Why do cats become aggressive? Reasons and what to do about it?

If a cat attacks a person, then in this way he can not only show character traits. Aggressive behavior in a pet can be caused by a serious illness. A cat attacking its owner is also common during pregnancy, in this way the female tries to protect herself and future kittens. It is difficult to find out the reasons why cats attack people on your own, so it is better not to put off going to the veterinary clinic, where the pet owner will be helped to deal with the problem.

Who do cats attack (and how does it happen)

Before we analyze the motives for aggression in cats, let's look at whom it will most often be directed at. As a rule, cats show aggression against humans or other pets.

Why do cats attack people?

When a cat bites or scratches a person, it is important to share the aggression against the cat's owner, a family member, or a complete stranger.

If you are bitten by a cat, do not delay treating the wound with an antiseptic. If it was not a domestic purr, then you must see a doctor. We will explain what cat bites can mean in one of the following articles.

• An attack on an owner or family member may be caused by pain or redirected aggression. If you were bitten by your own cat, who has never been non-aggressive, it is very possible that you touched the sore spot (for example, while playing with your pet). It could also be some kind of benign formation (albeit often painful!), such as a tangle of hair or an undiagnosed abscess.
• An attack by a pet on a complete stranger should cause more concern. Even cats that are afraid of strangers tend to stay away from them rather than attack them. If the cat attacked, you need to understand what was the immediate cause. More often than not, the situation developed in such a way that the cat was somehow cornered and perhaps captured by a stranger against its will. This can cause panic and aggression in the cat.

You should also consider the age of the person who was attacked by the cat. Typically, cats bite or scratch small children who have been rough with their purrs (for example, during play). In other rare cases, cats attack people of a certain gender. If your cat only attacks men, it may be that she has a history of being abused or traumatized by men.

Why do cats attack other cats or pets?

Another possible victim of your pet's attack is often another family cat or pet, such as a dog.

However, attacks on small pets such as rabbits, hamsters, birds or reptiles are especially problematic for owners, as in most cases they are associated with the cat's hunting instincts . If your cat tries to attack such a pet, consider keeping them separate from each other, or even better, in separate rooms altogether.

When another cat or dog is in the position of being the victim of aggression, the first step is to understand how well both animals know each other. If they have just been “introduced” to each other, you are likely dealing with territorial aggression, which can be very serious. In this case, it is best to separate the animals, and then begin the gradual process of getting to know each other, which we will describe in detail in the next article.

If the attack was on an animal that lived peacefully with the cat for a long time, then the reason is not related to territorial aggression. Most likely this is aggression caused by stress , and possibly physical pain.
Your cat may be sick or afraid of something else and take out its stress on other pets in the home.

Methods to combat aggression in cats

What to do if a cat lunges at its owners? In fact, there are few options in this situation. Your main task will be to make the animal understand that aggression is unacceptable, and that any manifestation of it will be immediately punished. Try the following cat training methods:

• After your pet attacks you, it must be punished immediately. Scold him loudly, shame him. You can also spray the cat with a spray bottle of water several times.
• Try to play with your cat more often and spend more time with it. This will help her burn off excess energy and she will be calmer.
• If the owner is attacked by a cat, the cat should not be allowed to sleep with her for several nights, and the animal should not be allowed into the bedroom. If the cat meows and scratches near the door, ignore her attempts to get into the room. This method will show the animal who is boss in the house, and, ultimately, the cat will behave calmer.

© shutterstock

Remember that you need to punish a cat not so much with physical methods as with psychological ones. The use of force in such cases can only aggravate the situation and make the animal even more inadequate. Focus on making your cat understand which of his actions are unacceptable and cause your displeasure.

It would be a good idea to contact a veterinarian in such a situation. The specialist will be able to give more detailed recommendations on raising a cat, and will also check for the presence of pathophysiological disorders in the animal.

Motives for the attacks

Let's take a closer look at why cats attack. We mentioned this briefly earlier, but now it's time to take a closer look at the possible reasons why a cat might attack someone else, feline or human.

Attacks caused by fears

This is perhaps the most common cause of the most “vicious” cat attacks.

