Cat aggression is a major problem that can lead to injury to humans and pets. Although feline aggression toward humans is not as frequently reported as dog attacks, it is a significant challenge for cat owners, a public health concern, and one that unfortunately often leads to abandonment. of the animal.
Let's reshape our ideas of aggression and decode what motivates cats as a species to behave “aggressively” towards humans, other cats, and other pets. Along with learning the reasons why cats may seem aggressive, we'll discuss methods to combat this animosity in order to make the home more harmonious.
What is aggression in cats?
Aggression in cats is described as a warning or attack directed at one or more individuals: either intraspecific (same species) or interspecific (different species).
Aggression is an innate response in cats that is essential to their survival as territorial and self-sufficient predators. Aggression in cats can be normal or abnormal depending on the context, but in general it is associated with the animal's self-preservation and correlated with fear.
Decoding aggression in cats
Aggression is not a diagnosis or a trait of temperament!
The emotions felt by felines come from their inherited brain, often referred to as “emotional motivators,” which is responsible for instinctual expressive arousal.
Aggressive behavior can be interpreted by the receptive motivation that reinforces it (Halls, 2020).
Negative arousal is associated with:
- Frustration
- fear-anxiety
- Panic
Hostility can also manifest itself in several circumstances. True hostility can be passive (covert) or active (overt).
Since several forms of aggression in cats can result in the same growls, paws, scratches, and the occasional use of teeth and claws, it sometimes takes a while to classify the type of aggression you witnessed.
Assault Classifications
Cats can exhibit aggressive behavior due to several motivations. It is important to differentiate the type of aggression to manage it effectively.
Aggression in cats towards humans
Aggression towards humans is usually linked to the felines being handled or playing around the house. Unfortunately, most attacks are directed at family members, with a study indicating that they are more common against children and women.
While scientific research into the impact of prenatal (before birth) and postnatal (after birth) stress of queens, as well as weaning, on the behavioral development of kittens continues, it has been found that intense exposure to prenatal stress can lead to increased sensitivity and reactivity to stressors. Kittens may thus have a reduced ability to handle traumatic situations and exhibit heightened emotionality in the form of abnormal levels of fear and aggression.
Additionally, a recent study found that early experiences and premature weaning can increase aggression in cats and stereotypical behaviors in cats. Hand-reared kittens may not learn to deal with frustration because they are not weaned by their queen, despite their caregiver's best efforts; for some individuals, this can lead to problematic behaviors such as frustration-related aggression.
Cases of aggression in cats towards people should be assessed individually, along with a veterinary examination, taking detailed information about the cat, its environment, including the initial trigger and the progression of the problem. The course of action will vary for each depending on causal factors and situations.
Let's look at the six main reasons for the occurrence of aggressive behavior towards humans, as well as effective management and prevention techniques:
Fear Aggression
Although some cats are more fearful than others, mainly due to poor human socialization during the sensitive kitten period (2-8 weeks), this type of fear-anxiety antagonism concerns a cat facing brand new stimuli such as new people, an additional pet, an unfamiliar or unpleasant situation, and negative experiences.
Fear-based aggression can increase if the owner associates the cat with another stimulus that makes it anxious.
For example, this can happen when an owner handles another cat and then approaches their cat. The smell of the unfamiliar cat can trigger aggression towards the owner.
A cat that feels threatened may act defensively when approached.
The cat's attitude will include crouching on the floor, ears flattened behind the head and possible piloerection, while its reaction may include vocalizations as a warning sign to back off, biting or scratching depending on the level of alleged danger and excitement.
Don't try to physically comfort your cat when she's fearful, as this could lead to injury and make her panic worse.
Changing scary behavior requires a lot of persistence, as every cat reacts differently.
Provide plenty of hiding places for the cat to escape, and combine these hiding places with structured interactions. Forced contact with new people or new pets should be avoided, while a mixture of desensitization and behavior modification techniques will eventually lessen the fear.
Related Article: The Best Types of Cats for Breeding
Predatory game/aggression
Misdirected play/predatory attention-seeking behavior manifests as a bounding followed by a rapid attack of the hands and feet. The most common cause is the inappropriate interaction of owners who play with kittens with their hands. The kittens are overstimulated and play rough, but the parents take no action to curb this behavior.
Although kittens often play rambunctiously with other kittens or cats, the queen will teach her offspring to soften their game. Adult cats who were not taught to control their reactions as kittens may play too aggressively with people.
Some cats can also "trap" their owners as they walk past them by leaping out from behind furniture and stomping their feet. Often this behavior is reinforced by the reaction of the owner, who withdraws his limbs or runs like prey, which inspires predatory responses.
To avoid inappropriate play and predatory aggression, teach kittens to play appropriately from an early age by directing them to inanimate objects such as ping pong balls, "fishing rod" toys where a person move a wand, but where the cat chases the toy at the end of the wand rather than the limbs.
