"Evil" by nature
Let’s make a reservation in advance, cats that show idiopathic (unexplained) aggression are not “bad”; they get along quite well with people, with a reasonable approach to education. The list of "evil" includes:
- Siamese cats have an innate “cult of the owner.” Considering the age of the breed and the history of its breeding, the scratching Siamese is still “flowers”. It is believed that the ancestors of Siamese cats killed people who tried to lie to the pharaohs. Most often, problems arise due to jealousy of the owner, that is, the cat loves one family member, and attacks others.
- White cats – presumably, aggression is associated with “Angora blood”. Most white Angoras are born deaf, which makes them more vulnerable. Fear and self-preservation instincts force the cat to show excessive hostility “just in case.”
- Blue cats - the only assumption that justifies "evil" is the natural distrust that most representatives of this color have. The person shows excessive persistence, which frightens the cat.
Cats that have experienced abuse are also at risk. Abnormal aggression is extremely rare, but it is almost impossible to stop. The owners cannot predict the behavior of the ward; now she purrs and caresses, and a second later, as if at the flick of a switch, she flies into a rage.
When purchasing an animal from a “risk group”, you should carefully weigh your strengths; sometimes, adjusting behavior does not help and the owner has only one option - sedatives for cats in case of aggression. Before starting treatment, read the article to the end. Most types of aggression are understandable and can be stopped. Generally speaking, an animal can become angry for 3 reasons - competition, pain or fear.
Anger and aggression: a sign of inequality
Domestic cats in a human home rarely show signs of aggressive behavior. For example, normally about 80% of free-living predators hiss at each other and strike, and 60% scratch people. If the purr grew up with a person and ended up among pets, then the figures reach only 50% and 40%, respectively.
This means that upbringing and communication with a person from childhood influence the behavior an adult pet will exhibit. And here we need to separate two concepts: anger and aggression.
A very angry cat: aggression as a character trait
Why is the kitten aggressive, scratching and biting? The best answer is: because he is evil. An angry cat is an ill-mannered pet who has simply always been allowed to exhibit this behavior towards people. Anger is a character trait of such a pet, and the reason is pedagogical neglect.
"Angry cats" usually refer to those that hiss or growl frequently. This is how they used their behavior to protect themselves from unwanted communication from childhood. They address their reactions almost equally to both acquaintances and strangers.
EVIL OR PSYCHIC? It is easy to distinguish an angry cat from an abnormally aggressive one: he is equally angry in winter and summer, in the morning and in the evening, with family members or guests. The character trait was always present, and did not manifest itself spontaneously.
True aggression: psyche and behavior
Real aggression is still a more spontaneous reaction, a response to certain external stimuli without regard to character and upbringing. It does not appear all the time and may depend on the environment, situation, season, sounds, smells, health factors, etc.
Interestingly, a cat’s aggressive behavior can be both normal and deviant. It all depends on the reasons. For example, if the problem is the kitten’s insufficient socialization, then its defensive reaction is quite normal and natural, and it can be rebuilt and the animal can be retrained.
If cat aggression is provoked by internal causes such as organic brain damage, then the problem is rarely resolvable. Abnormal and affective behavior in each individual case requires individual analysis and correction.
Causes of restlessness
There are plenty of reasons for concern for such a small animal. In domestic cats, this is the importunity of children and adolescents, harassment of other pets. A street cat suffers from dogs, cold and hunger, contenders for its territory.
Fear and danger
Fear and danger cause a defensive reaction. When defending itself, the cat first tries to avoid conflict; it will not enter into confrontation. And when it becomes clear that there is nowhere to retreat, the animal goes on the attack.
The cat always shows with its appearance that it is ready to defend itself to the last
Defending your territory
The cat is a territorial animal. Its habitat in nature is quite extensive. The invasion of a stranger always causes aggression. After all, this threatens to reduce the amount of food, loss of safety of recreation, and limit the attention of females/males. It’s even more difficult for a cat in an apartment.
