We have two male cats in the retirement home where I work and one is occassionally very aggressive towards the other. If your cat grew up as the only cat, with little or no contact with other felines, he may react strongly when hes finally introduced to another cat because hes afraid of the unknown, he lacks feline social skills, and he dislikes the disruption to his routine and environment. Once the aggressive cat walks away and is calm, reinforce its good behavior with a desirable treat, toy, or attention. This is when playful bites, scratches and ambushes become more serious and can actually cause injury. If you're old enough and living on your own, or if your parents don't mind, you could get a humane trap. Treat the aggressive cats as though introducing them for the first time. Aggression from an illness might be a sign of great pain. Alternatively, stop interacting with the cat and walk away to communicate disapproval of the aggressiveness. If it's frightening and distracting enough, it's very likely that you'll see the cats running to hide. After a few days, switch the positions of the cats. Let it know you're not there to hurt it. Knowing how to deal with this behavior and working with your pet will allow you and your cat to … Redirected aggression can come from frustration the cat cannot vent, which gets redirected toward another target, such as a nearby cat or person. Before you try and figure out how you can solve any aggressive cat behavior problem, first try to determine the type of aggression your cat … For a truly aggressive cat you just need to be in the room, lying on the floor, eyes closed, with treats around you. If your cat is only mildly aggressive and needs some exercise, going on leashed walks is a safe way to take your indoor cat on outdoor adventures. I have a new cat who was a stray. In cases where the problem cannot be adequately treated with medical care, euthanasia can be the kindest option. Having two aggressive cats is not fun. This is espe… Hopefully our discussion on the different types of cat aggression will help you to better understand your Cat. Don’t resume playing until your cat is calm if it bites or scratches you. % of people told us that this article helped them. After several hours, they might be brought closer together. When all tactics have failed to stop two indoor cats from fighting, one cat may need to be placed in a new home or permanently segregated from the other. Wait until it trusts you to pet it. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. It sounds like they're not getting enough stimulation, which is often the reason cats lash out. Cats can show signs of aggression when they are suffering mental trauma. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. Dealing with Cat Aggression Requires Patience. Redirected aggression. This article has been viewed 223,583 times. This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Adding more territorial space can prevent cats from having to share climbing, hiding, and perching areas where fights can break out. Cats. Cat-on-cat fights are usually the result of redirected aggression, play aggression, or fear aggression: If your home is the site of frequent catfights, it's important that you do your best to stop it; not only for your cats' health but also for your own well-being. Take shorter walks at first, and then slowly increase the amount of time you bring your cat out. Do not allow them to paw at or smell each other through a door. Talk to your vet about how to handle this type of aggression. Expose to aggression-causing stimuli at a safe distance, for short periods of time, then reward with food for non-aggressive behavior. They may bite repeatedly and remain in an aroused state for long periods of time. Keep your own cat indoors. If a cat is naturally shy, then it will take time for it to come around. Petting aggression is not well understood, and may come from over-stimulation. To deal with an aggressive cat, clap your hands loudly or spray the cat with water to disrupt the behavior. If the toy doesn't work, interrupt bad behavior with an aerosol hiss. Rotate playtime objects frequently, so that your cat doesn’t become bored. What should I do? What is Play Aggression? It will NOT hurt the cat. Don't run from your cat or try to block its movement with your feet. Both cats have been neutered. Long hours spent alone, without opportunities to play, and owners that encourage their cats to chase and play-attack people’s hands and feet contribute to play aggression. Even seasoned cat owners can be alarmed by aggressive cat behavior. Many times the aggression in the behavior is due to unknown reasons and in that, condition a change in the environment may help. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. It is all about what you do and don't understand. Distraction is a better approach to stopping a squabble between cats. And some may act mean toward other cats in the house or the neighbors’ cats. When cat food turns your snuggle kitty into an attack cat, she may suffer from food aggression, a relatively uncommon type of cat aggression. The majority of the time, the fighting involves intact same-sex cats and worsens during mating season—90 percent of instances of inter-cat aggression can be decreased or prevented by. Feline aggression—from hissing and growling to swatting, scratching, and biting—can be scary for pet owners, but it's usually normal cat behavior. If the cats eat without becoming aggressive, you can then try to bring the food bowls a little closer together each day. This gives your cat time to build the confidence to know you are not a threat. Signs of anxiety or aggression usually indicate that the introductions are proceeding too quickly. Give the passive cat the choice of locations within the house, sequester the bully cat… It's something cat parents