6 causes of aggression in domestic cats

One of the factors influencing the appearance of aggression in a cat is considered to be the stability of its psyche. A calm, balanced animal usually lives in good conditions since childhood. Thus, if a kitten has a mother around in the first 2 months of his life, it is easier for him to overcome the various challenges of life.

Fear and the instinct of self-preservation

Fear can make a cat scratch someone it thinks is a potential bully

Aggression may appear in cats when they are frightened. For example, if a dog suddenly appears in front of the cat and it is impossible to get away, the cat will attack and scratch the dog. Sometimes this works, and while the stunned dog is thinking about it, the cat has time to escape. Something similar happens if you drop something near the cat while it is sleeping – the cat may jump into the person next to it out of the blue. But it is not worth scolding for this – it is useless to fight the instinct of self-preservation.

The mother cat may feel fear for her kittens if she thinks that someone or something is threatening them. But before she attacks, she will warn them with a threatening growl and meow. In that case, “conflict” can be avoided by leaving the kittens alone.

Protecting their territory and cat games

Playing with cats promotes their hunting skills, but if it becomes aggressive, it should be avoided

Territorial aggression is usually addressed to feline companions who have violated the boundaries of possessions. But sometimes cats are also aggressive with humans who happened to be on their territory if they feel that the newcomer somehow threatens them or their owners. There are stories when cats have attacked thieves who have got into their homes, no worse than dogs.

Kittens learn how to fight during games. Since they’re carnivores, they need training, so they learn how to hunt and attack while playing with other kittens. If the kitten is alone, you still need to play with him to develop all these skills. But, having become fussy, the animal may behave aggressively. In such cases, it is necessary not to slap severely on the nose, strictly saying: “You can not!” and take it to a place by the scruff of the neck. There the kitten will be alone and calm down because it is difficult for him to stop playing at one moment.

Displaced reaction

A cat quickly sees who in the family is weaker than him and can “blow off steam” on him

In large families, it is not uncommon for a cat to be hurt by someone he can’t “fight back”. But the offense is still there and it needs to get out, and then the cat pounces on the one from whom he thinks he will not get a decent response.

For example, if the cat has received a beating from the owner, it can easily “playback” on the child or an elderly grandmother. These antics must be suppressed immediately, otherwise the weakest in the eyes of the cat and will be the eternal “punching bag”.

Illnesses

During an illness the cat must not be overloaded with excessive attention, it does not care

If the cat is not feeling well, if it is in pain, or if the case of some medical manipulations it is not surprising if the cat will be aggressive even toward its owner. The animal, if possible, should be left alone, and if there is a need for medical intervention, precautions do not hurt.

Not only the well-being but also the mood of the cat can be a reason for the “application of claws.” An attentive owner senses his pet’s mood and will not be persistent in trying to pet him if he sees that the cat is “not in the mood”.