Cats & Aggression – Not a good combination
When you get a new cat, whether kitten or grown, you dont expect them to be angry or be aggressive. You visualise a cuddly little new friend. Cat aggression is not a nice problem to have and can even be serious. The first thing you need to do is determine what type of aggression your cat is exhibiting. Sometimes even a small change in routine or environment can make a big difference. To manage this unpleasant behavior, its important to determine exactly what the problem is. There are different reasons for aggression in cats.
A territorial cat is one that is aggressive towards people or other animals that approach their physical territory.
A fearful cat is afraid of new situations or people. They will often retreat, but sometimes they will attack. Cats have a terrific memory, so if they have a bad experience, they remember and this may make the problem even worse in the future.
A predatory cat is a cat that has the desire to chase and hunt. This cat might exhibit this behavior toward animals or humans.
This of course can be dangerous. As you know, cats are very social creatures. However, when they are threatened by a social structure they are not comfortable with, for example if they are challenged by another cat or person, they may show social aggression. In this case, all rewards should be removed, and the cat should be rewarded only for obedient behavior. If they are obedient, you reward. If they are not, you don’t. Cats are very smart, they will figure out this new rule quite quickly.
If you believe your cat has an aggression which is disrupting your life and theirs, you should consult a professional for advice. Perhaps a small intervention can improve the situation allowing you and your cat to truly enjoy each other, as you should. This is not a situation you want to live with for 15 years or so.