tend to notice more when the aggression is directed toward them, usually in the form of ankle attacks, ambushes or biting and scratching that break the skin. We want to keep him, but he is aggressive towards our dog and other cat. For example, if your cat has an aggressive fear of a specific person, that person might stand at a distance that does not trigger aggressive behavior. The average healthy cat adopted from a shelter is not aggressive and should not hurt you under normal circumstances. It helped. Giving food or attention to the. Do not physically punish your cat for rough play. We want to bring him indoors, but we're afraid he'll attack them. Use a fishing pole toy to keep the cat away from your body when playing. These actions can cause your cat to intensify its play or become aggressive. Did you know you can read expert answers for this article? Your Older Cat Drinks a Lot of Water and Other Reasons to See the Vet, How to Stop Your Neutered Cat From Humping, How to Train Your Cat to Eliminate Fear Aggression. You'll only end up bloody and scratched and potentially lose the trust of one (or both) of your cats. Do not use toys that teach your cat to play with your hands, such as gloves with balls hanging from the fingers. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Other forms of aggression in cats include: territorial aggression, pain-induced aggression, status-induced aggression, territorial aggression, inter-cat aggression, and maternal aggression. We adopted a stray cat as a baby - she went missing for a day. If you try to rush the bonding process, then your cat will definitely be afraid of you. The two cats should be able to smell and hear each other through the closed door, but there should be no physical contact. This will make your cat realize the situation and this will be enough to calm the aggression of your cat. You can also give your cat several small meals a day to help manage predatory aggression, and reward your cat with food or treats for non-aggressive behavior. Cats tend to prefer consistency over change. For additional guide, below is a short video of how to deal with an aggressive cat: Therefore, if you want to help to calm your aggressive cat, you should give it some space. Just like humans, cats have different forms and occasions for aggression. Use cardboard boxes, paper shopping bags, packing paper and toys that encourage the cat to investigate. Stick with it, but also realize that some cats may never get along. Idiopathic aggression is spontaneous, and may be a threat to the physical safety of those who come into contact with the cat. Any type of aggression in cats can be dangerous to you or other pets. The most important thing to keep in mind when dealing with territorial aggression is not to rush an introduction or reintroduction. Some cats occasionally will bite or scratch at you when irritated or handled roughly. Don't consider it giving up; it's making life better for your cats and ensuring that they are happy no matter where they live. A cat is capable of causing both permanent and life-threatening injuries. Loud noises can do the trick, but only if you're out of sight so you're not seen as a third aggressor in the fight. If they must be in adjoining rooms, place a barrier at the bottom of the door. Approved. In certain cases, cat aggression toward other cats can stem from boredom. If you hit your cat, she may perceive your actions as play or become fearful of your hands. Dealing With Aggressive Cats . It is usually possible to manage your cats aggression and even resolve it. However, you should be extremely cautious about placing her in a new home; you don't want to pass your problem on to someone else. If your cat becomes aggressive, your first step should always be to visit your vet. Territorial aggression can also happen after a move because the cat now has to establish a new territory. Take shorter walks at first, and then slowly increase the amount of time you bring your cat o… Try again later, this time positioning them farther apart. These contain close-ups of birds and small rodents. Predatory aggression derives from cats whose predatory instincts are triggered. Reevaluate the cat's presence in your home. Just give the cat space. Switch them back after they have had some time to explore. ", "You guys are really great. If you do, your cat will be encouraged to direct his play at your hands. Create at least one feeding station and one litter box location per cat. Presence of other pets If you’re a cat parent, you’ll need to deal with an aggressive cat at some point or the other, as aggression is one of the most common behavior in cats. For health-related questions, always consult your veterinarian, as they have examined your pet, know the pet's health history, and can make the best recommendations for your pet. Aggression is not a choice your cat is making. Thankfully, there are many measures you can take to prevent your feline companion from getting into a fight with a neighboring or stray cat. If you can be patient and identify what is triggering your cat’s aggressive behavior, then you can typically make … These work from my experience. Cats usually display social standing with posturing and "bluffing" communication that doesn't result in injuries. Is Feliway Effective in Modifying Cat Behavior? What should we do? The degree to which individual cats learn to inhibit their rough play varies, and those who were orphaned or weaned early might never have learned to temper their play behavior. There's a lot you need to know to make things go smoothly with your new friend. Last Updated: July 31, 2020 However, this likely won't always be the case and fights may break out. ", "I now know why my cat was being so aggressive. However, if a cat is habitually aggressive you may need to think about rehoming to a farm where its behavior can be redirected into hunting. Do not approach an aggressive cat unless necessary; it's better to let the cat come to you. Put some food and water in the room, and let it calm down for a while. Find the Source of Aggression. Keep an aquarium with live fish can occupy your cat's attention, or position bird and squirrel feeders outside windows where your cat can observe animals coming and going during the day. Allow your cat to investigate the smells of the newcomer, while the new cat explores the house and the scent of his new playmate. Talk with your veterinarian about whether or not this is the best choice, when treatment is too expensive or unlikely to provide relief. What should I do? Although cat aggression is sometimes taken less seriously than dog aggressionperhaps because cats are smaller and dont pursue people to bite themaggressive cats can be formidable. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. Most situations involving cat aggression are entirely manageable and result from fear, anxiety, lack of socialization or previously traumatic life experiences. Dr. Joanne Intile is a board certified veterinary oncologist and a Spruce Pets veterinary review board member. Body postures will usually be defensive. Call your local authorities or pest control to tame the aggressive cat. If you try to pick up a cat and they bite this can be a sign of a problem. Hi there; in this article, I’ll be going to explore some interesting facts about how to deal with aggressive cat breeds. What to Do with an Aggressive Cat. If you go slowly, you should be okay! To avoid escalating the brawl, resist the temptation to break it up physically. Certain medications may control the aggressive behavior in the bully cat while decreasing defensive posturing and vocalizing of the threatened cat. In order to resolve your cat’s aggression, you’ll first need to find the … Dealing with aggression. Try holding treats in your hand and dropping them to get the cat to come closer. For your safety, and the safety of those who come into contact with your cat, it is necessary to understand and manage your pet's behavior. Cats who, as kittens, were played with or handled roughly by one or more people, and people who don’t understand cat behavior and unwittingly encourage aggressive behavior, are most often to blame. There are several reasons that cats might not get along. Inter-Male aggression relies on the natural competitive nature between toms. In this case, 100% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. The cat deserves our patience and understanding in order to improve its behavior. Do you have other cats in your home? Speak with a board-certified veterinary behaviorist to see what kind of professional therapy may be helpful. Before treating your cat’s aggressive behavior at home, make an appointment with your veterinarian. It is afraid. Environmental changes, such as moving or rearranging cat furniture or feeding and litter box stations, can cause fights. Cats can show signs of aggression when in pain. Maternal aggression is the queen cat's instinctual protective response. When working with other cats, they might be kept in large cages at opposite ends of the room, on leashes, or in harnesses, so they can see the source of aggression, but not escape. It’s believed that through play with each other, young cats learn to inhibit their bites and sheathe their claws when swatting. Some cats just wont give peace a chance. If you have the resources, adding an extra set is even better. unlocking this expert answer. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. There is a black cat that I've been feeding, but when I try to pet it, it hisses at me. While it's not a cure, medication may be a tool that enables further training to work more effectively. Aggression is not a diagnosis but a consequence of an emotional state, so, once it has been established as a problem for the owner, each individual case needs to be assessed by taking a thorough history of the cat, its environment, how the problem first started and how it has progressed. After all, cats have to be fed. To be safe, make sure your cat always wears identification tags on her collar when walking outside. How to Properly Deal With an Aggressive Cat, Unlock this expert answer by supporting wikiHow, https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/feline-behavior-problems-aggression, https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/cat-behavior/aggression-cats, https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/cat-behavior/cats-who-play-rough, https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/cat-behavior/predatory-behavior-cats, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-2995.2005.00265.x/abstract, http://www.animalhumanesociety.org/training/aggression-household-cats, http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/tips/aggression_toward_people.html, https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/cat-behavior/petting-induced-aggression, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/1098-2337(1985)11:2%3C103::AID-AB2480110203%3E3.0.CO;2-R/abstract, https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/cat-behavior/aggression-between-cats-your-household, http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/99899484/why-are-my-cats-fighting, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22827373, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26161064, правильно обращаться с агрессивной кошкой, Lidar Apropriadamente com um Gato Agressivo, Menangani Kucing yang Agresif dengan Benar, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. We can help you understand the reasons behind aggressive behavior and how to stop it. This is not an overnight process—behavioral conditioning can take months. If you have more than one cat living under your roof, you