Cat Aggression

 

Cats unlike humans do no show resentment nor feelings of anger related to past happenings. If your cat is swishing its tail nervously and has its ears flattened against its head, he is very likely mad at you, now at this very moment. While most cats are easy going creatures that take life with philosophy, there seem to be a few cats with particular temperaments. It is easy to point out the finger and label a cat as to being mean, but more often than not, at a closer look, the cat may have its own reasons for being ill tempered.

 

Owners of very temperamental cats should always rule out something going on physically that is making the cat unhappy. More often than not, cats defined as being temperamental have some ongoing chronic disorder making them particularly grumpy such as arthritis. So a veterinarian visit is a must, especially if your cat’s behavior suddenly changed.

If your cat is angry at you for petting him too much try to watch for physical cues suggesting he is having enough. Some cats can be pet for hours,while others seem to be limited and will let you know you are a nuisance by turning around suddenly giving you a nip and escaping away. These cats simply are telling you they had enough. Try to praise your cat those times that he allows you to pet him for about three stokes. Offer him a treat. Then try to go for four strokes and so on. Always stop when he seems to be irritated. Some cats are bothered when they are pet on their back. You can notice this when their skin on their back wriggles when you pet them on their back.

Some cats can be bothered when you pet their face. If you are very careful, you may notice that as you pet your cat’s face you are slightly pulling the whiskers as you stroke. Try to avoid this. Always praise and give a treat when your cat demonstrates more tolerance than usual. Find your cats favorite spots. Some cats are bothered or ticklish in certain areas. Spots your cat enjoys can be detected by looking at your cats face: if her eyes are semi-closed and she is purring very likely you found a spot she enjoys. But watch: her mood can change suddenly when she had enough!

Some cats that attack their owners without reason may be suffering from a case of redirected aggression. This consists of an over stimulated cat that has seen some other animal from a window and is over charged and will strike towards whatever come close to him. Such cats should be placed in a dark room until he is able to calm down. In severe cases, all windows may need to be obscured so there is no more cause for the cat to get overcharged at the sight of other animals outdoors.

If the cat appears irratated upon being pet on the back, have your vet rule out rippling skin disorder. This condition causes cats to be intolerant of being pet near their backs and may have back muscle twitches, mood swings, running back and forth, swishing tails and hissing episodes.

Most cats that strike at their owners are scared or in pain. Never pick up your cat when he seems to be afraid of something. He will likely panic and cause even serious injuries upon being handled. A cat in pain may yell and strike in panic. If your pet appears to be in pain have your vet see him.

Angry cats are not a nice sight. They are a far cry from the cuddly purring cats we are most used to seeing. Fortunately, most cats are gentle creatures that love to be pet and groomed. As mentioned earlier, always have you veterinarian check for underlying physical issues first, your cat may be simply grumpy becasue of pain. Once treated, he will likely turn back to his easy going purrfect personality.

*Disclaimer: All remedies suggested are not to be used as a substitute for professional veterinary advice. If your pet is sick please refer to your veterinarian for a hands on examination. If your pet is exhibiting behavior problems please refer to a professional pet behaviorist.