If you have a cat who is an
irresistible darling, don't presuppose that he is the safest thing to
cuddle and play with the whole day. Sometimes he might give you that
jolt by displaying sudden bouts of violent behavior. Aggression is
nothing unnatural when it comes to cats. From build-up sexual tension to
overexcitement, normally every stimulating emotion in a cat is given
vent through the display of aggressive behavior. Thus, it is necessary
to domesticate your feline cohort and make him adequately socialized and
mellowed. Let us find out what exactly leads to aggressive behavior in
cats and how to deal with such a behavioral problem.
Forms of Aggressive Behavior in Cats
Aggressive behavior in a cat may take any of the following forms
Predatory Aggression
Always remember that your kitty is born with an innate inclination
towards hunting. You might provide him with a can of tuna everyday, but
at heart he is still a hunter who needs to sharpen his hunting skills.
He instinctively pounces and attacks. It is often an extension of his
playful behavior. He likes to act out the part of a predator and loves
giving playful bites. Beware!
Anger Aggression
Sometimes negative emotions like fear might make your cat aggressive.
If your cat doesn't like being picked, stroked or touched, he might try
to fend you off by scratching or biting when you approach him. When he
notices that his aggressive behavior helps to deter unwanted pats and
strokes, he will show persistent display of such volatile behavior.
Protective Aggression
This form of aggressive behavior is seen in the case of a mother cat.
She might get furious and attack when someone tries to pat or play with
her kittens. The protective motherly instinct leads her to safeguard her
puppies from threats and dangers. Thus, she might see any unknown person
or animal as a potential threat to her babies and might get belligerent
when you approach them.
Fear Aggression
Whenever your cat is scared of a certain object/ idea/ or a person, he
might take recourse to aggression to shield his actual feelings. Cats
are generally very apprehensive about befriending strangers, and might
get extremely hostile towards them. Similarly they might also burst out
when they notice the veterinarian, as those pricks and jabs are no doubt
painful.
Territorial Aggression
We all have personal spaces that we don't like being intruded. Similar
is the case with cats. This form of aggression is noticeable when a cat
tries to protect his own domain or territory from trespassers. The
animal might get violent if he believes someone/ something is toeing
this personal line. Proper socialization is necessary to acquaint a cat
with people and other animals in such cases.
Overexcitement
Overexcitement in cats takes the form of aggressive behavior. Sometimes
excessive patting and cuddling might irritate a cat and lead to sudden
explosive behavior. A cat might also display aggression when he is
having too much fun during pleasurable experiences. Sexual stimulation
in cats also gets manifested through aggressive behavioral patterns.
Health Problems
Sometimes a cat gets violent when he is not keeping a good health. He
might get furious if you unintentionally pat him in painful areas. Other
internal medical problems might also surface up in the form of violent
behavior in your cat. When you notice such an abnormal display of
behavior, it is always better to consult a veterinarian. Never presume
that a cat gets rambunctious just to have fun.
Remedies of Aggressive Behavior in Cats
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