may be familiar with catfights, technically known as inter-cat aggression. A cat that dislikes being touched in a painful area may display pain-induced aggression in an attempt to stop you from handling it. There are steps you can take to calm the tension, but it's not a good idea to allow cats to "fight it out." Sometimes if a cat is attacked by a person or another cat that intimidates him, he may feel vulnerable. By using The Spruce Pets, you accept our, How to Solve Aggression Between Household Cats, How to Stop Cat Aggression After a Vet Visit, How to Properly Examine Your Cat's Teeth and Gums. To be safe, make sure your cat always wears identification tags on her collar when walking outside. This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Fear Can Cause Cat Aggression. It may not work for you, but it worked for me. Cats with this type of aggression can attack their owners violently. You can also try introducing the two cats in a room neither have been in before; this gets rid of the sense of any territorial issues and allows them to meet without either trying to defend his space. Then let the other cats in the home sniff around under the door. Feral cats, outdoor pet cats, and indoor cats can carry rabies, and scratches from any cat can result in an illness with flu-like symptoms, called Cat Scratch Fever. Felines reach social maturity at 2 to 4 years of age, and that's when many first, A lack of space predisposes cats to territorial disputes. If you are experiencing an issue with an aggressive cat, one of the best things you can do is discuss the issue with a trained veterinarian. Put a bowl of food in it. Thanks. Cats can bit… Idiopathic aggression includes any type of aggression whose cause can’t be determined or explained through behavior history or medical exam. Try pheromones to reduce tensions. Leave your cat for a couple of minutes in a locked room. Don’t despair: There are ways to deal with aggressive behavior in cats. During the controlled meetings, feed cats tasty foods or engage in play so they learn to associate each other with fun, positive rewards. Confine the cats in separate rooms with litter, food, and water. For example, a cat whose tail was once caught in a door may be protective of its tail long after the pain is gone. Damage to the eyes from claws, and infections cause by bites and scratches may require emergency treatment. An angry, aggressive cat is in some ways scarier to confront than an aggressive dog. Remember to give the stray treats when he exhibits good behavior, and consider going to a vet to get him fixed; that alone could cut down on a lot of the aggression. This whole process can take weeks or even months. You can then take the cat into your bedroom or bathroom. This article has been viewed 223,583 times. What’s a … Territorial aggression is usually just among cats, but can be expressed toward humans and other animals. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. There is a cat that keeps terrorising my cat. Preparing for an all-out attack by rolling onto side or back and exposing teeth and claws. They have five potential weapons (their teeth and all four clawed paws) compared to a dogs sole weapon of his or her mouth. Try clapping your hands, banging on a pot, or throwing a large, soft object like a pillow near the cats. Below are some general recommendations for dealing with feline aggression problems. All the info on wikiHow is real informative. Make sure someone plays with the cats regularly. If one cat keeps attacking a particular cat, the first step is to separate the cats from each other completely — in separate areas of the house. This type of aggression is usually seen in kittens and young cats. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. What should be done? Separating the aggressive cat from the other cat. She was severely dehydrated and was taken care of the vet. Once the aggressive cat walks away and is calm, reinforce its good behavior with a desirable treat, toy, or attention. Go back to the basics. If you suspect your pet is sick, call your vet immediately. Pet stores sell products that mimic natural cat odor (humans can't smell it) and that can significantly reduce stress. Diffusing the Situation Do not make eye contact with the cat. But how can you avoid mealtime triggers? To learn from our Veterinary reviewer how to deal with maternal cat aggression, keep reading! If you can't find a tall enough one, or don't have something you can use that they won't jump over, you can use a pet carrier. Now, I know how to train it properly. Many cats can watch the same videotape for hours each day, tracking the animals’ movements, growling or chirruping and swatting at the screen. When it comes to dealing with an aggressive cat, patience is key. Back away from the cat slowly and then move its bed and toys to a quiet area in the home. There are 20 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Go back to the basics. Keep in mind that medication is only part of the solution; it must be used in conjunction with slow introductions and consistent rewards for peaceful behavior. He will also sometimes attack people's legs. With cat-to-human aggression, the roots almost always lie with the person. Whatever you do, do not rush or crowd your cat. When entering the room with an aggressive cat, avoid eye contact and make sure the cat has have a clear escape route. If they get along, they can usually learn to tolerate or avoid each other as well. Cats, especially ones that are feral, see … Territorial aggression is most often seen in intact cats, but neutered indoor cats can get aggressive about territory, too, particularly if there’s a new cat in the house or there are cats outside doing urine marking and frustrating the cat. By using our site, you agree to our. 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