There is one pattern in the behavior of cats - when they feel threatened, they respond with aggression. How strong this aggression will be directly depends on the severity of the perceived threat. Notice the word "perceived". It doesn't matter whether the threat is real or not. What matters is that the cat considers it a real threat to itself!

Veterinarians are often victims of attacks caused by cat fears. The cat doesn't understand that the man in the white coat should help her. From her point of view, she is in an alien and potentially hostile environment. And this man, whom he remembers from previous equally terrible visits, is trying to grab him. No wonder the cat will do everything in her power to save herself!

Redirected aggression

Redirected aggression is also fear-induced aggression, with one significant difference: in this case, the fearful cat lashes out at someone other than the source of the perceived threat.

You can think of it this way: Let's go back to the situation at the veterinarian's office. The cat is afraid of the veterinarian and the procedures at the clinic, but eventually attacks his loving owner when he tries to pet him.

This does not mean that the cat is afraid and does not trust its owner. Simply, in a state of extreme anxiety and panic, the cat attacks any hand that reaches out to him at that moment - regardless of whether he is afraid of this particular person or not. We will describe examples of redirected aggression and ways to combat it in one of the following articles.

Territorial aggression

Cats are territorial animals. If they see someone else's cat or other pet on their property, they feel threatened. Again, it doesn't matter whether the threat is real. It could even be a tiny, harmless kitten or puppy.

As soon as fear or panic “covers” the purr, it will either run away or fight for its territory. And if she chooses the latter, then you will witness territorial aggression.

As mentioned above, the solution to this problem is to properly introduce the cat to the new pet. Never bring home a new cat and just place him in the middle of the room. This is bad for both cats and their future relationship. Follow the instructions described in our article on introducing animals to each other.

Attacks caused by pain or anxiety

The cause of aggression can be real pain, which forces the kitty to attack in order to stop the pain. A common scenario might be: a cat has a sore spot on her body. For example, this could be a localized infection, suppuration, etc. During grooming or simply caressing, the owner unconsciously touches this place, after which the pussy instinctively snaps, sinking its teeth deep into the hand that touched the painful point.

It is also worth mentioning that pain and discomfort in any place can spoil the kitty’s mood and make it more gloomy, which will also contribute to the fact that it decides to bite its beloved owner. Remember, pain does not occur on its own, it is usually caused by a disease, which in turn does not go away on its own, so when you notice that something is bothering your cat, be sure to visit a veterinarian.

Attack after caress

Experienced cat owners may be familiar with this phenomenon. There are situations when a cat asks to pet itself, pokes its head at the owner and rolls over on its back to attract your attention. While stroking, she purrs and closes her eyes. And then after a few minutes this same cat turns into an irritated hissing creature that viciously bites you and runs away.

What happened in this situation?

Some cats simply don't like prolonged petting . At the same time, they enjoy communication with the owner and often ask for it, but if it lasts too long, they experience discomfort. Although no actual pain was the cause of the purr's aggression, an irritated cat can lash out just as aggressively after a petting session as a cat in physical pain.

Foul play

Finally, the last one is “game attacks”, or in other words, rudeness during games. This is usually the reason why kittens bite and scratch their owners - or other pets around them. And these play attacks can be painful at times.

It is important to understand for yourself and to let the cat know that this is just a game. You don't want to encourage your kitten to attack you, and there are ways to help him channel that simmering energy elsewhere.

The key to solving this problem is to provide your kitten with plenty of stimulation to play and get out his energy, such as fun toys and interactive games. This will force him to release his teeth and claws into the toy, and not into your hands.

How to stop a cat from biting, scratching and hissing

Having decided to start raising a pet, the owner must monitor the condition of his pet.

Be sure to read:

How to understand that a cat loves and trusts you completely

It is advisable to stop aggressive behavior if possible:

• shout loudly at the cat;
• make a sharp, ringing noise with a handy object;
• make a clap with your hands.

Sharp sounds will scare away the animal, forcing it to stop trying to bite the owner's hand.

You can also use a spray bottle of water, sprinkling it on the cat when biting. When trying to scratch your hand or furniture, it is recommended to use a towel or rag. You should throw a cloth over the enraged cat, thereby catching it by surprise.

