How To Deal With Cat Aggression?
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Below are things that can make your cats go crazy and how to solve the problems.
- Over stimulation. You’re petting your cat, and suddenly he grabs you with his claws and teeth. Not a full-powered attack, but you still have those sharp tips around your hand. What to do? In the short run, freeze. Don’t struggles or fight back, or you may trigger a real bite. Sometimes smacking your other hand hard against a hard surface - a tabletop, for example - may startle your cat into breaking off the attack. If you stay still, however, he will usually calm down and release you.That’s the solution if you’ve gotten to the attack stage. The better option is to be familiar with your cat and his body language and stop petting him before he becomes over stimulated. Cat lovers often think such attacks come without warning, but they’ve missed the warning signs of a cat that has simply had enough. The tail is the key. If your cat starts twitching his tail in a jerky fashion, it’s time to stop petting.
- Play aggression. Sure, it hurts all the same, but the cat who pounces on your feet and then careens off the wall isn’t trying to hurt you - he’s playing. Instead of punishing your cat, redirect his energy. Increase your play sessions with your cat with an appropriate toy, such as a cat fishing pole or toy on a string, to help your cat burn off his excess energy before you try for a quiet petting session.No matter what, never let your cat view you as a plaything, not even when he’s an adorable kitten. Wrestling bare-handed with your cat or kitten is a no-no, because you’re setting up a bad precedent. A stuffed sock is a great substitute for a human hand when it comes to playthings - let your cat bite, claw and bunny-kick to his heart’s content.What if he persists in seeing you as a plaything? As with an over stimulated cat, stop the behavior by freezing. Don’t give him a reason to continue the attack. You can also inform him that attacks on you are not permitted by letting him have it with a shot of water from a spray bottle.
- Redirected aggression. Your cat sees another cat, an intruder, outside your living room window. He becomes enraged. You walk by, and he nails you. What gives? You were just the victim of redirected aggression. This one’s tough to fix.Try to discourage strange cats in your yard. Thump on the window, turn on the sprinklers, or put an air horn out the door and give them a blast. If you can’t keep the intruders out, block your cat’s access to the window through which he sees the other cats.
And again, be aware of your cat’s body language. A cat who’s looking for trouble is one who’s best avoided. With all feline aggression, the trick is to eliminate the triggers and work on your cat’s tolerance levels. If you’re patient and consistent, your cat will improve over time.
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