Cats are rarely aggressive towards humans, but they do have their limits and there are several reasons why a cat may become aggressive. Keep reading to learn how to deal with cat aggression.
If your cat is aggressive, ask your vet for advice. There may be a medical reason for their aggression. If not, ask your vet to recommend a qualified behaviourist.
Your cat could become aggressive for a number of reasons. By understanding the causes of aggression you may be able to help your cat to feel calm, secure and less aggressive.
Types of aggression include:
Defensive/fear aggression: your cat will usually run from anything they think is a threat, but they may defend themselves if they can't escape, or has previously learned that fleeing doesn't work.
Play and petting aggression: cats generally prefer short but frequent interactions, which is normal in feline etiquette. In contrast, people often interact less often but more intensely. This can be a bit much for some cats and many have a limit to how much petting they can handle.
Territorial aggression: usually occurs when two cats meet on disputed ground or when one cat is passing through another cat's territory.
Pain-induced aggression: cats suffering from pain have lower tolerance levels and so are more likely to become aggressive.
Cats may be more aggressive if they are:
If your cat becomes aggressive, your first step should always be to visit your vet. Your vet can check your cat's health and rule out any health-related causes. If a health issue is not the cause, your vet may recommend a behaviourist.
You should also consider the common causes of aggression in case there is something about the home environment that is causing your cat's aggression.
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