The
aggressive attack itself (biting
and scratching) is not diagnostic.
It is the events surrounding
the attack that help determine
the cause and solution
to cat aggression.
Defining
Play
Aggression
Play
attacks come during or just
after a rousing play session.
The hunt and predatory centers
of the cat become fully aroused
during the play. While in this
aroused state, the play escalates
into aggression. The play gets,
"Out of Control".
Avoid any play that
encourages aggression toward
people. Use toys that
direct play away from people
such as chasing a string. |
If
Play Aggression is present…
First,
avoid any play that encourages
aggression toward people (no
boxing or wrestling). Try to
find games that are directed
AWAY from people toward inanimate
objects. Examples of good play
are chasing a string, ball or
other commercial cat toy.
If
the problem continues, use a
shake can, water spray, pillows
or fog horn to punish the cat
in the act. Do not apply
physical punishment such as scruffing or spanking with your
hands.
If
the play aggression occurs at
night,
prevent the cat
from sleeping while you are
home (to make him tired at night).
Exercise the cat with toys heavily
in the evening. If late night
antics continue,
ask your veterinarian about
prescribing antihistamines to cause drowsiness
in the cat at night.
Redirected
aggression
If
the cat has just come out of
a tense situation, like a real
or imagined altercation with
another cat, the juices may
be flowing. Look for a "contingent
cue" (the cue is connected
to the act) like a stare down,
or a new cat seen from the window.
If there is no cue that can
be identified, it may be a different
type of aggression. Redirected
aggression can occur an hour
or more after the contingent
cue.
If
Redirected Aggression is present…
The
simple answer is to identify
all contingent cues, then avoid
handling the cat any time related
to those circumstances. Try
to remove the cue. For example,
it may be possible to temporarily
prevent the cat from looking
outdoors by closing access the
window, or covering it. If this
approach is insufficient, see
section on treating status aggression.
Establish
clear leadership (status) so
you are not perceived as
prey. Increase play exercise
with toys that don't involve
the cat touching the owner,
to release the pent-up
instinct to hunt. |
Predatory
Aggression
Every
cat has a natural hunt instinct,
which is separate from hunger.
A well fed cat with a strong
hunt instinct will continue
to hunt. This instinct varies
dramatically between cats. This
aggression is most common in
indoor cats, who are prevented
from hunting outside, so they
hunt the only thing that moves
inside the house...you!
If
Predatory Aggression is present…
If
the cat stalks and attacks you,
it is appropriate to reprimand
this behavior. The best approach
is to say "No!"
then, "Hiss!"
at him like a cat. Since you
are now speaking his language,
he will likely back off. If
necessary, yell, stamp your
feet, and clang something. Chase
and use loud sounds or even
a pillow swat but don't
personally touch the cat, since
physical punishment may make
the problem worse.
Fear
Aggression: Toward Select People
(e.g. strangers, one sex, etc.)
Fearfulness
is very affected by genetics.
Environmental factors either
increase or decrease this predisposition.
The greatest environmental influence
is in the first several weeks
of life. If a fearful experience
happens during this period,
the effect is heightened. The
key signal is that the cat attacks
only a specific person or profile,
and when in a situation where
the cat does not think he or
she can escape.
If
Fear aggression is present…
The
goal is to increase the confidence
and decrease the fear aggression
to an acceptable level. Fear
cannot be "cured".
Anti-anxiety medication is commonly
used in Fear Aggression
cases. See treatment section
below.
The greatest environmental
influence is in the first
several weeks of life. If a
fearful experience happens
during this period, the
effect is heightened. |
Status
Aggression
You
may have been very loving, permissive,
and therefore seen as subordinate
in the past. The cat may begin
with inhibited bites to "put
you in your place" and
when there is no consequence,
may escalate to more serious
bites. See treatment section
below.
If
Petting aggression is present…
Try
first to identify a medical
cause. Have your veterinarian
evaluate the skin for mild dermatitis.
Some veterinary chiropractors
suggest there may be lumbar
spinal pain as a cause. If no
medical cause can be found,
treat it as if it were status
aggression (see above) since
it may represent the cat "putting
you in your place" once
their desires have been met.
The
other two potential causes are
even more difficult to address. One theory is that petting
aggression is an aberrant variation
of a mating instinct. It is
known that when mating, cats
often turn on each other aggressively,
so the cat may have a hormonal
release causing a reflexive
aggressive action.
The final
causation theory is that the
cat is not painful, or haughty
or erotic. This theory is that
the cat merely has a threshold
at which certain types of petting
start out nice, but when a threshold
is reached, instead of merely
walking away, this personality
type feels it necessary to communicate
via aggression.
Cat Aggression Toward
Owners
Cat Aggression Toward
People Treatment