SolveYourProblem.com Article Series: Cat Care
Cat Care Tips
What
Are The Causes Of Cat Aggressive Behavior?
The average, healthy cat adopted from a shelter
is not aggressive and should not hurt you under normal circumstances.
Some cats will occasionally bite or scratch at you when irritated
or handled roughly, and some may act mean toward other cats
in the house or neighbor cats. But generally, your average
healthy cat should not hurt you or others.
Causes of aggressive behavior
There are several possible reasons for aggressive behavior
in cats.
Lack
of handling as a kitten: frequent handling of a kitten
is a very important part of bringing up a friendly and gentle
cat. When a kitten is not handled much or at all, he can grow
up disliking being touched and preferring to be left alone.
Such a cat may resist handling with a nip or a slap with his
paws. A big part of behavior problems with feral cats is the
lack of human handling at a critical stage in his life.
Mistreatment
or abuse: if a cat or kitten is treated very
roughly to the point that he suffers pain and discomfort, he
will learn to resist human contact.
Illness
or injury: an ill or injured cat, similar to people,
can be quite irritable and even hostile. Even an innocent touch
can cause pain or discomfort. A thyroid problem is just one
condition known to trigger aggressive behavior in cats. Take
your cat to a vet to determine if your pet's aggression is
caused by being sick or injured.
Rough
handling or play.
Threatening
or frightening situation: cats are cautious creatures. Your
cat may be frightened of something as obvious
as a strange dog or as trivial as a slammed door. In either
case, if you are holding him when he bolts, he might scratch
you while trying to get away. If it is an extremely frightening
situation, he might even bite.
Stressful
living environment: a stressed cat is more likely
to bite or scratch or, more often, become skittish. Stress
can be caused by many different factors. Your home may not
be large enough for your family and your cats. Or too noisy;
certain noise levels or sounds may trigger aggressive behavior.
If your cat was used to regular time outside and now stays
indoors, this change can also cause stress.
Diet: certain
foods, malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies can also trigger
aggression.
Old
age: old cats sometimes get grumpy. As long as
he is not hurting anyone, let him growl or hiss.
Declawing: declawed cats are sometimes more aggressive or
quick to bite.
Lack of exercise or boredom.
#
# # # #
SolveYourProblem.com
: 2009
>
Home Page > Cat
Care Articles: Main Page |
