Problem Solving & Advice by Pam Johnson-Bennett Cat Behavior Expert & Best-selling Author
Aggression in cats (or ANY animal for that matter) can have many causes but if you’re dealing with an angry cat, here are some tips:
1. A veterinarian visit is crucial if your cat is beginning to show even the slightest hint of aggression or change in behavior. There may be an underlying medical cause for the behavior. The sooner you detect the behavioral change and have it checked by the veterinarian, the greater the chance of avoiding an escalation of the aggression. It could be anything from a painful abscess due to a cat fight, arthritis, or hyperthyroidism, to name just a few. Don’t skip the veterinary exam. If your cat gets a clean bill of health then it’s time to use your think like a cat detective skills.
2. If you know your cat isn’t feeling well or you can tell by body language she’s getting agitated, prefers not to interact, or is getting stressed, provide a safe place for kitty. Be proactive and offer a place to safely chill rather than test your cat’s tolerance.
3. If you have a multicat household where there are routine spats, have some helpful objects on-hand to block the feuding felines from each other. Keep some towels and pieces of cardboard around so you can block viewing access. Sometimes, if you can block the cats from staring each other down, it can be enough to squash the escalation of aggression. If the aggression continues or worsens, a reintroduction of the cats may be necessary. If you don’t know what is causing the multicat aggression, set up a video camera so you can identify the triggers. If you don’t already have home security video set up, you can find inexpensive cameras online that connect to your smartphone.
4. Babies and pets should never be left together unsupervised. Even if you know your pet is extremely tolerant and friendly, it only takes a moment for a tail to be pulled or a fistful of fur to be yanked. Animals in pain, especially when surprised, may be defensive.
5. If you have young children there should always be elevated locations available for your cat in order to get out of harm’s way. As children get old enough, make sure they understand there are certain “cat only” areas in the house that are off-limits. The ability to jump or climb to safety will almost always be a cat’s first move to avoid confrontation. Children should also know when cats need their own space such as during eating, sleeping or when using the litter box.
6. Teach children the appropriate way to interact and pet the family cat. Teach open-handed petting that always goes in the direction the hair grows. As children get older, teach them about cat body language so they can hopefully avoid approaching a cat who is giving clear signals to stay away.
7. If your cat is being reactive, let her chill out. The best course of action is to leave your cat alone. Lower the lights and let her have some time to settle down. Don’t try to comfort and soothe your cat because your approach may just increase agitation.
8. Never punish a cat for displaying aggression because it will only increase fear or you and may increase the aggression level. Animals don’t display aggression just for the heck of it – they act aggressively because they perceive a situation to be threatening. Remove the threat and allow the cat to calm down and that will be a more productive, safer course of action. Remember, it’s important to identify the underlying cause of the aggression.
9. Seek qualified, professional help for ongoing aggression problems or if you’re concerned about your cat’s behavior and can’t determine the cause. Start with your veterinarian so an evaluation can be made and then your veterinarian can refer you to a veterinary behaviorist or other certified behavior expert.
Need More Information?
Contact your veterinarian if you have questions about your cat’s health or behavior so an exam can be scheduled. This article isn’t a replacement for proper veterinary care.
For more information about cat behavior and training, refer to the books by best-selling author Pam Johnson-Bennett. Pam’s books are available at bookstores and online. We’ve included links to Amazon here on our site.
If you have a question about your cat’s behavior or health, contact your veterinarian. This article is not intended as a medical diagnosis nor is it a replacement for your cat’s regular veterinary care. This article is for general information purposes only.
