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Cat caregivers sometimes have difficulty
understanding why their cats, who seem to be friendly and content one
minute, may suddenly bite and scratch them the next. Aggressive behaviors
are part of the normal behavioral patterns of almost any animal species.
Aggressive cats can be dangerous, so attempting to resolve a chronic cat
aggression problem often requires assistance from a professional who is
knowledgeable about cat behavior.
Types of Aggression
Play Aggression
Play-motivated aggressive behaviors are commonly observed in young,
active cats less than two years of age, and who live in one-cat households.
Play in cats incorporates a variety of behaviors such as exploratory,
investigative, and predatory behaviors. Play provides young cats with
opportunities to practice skills they would normally need for survival. For
example, kittens like to explore new areas and investigate anything that
moves. They may bat at, pounce on, and bite objects which to them resemble
prey.
Aggressive behaviors can be identified as play based on the type of
situations in which they occur, the cats' body postures, and the types of
behaviors displayed. Playful aggression often results in scratches and
inhibited bites which do not break the skin. Playful attacks often occur
when an unsuspecting owner comes down the stairs, steps out of the bathtub,
rounds a corner, or even moves under the bedcovers. Play which involves
aggression can be initiated by the owner or by the cat. Owners may
inadvertently contribute to this problem if they encourage kittens to chase
or bite at their hands and feet during play. The body postures seen during
play aggression resemble the postures a cat would show when searching for or
catching prey. The cat may freeze in a low crouch before pouncing, twitch
its tail, flick its ears back and forth, and/or wrap its front feet around a
person's hands or feet while biting. Most play aggression can be
successfully redirected to appropriate targets. For more information on
rough play in cats, please see our online tips about Kitten's Rough Play.
"Don't Pet Me Anymore" Aggression
It is not uncommon for cats to "suddenly" bite while being petted. This
behavior is not well understood, even by experienced animal behaviorists.
For whatever reason, petting which the cat was previously enjoying becomes
unpleasant. The bite is the cat's signal that she has had enough petting.
Cats vary in how much they will tolerate being petted or held. People often
describe cats as biting "out of the blue" or without warning; however, their
signals may be very subtle and hard to detect. You should become more aware
of your cat's body postures and cease petting or stop any other kind of
interaction before the bite occurs. Signals to be aware of include:
- Restlessness
- Tail twitching
- Ears turning back or flicking back and forth
- Turning or moving her head toward your hand
When you observe any of these signals, it is time to stop petting the cat
immediately and allow him just to sit quietly on your lap or go his own way,
whichever he prefers. Any kind of physical punishment almost always makes
the problem worse, as it makes the cat more likely to bite either because he
is fearful and/or because petting becomes even more unpleasant if it is
associated with punishment.
If you want to try to prolong the amount of time your cat will tolerate
petting, use some food rewards. Before your cat shows any of the behaviors
described above, offer her a special tidbit of food, such as a tiny piece of
tuna or boiled chicken. At the same time, decrease the intensity of your
petting. Continue to lightly pet your cat for a short time period while
offering him tidbits. In this way, petting will come to be associated with
more pleasant things, and may help her to enjoy petting for longer time
periods. Each time you work with your cat, try to pet her for slightly
longer time periods using the food. If you stop petting her when she is
aggressive, her behavior has succeeded. She has learned that her aggressive
behavior will get her what she wants—the petting stops. Thus, it is
important to watch carefully for signals she is growing tired of petting.
Fearful/Defensive Aggression
Cats who are fearful may display body postures which appear to be similar
to canine submissive postures—crouching on the floor, ears back, tail
tucked, and possibly rolling slightly to the side. Cats in this posture are
not submissive, they are fearful and defensive and may attack if touched.
For more information on fearful behavior, see our online information about
Fearful Cats.
Redirected Aggression
Redirected aggression occurs when the cat is aroused by one person or
animal, but then redirects this aggression onto another person or animal.
For example, if two family cats have a spat, the losing cat, still aroused,
may walk up and attack the family child.
Territorial Aggression
This type of aggression is not commonly directed at people. Usually cats
only feel the need to defend their territory from other cats. Cats are,
however, highly territorial—even more so than dogs.
What to Do
- Check first with your veterinarian to rule out medical causes for the
aggressive behavior.
- Seek professional help. An aggression problem will not go away by
itself. Working with aggression problems requires in-home help from an
animal behavior specialist.
- Take precautions. Your first priority is to keep everyone safe.
Supervise, confine, and/or restrict your cat's activities until you can
obtain professional help. You are liable for any injuries caused by your
cat's behavior.
What Not to Do
- You should never attempt to handle a fearful or aggressive cat. Cat
bites and scratches become infected easily. If you do receive an injury
from your cat, clean the wound carefully and contact your physician.
- Punishment will not help and will make the problem worse. If the
aggression is motivated by fear, punishment will make the cat more
fearful, and therefore more aggressive.
©2002. Adapted from material originally developed by
applied animal behaviorists at the Dumb Friends League, Denver, Colorado.
All rights reserved.
Up
Aggression Between Family Cats
Aggression Towards People
Caring for Your Cat
Cat Toys You Need Them
Common Cat Hazards
Common Poisonous Plants
Declawing Cats
Destructive Scratching
Discouraging Free-Roaming Cats
Eating Strange Objects (Such as Feces)
Fearful Cats
Introducing Pets to a New Cat
Kitten Behavior Basics
Kitten's Rough Play
Noisy Cats
Training Your Cat with Treats and Praise
Preventing Litter Box Problems
Removing Pet Stains and Odors
Solving Litter Box Problems
Urine-Marking Behavior
Using Aversives to Modify Your Cat's Behavior
Your Cat—Indoors or Out |