She is forced to share small square meters with other family members and pets
Therefore, the appearance of newcomers in the house (no matter people or animals) will inevitably lead to aggression, at least at first
In my yard there lives a very lively, I would even say fighting, cat. Before her appearance, some strange mustaches were constantly “snooping” under the windows. They were apparently scouting an area free of competitors and dogs. This cat also came from somewhere, but she took root, we started feeding her, and she stayed with us forever. While she was not yet sterilized, male strangers used to come into the yard. But they received such a scolding from her that we never saw them again. Now the cats have lost interest in our yard, but still, no, no, someone is checking to see if the space is free. Then I hear terrible sounds under the window. My cat doesn’t even hiss, it’s as if she spits at strangers and rushes towards them with great speed. Sometimes it seems to me that I don’t even need a dog, I already have an excellent guard.
Overexcitement
Overexcited cats rarely result in serious injury for owners. It usually occurs during violent games. Cats are hunters, and this instinct is inherent in them at the genetic level, even if the kitten’s ancestors never caught prey on their own. If overexcited, the cat may strike with its paw or bite lightly. In this way she signals her dissatisfaction. It is enough to simply stop playing and leave the animal alone.
In a state of overexcitation, a cat can injure its owner, but does not do so on purpose.
My mom has a kitten. He is now about 6 months old. When my children play him until he gets overexcited, he stops playing and starts running around the rooms, curtains and, in my opinion, even the ceilings. In this case, it is better to simply get out of the path of his movement, because he runs with his eyes wide and, it seems to me, not on the pads of his paws, but right on his claws. This surge of energy does not last long. The cat just runs out of steam and goes into the bath to lap up the water.
Maternal aggression
Maternal aggression is defensive in nature. Since this instinct is one of the strongest, its manifestations can be bright to the point of recklessness. The cat will protect its offspring to the last. Of course, in a house where there is trust between the mother cat and the owner, such cases are excluded. Mostly children suffer, as they may accidentally hurt the kitten. The baby's squeak can infuriate the mother, and she, trying to protect the kitten, can rush at the offender.
Maternal instinct is the strongest. the cat will fight to the death, protecting the kittens from the stranger
Disease
A sick animal experiences a whole range of negative feelings: from fear to complete hopelessness. Touching the body and medical procedures cause pain. An animal, feeling its weakness, can only defend itself. Of course, the cat in such a situation will release its claws and bite.
Hormonal surges and disruptions
Another reason for aggression is hormonal imbalance. It occurs during the period of sexual hunting as a result of dissatisfaction. And if this happens for years (as in many pets), the pet is guaranteed to become nervous. Moreover, this problem has a recurring nature if it is not solved in radical ways.
Aggression caused by pain or fear
A cat driven into a corner, seeing no way out and no support, is not easily afraid; it fears for its life. Everything that frightens must be destroyed - it is an instinct and cannot be eradicated, the main question is the degree of fright:
- Mild - despite being frightened, the cat can approach or sniff the frightening object. For example, introducing an adult cat to a small kitten.
- Average - a pet that has been examined by a veterinarian behaves with restraint, the cat’s body is tense and compressed, the tail is tucked, it seems that the cat wants to become smaller. Just support your pet; the cat will not panic when it feels protected.
- Heavy - the animal attacks everything that is nearby. They use teeth, claws, hissing, threatening poses and releasing secretions from the anal glands. In fact, it looks like a “typhoon” rushing throughout the room. Do not try to stop the animal, much less pick it up. Until you calm down completely, you need to leave the room, if possible. If a panic attack occurs outside the home, it is necessary to wrap up the animal, closing its eyes and temporarily placing the aggressor in a cramped, enclosed space - a carrier or box.
- Very severe - accompanied by involuntary bowel movements and bowel movements, the pupils are dilated, the mouth is open. A condition that is dangerous not only for others, but also for the cat. Symptoms indicate that the maximum dose of adrenaline is released into the blood and the heart muscle is working “to the limit.” Do not touch the animal with your hands and protect your face! It is recommended to carefully cover the cat with a box or blanket and leave it alone for a while, without moving it.
Fear as a reason for growling
Hissing and growling associated with fear appears due to insufficient attention to the kitten. If the kitten rarely had contact with people, did not receive due attention from them, or even suffered insults or even beatings from them, then fear of people will accompany an already adult cat
To understand that it was fear that caused the growling, pay attention to the following factors:
- a cat can rush at its owners in the presence of a certain stimulus, real or imaginary;
- if a pet is “cornered”, it hisses and growls much more intensely;
- aggression is accompanied by appropriate warning postures;
- the pet can connect its paw swings to the growl;
- when the situation comes to its logical end, the animal begins to relieve stress, for example, by licking the fur.
