Aggressive Cat Behavior

If you have a cat who is an irresistible darling, don't presuppose that he is the safest thing to cuddle and play with the whole day. Sometimes he might give you that jolt by displaying sudden bouts of violent behavior. Aggression is nothing unnatural when it comes to cats. From build-up sexual tension to overexcitement, normally every stimulating emotion in a cat is given vent through the display of aggressive behavior. Thus, it is necessary to domesticate your feline cohort and make him adequately socialized and mellowed. Let us find out what exactly leads to aggressive behavior in cats and how to deal with such a behavioral problem.




Forms of Aggressive Behavior in Cats

Aggressive behavior in a cat may take any of the following forms



Predatory Aggression

Always remember that your kitty is born with an innate inclination towards hunting. You might provide him with a can of tuna everyday, but at heart he is still a hunter who needs to sharpen his hunting skills. He instinctively pounces and attacks. It is often an extension of his playful behavior. He likes to act out the part of a predator and loves giving playful bites. Beware!



Anger Aggression

Sometimes negative emotions like fear might make your cat aggressive. If your cat doesn't like being picked, stroked or touched, he might try to fend you off by scratching or biting when you approach him. When he notices that his aggressive behavior helps to deter unwanted pats and strokes, he will show persistent display of such volatile behavior.



Protective Aggression

This form of aggressive behavior is seen in the case of a mother cat. She might get furious and attack when someone tries to pat or play with her kittens. The protective motherly instinct leads her to safeguard her puppies from threats and dangers. Thus, she might see any unknown person or animal as a potential threat to her babies and might get belligerent when you approach them.



Fear Aggression

Whenever your cat is scared of a certain object/ idea/ or a person, he might take recourse to aggression to shield his actual feelings. Cats are generally very apprehensive about befriending strangers, and might get extremely hostile towards them. Similarly they might also burst out when they notice the veterinarian, as those pricks and jabs are no doubt painful.



Territorial Aggression

We all have personal spaces that we don't like being intruded. Similar is the case with cats. This form of aggression is noticeable when a cat tries to protect his own domain or territory from trespassers. The animal might get violent if he believes someone/ something is toeing this personal line. Proper socialization is necessary to acquaint a cat with people and other animals in such cases.



Overexcitement

Overexcitement in cats takes the form of aggressive behavior. Sometimes excessive patting and cuddling might irritate a cat and lead to sudden explosive behavior. A cat might also display aggression when he is having too much fun during pleasurable experiences. Sexual stimulation in cats also gets manifested through aggressive behavioral patterns.



Health Problems

Sometimes a cat gets violent when he is not keeping a good health. He might get furious if you unintentionally pat him in painful areas. Other internal medical problems might also surface up in the form of violent behavior in your cat. When you notice such an abnormal display of behavior, it is always better to consult a veterinarian. Never presume that a cat gets rambunctious just to have fun.



Remedies of Aggressive Behavior in Cats

Teach your kitty not to bite or scratch during kitten hood. Play aggression can be easily curbed, if a kitten receives early training on apposite behavioral outlines.

Adequately socialize him with people and also other animals. Never expect your kitty to purr welcomingly if he notices a sudden raucous crowd entering the house.

Keep a note of all the signals that precede aggressive behavior in a cat, like tensing of the body or excessive flickering of the tail. Immediately withdraw if the cat displays such a body language while patting or playing.

If your cat displays these pre-aggression syndromes or gets aggressive during play, immediately avoid him. This way you can make him understand that his behavior is inappropriate for playful indulgence.

Trim your cat's nails as he is prone to clawing. It is their way of marking a territory. So, it is always better to provide him an object like a ragged doll where he can scratch and paw as much as he likes.

If you bring a new pet home, it is always better to confine both the animals in different rooms for a couple of days. This helps proper breaking of the ice and your cat won't feel threatened when he finally meets the new pet.

If you are still unable to undergo behavioral modification in your cat, it is better to take the help of a veterinarian. Never try to inject or administer drugs to your pet, and get rid of aggression without proper medical supervision.