The role of character: why some cats attack more often

Now that we've looked at the main reasons cats attack, it's worth noting that a lot depends on the cat's personality.

Some cats are more likely to attack people, pets, or both. These cats tend to be tense and afraid of a lot of things deep down. However, instead of hiding—like shy cats do—they tend to bite or scratch people and pets around them.

Other cats are particularly relaxed and calm. These cats almost never attack anyone - even when faced with a new cat in their home or another stressful situation. These are cats that make excellent furry therapists, able to cope with stress in new places and situations while always remaining friendly.

Most cats are somewhere in the middle. They are not usually aggressive, but will lash out if threatened.

Why do domestic cats become aggressive?

There is a situation when at one moment the cat begins to behave strangely.

But sometimes a cat attacks as an adult, and then the consequences of this become dangerous to human health.

This manifests itself in:

• hissing;
• bites;
• scratching;
• releasing claws;
• damage to furniture.

There are several reasons why a pet develops aggression: stress, attempts to fight for territory, fear, reaction to a change in environment. Often, a cat's character can change after castration.

An important factor is the kitten's childhood. With severe stress at an early age, aggression can arise as a response to external threat and danger. Inappropriate behavior is inherent in some cat breeds. An example would be the Siamese and Persians.

Aggression often develops as a result of the appearance of a child in the family. Cats are freedom-loving animals; they do not like to be cuddled or entered into their personal territory. Children can hurt your pet by pulling its tail or stepping on its paw. This causes the cat extreme stress.

So what should you do when your cat is aggressive?

Now that you know the possible causes of cat aggression, you can respond to it more effectively. A mischievous kitten who scratches people's ankles should be handled differently than a cat who viciously attacked someone because she simply noticed a strange animal in her territory and came to her defense too zealously.

But there is one rule that is true in any situation:

Don't punish your cat!

Yes, being scratched or bitten is not pleasant. Sometimes it's very unpleasant. And when it happens unexpectedly, it's scary. However, you should make an effort not to yell or otherwise punish or frighten your cat after an attack. In many cases, this will only trigger the fear-aggression cycle.

Hissing as an expression of fear and displeasure

Fear, as you know, is the most important incentive to action.

A sense of security is a cat’s most important need, and the instinct of self-preservation is the basis of survival.

A person can cause fear and fear if the cat:

1. Wild and uncommunicative. In this case, the animal does not allow any people to approach itself, does not understand their intentions and does not accept human affection in principle.
2. Has negative communication experiences. Unpleasant, scary and painful events from the past can leave an imprint on the current state of the animal. Sometimes a cat demonstrates associative fear and, for example, may hiss at children if it has once encountered their cruelty. Cats also remember a specific offender, expressing persistent negativity towards the person who once insulted “their tailed majesty.” Such a source of unpleasant sensations often becomes a veterinarian who gives injections to a sick animal, measures rectal temperature and performs other very unpleasant actions.
3. She is not socialized and has spent her entire life communicating only with a limited circle of people. If an animal is used to living in peace and quiet, communicating only with its owner and his family, then perhaps he will be frightened by a noisy company of guests or a repair team coming to the house.

Pet behavior. Usually a frightened cat tries to run away and hide, but if, after a warning hiss, they block its path to retreat, try to touch it or pick it up, the instinct of active self-defense will kick in. Sometimes a cat hisses at its owner, frightened by a sharp gesture, sound or object in its hands. Aggressive and poorly behaved pets may react with a hiss to the lack of a desired action, for example, when the owner does not give them food or a portion of affection upon request.

Rabies

Although we mentioned in this article that the reasons for a cat attack can be fear or pain, it is worth looking at another reason for aggression: rabies.

Rabies is a fatal disease that can be transmitted from one animal to another. Once the virus reaches the brain, it begins to affect behavior. In many cases, one of the changes is increased aggressiveness.

In order to protect yourself and your animal from this pathology, do not forget about vaccinating your pets, and also do not let your purrs walk on the street, where they can be bitten by a rabid animal.

If you notice that an unvaccinated cat that has free access to the outdoors or is in contact with animals that walk outside becomes very aggressive for no apparent reason, contact your veterinarian immediately!