You cannot punish a cat for such behavior, since with such tactics it will always expect bad things from a person.
Causes of aggressive behavior
Let's look at the main situations in which cats can show aggression.
Fright
Aggression in response to the unexpected appearance of an enemy can save the life of a wild cat. This instinct is also present in pets. Even a cat that is usually calm and affectionate can show aggression if you frighten it greatly, for example, by unexpectedly dropping something next to it. Also, you should not disturb your pet during sleep, since he will also regard a sudden awakening as a danger and the person who disturbed him risks being scratched.
Fright
A game
Often cats are so keen on playing that they can attack a person’s legs and arms, scratch, and bite. Aggressive behavior during play is explained by the fact that for the animal this process resembles hunting and at some point the pet may begin to hunt for real.
Protection of offspring
A mother cat can calmly accept the fact that the owner and other family members pick up and stroke the kittens. But if the cat growls in warning in response to an attempt to take the kitten, then it is better to retreat: while protecting the offspring, the pet may attack.
Instinct to reproduce
It's no secret that a cat can become aggressive during heat, and a cat can become aggressive during the period of searching for a partner. Pets experience a lot of unpleasant sensations if they fail to satisfy their needs for a long time.
The emergence of a competitor
Cats usually react negatively to having another pet in the house. Most often, the pet will show aggression towards the newcomer, at least at first. For a cat, the appearance of a stranger means an obvious danger of violating the boundaries of its territory. A cat that is getting acquainted with a new home and the pets living in it can also show aggression, since such a situation is very stressful for the animal.
Food protection
When someone tries to approach a cat while she is busy eating, she will almost certainly show aggression: her prey protection instincts will come into play.
Food protection
Disease
When a cat is sick and experiences prolonged discomfort, over time these sensations can lead to aggression.
Attention! Often the presence of a particular disease is not obvious, but if the cat has always been affectionate, and then suddenly begins to show aggression, eats less than usual, and plays less often, then this is a reason to consult a veterinarian.
Taking out a grudge
Cats usually choose one owner from among all family members, whom they especially love and obey. At the same time, they often single out the weakest, unable to fully fight back in the event of an attack. Children and teenagers may find themselves in this place. And if the owner can scold the cat and punish it, then it will not dare to respond with aggression. But sometimes it turns out to take out anger on the family member whom the pet respects the least.
Types of aggression in cats
How to stop a cat from tearing up wallpaper and furniture: causes and solution to the problem
Bouts of rage do not occur suddenly: cats give several warning signals before an attack. What to do if cats are aggressive towards humans? To solve the problem, you need to find the source of inappropriate behavior.
Defensive-aggressive reactions to threat
Aggression can be of an active offensive nature. In this case, the pet takes the initiative to attack a fellow tribesman or person who is not a threat to it. The sources of such attacks include:
- attack during gameplay - an attempt to achieve a goal at any cost;
- intolerance towards a fellow cat - appears when meeting another cat or when trying to expel it from the territory.
Fight for territory
Attempts to defend themselves are not always associated with fear and reflexes. This pattern is found in good-natured and affectionate cats; it occurs in response to an external stimulus:
- accidentally pressed tail;
- crushed paw;
- other options for minor domestic injuries.
The pain syndrome includes a defensive reaction: the animal begins to bite and scratch. These features are worth remembering if there are small children in the house. An angry animal, not wanting to cause pain, can attack and harm the child. Aggression can also be caused by the bites of a playful cat - the second pet reacts poorly to discomfort and enters into a retaliatory fight.
Antisocial reactions
If a cat has become aggressive, this state of pets is associated with the desire to interrupt or prevent a person or fellow person from contacting them. Features of actions are associated with the past:
- a certain color of fur on an unfamiliar cat resembles an old offender;
- A guest who came into the house in the past accidentally stepped on a paw - when they meet, the cat will remember the pain and fear and begin to bite the offender.
