as you cannot keep your cat on medication forever. Thus, proper training is the only solution to this problem.
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