Cats show aggression for many reasons.
One source of aggression can be physical discomfort or pain. The
first step to understanding aggression is to rule out any
possible medical causes by getting a thorough diagnostic
examination with labwork.
Behavioral motivations for
aggression include: fear, territory, parental, play,
redirected, predatory, petting-induced, pain-induced, social
status, medical or learned. Cats may show more than one type of
aggression.
Aggression can also be situational
or specific to one family member, strangers, other pets in the
household, or to unknown pets only.
Keeping a behavioral
diary helps identify what causes aggression.
Behavioral treatment usually includes
behavior modification techniques, changes to the cat's
environment and medical therapy.
Late Socialization: 9 to 16 weeks old
AAFP.
(2004). Feline Behavior Guidelines.
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