Why did the cat suddenly become aggressive? Inappropriate actions are sometimes provoked by prolonged stroking or interrupted sleep. Some animals love to be petted for hours, while others run out of patience too quickly. As a result, the confused person is forced to defend himself from the angry cat.
To avoid getting into such situations, you need to carefully monitor the reaction of your furry pet: if he pinned his ears, began nervously wagging his tail, or showed concern, then it is better to leave the animal alone.
Important! To avoid unpleasant moments with attacks on strangers, you must first look at the actions of the animal. If it is worried or behaves unusually, then it is better to prevent the problem by locking the pet in the room in advance.
Rivalry
The appearance of fits of rage between cats living in the same house occurs for the following root reasons:
- when another pet appears;
- competition for food, a bed, the owner’s attention, a potty;
- long-term absence of a previously living animal in the apartment.
The intraspecific type of aggression occurs both between strangers and pets living under the same roof. Any irritation and the cats lying peacefully next to each other angrily attack each other.
Interspecies aggression
Anger caused by competition for territory, food or attention of the owner. In a group of animals (even if there are only 2 of them), there is always an “alpha” and her subordinates. Hierarchy is established through showdowns—hissing, displays of force, or even fights. However, from time to time a “subordinate” will claim the place of “alpha”. It happens that two pets live in perfect harmony, share a bowl, a bed and the affection of the owner, and suddenly, one cat shows aggression.
There are several reasons for anger:
- Hormonal surge.
- Competition for food or territory.
- Weakened "alpha" state.
You can't change nature and clashes will happen. Exit 2 - tolerate the pets' antics, risking their health, or sterilize the animals. After sterilization, one of the basic instincts in pets is dulled – sexual, which “removes” questions about defending territory or fighting for the hypothetical right to procreate.
Features of cat aggression
It is well known that cats are not the type of animal that will show aggression for the sake of aggression itself. Even the most severe predators among felines will prefer retreat to any confrontation. From this we can conclude that in most episodes, aggression is caused either by the owner himself or by circumstances disturbing the cat.
Cats prefer to wait out danger in secluded places.
At this point, confusion may arise. You gave your pet all the best, petted it, fed it, carried it in your arms, and in response it waved its claws. In addition, you also find yourself guilty. Where is the justice?
Cats continue to fight for survival both in the snowy taiga and in a heated room
As already mentioned, each pet has certain behavioral patterns, certain reactions that it produces to certain stimuli. If you seem potentially dangerous to him, the cat will forget about everything you have done for him and turn on the instinct of self-preservation. For example, if there is a lack of shelter hidden from prying eyes, the cat may begin to experience stress and show increased aggression in seemingly safe conditions.
Redirected aggression
The pet attacks the nearest living creature, angry at an animal or object that is inaccessible. For example, a ward watches a cat from the window, begins to bang its tail, hiss and raise its fur. If at this moment, you or another animal “hurts” the aggressor with something, all the anger will be redirected.
Even after the pet has “let off steam”, it remains in an irritated state. It’s as if he’s walking around the house asking: “Well, who else should I kick?” There are few options for eliminating redirected aggression - isolate the animal after an outburst of anger (temporary), sterilize it, or use sedatives.
Aggression due to overexcitement
You're sitting in front of the TV, stroking your pet's belly, and suddenly you get a serious slap in the face using claws and teeth - it's your own fault. Unreasonable aggression of a cat towards a person is a very rare phenomenon; most often, the pet will warn you of an upcoming attack. You can “irritate” your pet by interfering with personal space, touching areas of the body that are unacceptable from a cat’s point of view, or inadvertently causing pain. The animal will warn you with the following signs:
- Wagging, twitching, or thumping of the tail.
- Twitching of ears, back.
- Slightly raised hair on the neck or between the shoulder blades.
- Sudden change of posture.
- Voice signals – hissing, meowing.
- An attempt to get rid of the irritant.
What to do
- First of all, don’t be scared if your pet behaves inappropriately. Aggression, especially at a young age, can be successfully corrected. You just need to pay attention and be calm and patient.
- Try to find out as much as possible about the kitten's breed. Some are generally quite aggressive: for example, Siamese cats. Others - Scottish Straight - are quite balanced, but cannot stand excessive attention to their person. And some - Persians, Maine Coons - will happily spend the day and night basking in your loving embrace.