Cases of critical aggression

In addition to the situations discussed, uncontrolled aggression is also possible. To repay it, medical intervention is necessary. Otherwise, the animal, which finds itself in an insane state, can cause fatal injuries to people.

Unsatisfied sexual instinct

Neglect of castration and lack of mating can result in a serious problem in the future. Unsatisfied sexual instinct does not go away over the years, but constantly accumulates. As a result, in the middle or end of life, accumulated energy is redirected in a negative direction. Behavioral disorders occur, accompanied by increased nervousness and outbursts of aggression.

20 years ago, my uncastrated 9-year-old cat began to attack me, my mother, and, worst of all, my little sister for no reason. Then there was no money and ample opportunity to study why this happened, all that was left was guesswork. Later, I kept hearing from friends: an uncastrated domestic cat went crazy, caused serious injuries, and had to be euthanized. And a friend of my grandmother almost lost her arm. So castration is humane both in relation to the cat and in relation to others.

Owner Maria

The cat has gone crazy - literally

Cat madness is a rare phenomenon in veterinary medicine. In 99% of cases, aggression is associated with psychological trauma, poor upbringing, self-defense or pain. A mental disorder can only be determined using laboratory diagnostics.

If your pet attacks members of your household, make an appointment with a veterinarian. In the absence of pathologies and a stable mental state, he may need a zoopsychologist.

Rabies

The rabies virus is deadly to humans, so it is necessary to clearly know the main signs of its manifestation. When infected it is noted:

1. profuse drooling;
2. aggressiveness or apathy;
3. fear of light and water;
4. perverted appetite (eating inedible objects).

The patient should be isolated in a separate room to prevent the spread of the virus. There is no cure for this infection. The only way to protect yourself is timely vaccination.

Hissing as an expression of dissatisfaction and readiness to attack

The ability to see the reasons for a negative reaction and predict further actions underlies the problem-free coexistence of a person and a freedom-loving cat in the same territory. In order not to aggravate the conflict with the hissing cat, it is strongly recommended not to:

1. Imposing your company on the cat and pestering it with food or toys . A pet who is in a bad mood has no time for entertainment, and his appetite at such moments noticeably worsens.
2. Try to calm the cat by stroking it . At the moment of inflated feelings, a pet may react inappropriately to an outstretched hand, hitting with a clawed paw and leaving a bloody trail.
3. Take the cat in your arms and cuddle it . Most likely, such an attempt will immediately fail, and the angry or frightened cat will become even more furious. Some pets may freeze for a moment in the owner’s hands, but then begin to break free with renewed vigor, dodging and using their teeth and claws.
4. Block the animal's escape route . The running cat defiantly asks to be left alone. But if the owner is persistent and begins to chase the animal or tries to detain it, he will certainly cause an outbreak of aggression.
5. Trying to get the cat out of hiding. A cat's house is an inviolable personal space, so there should be no intrusion from the outside. An animal huddled in a nook is in a state of stress and seeks salvation in an accessible shelter, and if it tries to bother you, it will most likely launch a serious attack.

Psychological reasons

The cat expresses the entire range of its emotions exclusively through body language, periodically supplementing it with several vocal variations available to it. There are few of them, but with their help the animal manages to convey to humans a huge number of experiences that need correct interpretation.

Predator instinct

It is embedded in every, even the most affectionate little cat, in whose veins the blood of distant forest ancestors flows. If you remind your cat of her hunting reflexes every day, don’t be surprised that over time she will turn into an angry, growling fury.

You have awakened a predator in your pet if it:

• jumps on your legs from ambush;
• does not respond to your shout, increasing the pressure;
• bites, hisses and scratches.

Correcting this behavior will be very difficult.

Social aggression

It occurs if a person annoys with excessive caresses. Any cat behaves quite coolly until it wants the owner’s tenderness. She will come up to attract attention, begin to rub against your legs, caress, prop up her back or ask to be held.

But tenderness (according to the cat) must be dosed - as soon as you overdo it with caresses, he will turn from an angel into a devil. At this moment, he is able to bite his hand, hiss and rattle his tail in displeasure, showing that the limit of his patience has been exhausted.

Frustration

This feline condition is akin to a human one and occurs when the pet’s desires do not coincide with its capabilities.