- When you bring your kitten home, let him get used to his new environment. One will need a few minutes to do this, while the other will be hiding under the sofa a week later, hearing someone’s steps. There is no need to pick up a kitten, even if you do it with the best intentions. When scared, the baby may scratch you. Use only your voice. The time will come - and the kitten itself will climb onto your lap and stick its little head under your palm.
- Set aside at least half an hour a day for active play with your small pet. Having splashed out the energy, the kitten will be cute and tame.
- You shouldn't tolerate it if your pet hurts you. As soon as you feel that the baby has crossed the line of what is permitted, cry out loudly. The kitten will immediately let go of you and perhaps jump away. Do this every time your baby tries to bite you, and soon he will learn to treat you much more delicately.
- If your kitten is overly aggressive, keep a spray bottle or water pistol handy. A stream of water will quickly cool down your pet's hunting excitement.
- Be consistent. If something is prohibited for a pet, there are no concessions. If today you strictly reprimand him for something that will be allowed tomorrow, he simply will not understand you.
- Buy several rattling and soft toys for your pet. He will happily roll the first ones, and selflessly tear the second ones with his claws and teeth.
- Sometimes the baby is just bored. Get him a friend and you can forget about bites and scratches.
- Be sure to show your pet to the veterinarian. Perhaps the reason for inappropriate behavior lies in some disease.
- Often a kitten shows aggression only towards men or exclusively towards children. Perhaps the baby used to constantly suffer insults from male representatives or was treated rudely by the owner’s child. In this case, it is better to give the kitten to a family without children or to a single elderly woman.
Most problems associated with cat aggression can be resolved by timely spaying or neutering.
Danger from cat bites and scratches
Besides the fact that bites and scratches are painful, they are also dangerous to health. Many people have heard that a cat can be a carrier of bacteria that causes felinosis, or as it is otherwise called “cat scratch disease.”
But even if your cat is not a carrier of these microorganisms, teeth and claws still damage the skin, and this is an open gate for infection. Many microorganisms live in the mouth and on the claws, and if a person has a weak immune system, then a bite will cause a serious complication.
At risk are children, the elderly, people with diabetes, and people with bleeding disorders. You can say that everything is fine with your health, that’s how it should be, I wish you not to get sick. To say that a cat scratched you a hundred times, and everything was fine, these are all horror stories.
But for some reason the immune system may weaken, for example, a person takes hormones for a long time to suppress allergies. Or something bad happened—severe stress occurred. Then harmless cat scratches can become very dangerous.
READ Scottish cat: description of the breed
Maternal aggression
Perhaps this is the only option when a person should not try to correct the behavior of an animal. An angry mother cat is capable of not only attacking, saving the lives of the kittens, the animal will “stand to the death” and fight to the last drop of blood. Before the attack, the mother emits a specific odor, elusive to the human sense of smell. If you have multiple pets in your home, they will instinctively stay away from a nest with kittens, you should do the same, at least until the babies are 2 weeks old.
What to do if a cat that has recently given birth regularly attacks its owners? Firstly, be patient, and secondly, discover and eliminate the cause of the cat’s fears - move the nest to a quieter room, darken the room, refrain from receiving guests. If the cat is preparing to attack, retreat without turning your back to the animal, show open palms and do not try to speak, the mother’s priority is to eliminate the “enemy” without a fight.
Aggression as a reaction to pain
Sometimes it is difficult for owners to understand what happened to their affectionate and gentle pet. And even more so, it is not clear what to do if the cat is aggressive towards people. This happens quite rarely. If you have not offended the fluffy beauty, she has no reason to behave this way, however, with the exception of cases when she is experiencing severe and excruciating pain.
This often happens with urolithiasis. The animal begins to react with hostility to any touch and may bite or scratch. What to do if the cat is aggressive and attacks? First you need to consult a doctor and rule out the possibility of illness. In severe pain, the animal perceives almost any action as an attack.
Have a conversation within the family. Cats are very vindictive and remember for a long time if they are hurt. Perhaps one of the children is playing too roughly with your pet, which is why his behavior has changed dramatically.