Also, enrich your kitten's environment with daily play sessions. Provide plenty of climbing and exploring opportunities, problem-solving opportunities, and access to the outdoors if possible.
Avoid punishment, stay calm and don't react. Leave to avoid reinforcing the clinging behavior.
Petting-induced aggression
To a loving pet owner, this kind of enmity can seem deceptive and infuriating, especially since your cat may crave attention and then unexpectedly end the interaction by biting or scratching.
This is the case when a cat wants to have social contact, but not a very intense interaction such as petting in several places on the body or heavy petting. A friendly adult cat may appreciate gentle petting for brief periods of time when desired, but will easily become frustrated or excited and may rebuff by biting its owner's hands.
A cat can also develop a sense of conflict between pleasure and danger if it becomes too relaxed. This can lead to a sudden violent gesture. Again, these cats respond to an innate survival mechanism meant to protect them from threats.
To manage a pooch who gets agitated or easily excited, owners should be alert to the cat's subtle warning signs and avoid prolonged petting sessions or petting on parts of the body that make him vulnerable (belly, chest, etc.) or back).
Pain-induced aggression
A sick cat may inadvertently lash out due to a lower tolerance threshold, as they are most often in pain, distress, and irritation. A cat's aggressive response to discomfort is likely due to the anticipation or experience of pain when touched, which is contextually related.
Common illnesses linked to aggressive behavior include degenerative joint disease (DJD), hyperthyroidism, dental conditions, and neurological disorders.
Discomfort management options should include veterinary consultation, pain control, complementary therapies, and avoidance of touching painful body parts in case of DJD.
Redirected aggression
When a cat becomes frustrated or agitated by a stimulus that does not allow it to achieve the desired outcome, it may react by "redirecting its aggression" towards the target (i.e. a human or other domestic animal ) located near rather than towards the source.
Typical causes are the sight of another cat through the window, the impossibility of chasing it because it is locked inside, or when an owner picks up a cat while it is fighting between them. Similarly, a cat frightened by sudden excessive noise can cause restlessness that results in redirected resentment.
To avoid upset, try to identify the cause of the stress and remove it if possible. If the source is another cat, draw the curtains or attach opaque film to the lower part of a full-length window. In multi-cat homes, enrich the cat's environment by giving it unlimited access to all resources and provide it with time outdoors. Cats are sensitive to change, so make sure their environment is free of loud noises and rambunctious visitors.
Related Article: The pros and cons of raising cats at home
Maternal aggression
Although maternal aggression in cats is less common, some queens nursing their offspring in the postnatal period can show ferocity when approaching certain individuals.
To minimize aggression and reduce stress for the queen and her kittens, limit the number of guests, provide a quiet, stress-free nesting site, and minimize disturbance from nest scent. Always watch the queen's behavior carefully when someone is caring for her offspring to make sure she is comfortable with their presence.
Finally, let's look at a common problem facing multi-cat households today:
Aggression between cats
Aggression between cats can be categorized as conflict-related, fear-related, play-related, and redirected, triggered by the presence of another cat, or separation from residents following hospitalization.
Although many cat owners believe that the more cats the merrier, felines are solitary and territorial species that generally do not accept newly adopted cats into a home. Arguments between cats are commonplace, explicitly when individuals are not related or socialized together during the sensitive period.
Conflicts between cats within the same household have been reported to occur at least once a month. It is often subtle and frequently results in feline distress and behavioral disturbances. Anecdotally, a cat that frequently experiences obstruction to essential resources may suffer from chronic stress, which can increase the risk of idiopathic cystitis or alopecia.
The queen's social contact with her offspring is critically important for normal emotional and behavioral development. Kittens completely deprived of maternal care have been shown to be at a higher risk of developing fearful or aggressive responses towards other cats and also exhibit diminished learning abilities (Seitz, 1959).
To prevent aggression in homes with multiple cats, gradual introductions should be made when adopting a brand new cat. Numerous studies suggest that early exposure and positive interactions with other felines during the sensitive period are particularly important in fostering greater acceptance of other kitties, including forming social bonds later in life. Likewise, pheromone products can help minimize hostility and make introductions easier.
Preventing cat conflict requires environmental adjustments aimed at promoting the distribution of cats, decreasing competition for resources while reducing distress, irritability, negative emotions and increasing the cat's self-confidence .
Conclusion
Any form of aggression in cats is dangerous and represents a significant challenge for pet owners. Although classifications differ, aggression is usually associated with fear, frustration, misdirected play, or illness.
The different forms of aggression in cats are often treated with behavioral and environmental modifications. However, most cases require a visit to the vet to rule out a medical issue.
Assaults are often difficult to diagnose and treat. It is therefore essential to seek the help of a qualified animal behaviorist who can develop a personalized treatment plan for your feline companion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does a cat suddenly become aggressive?
Sudden aggression is often a sign of a disease process or disease state. In atypical cases, such as partial seizures in the limbic region, cats may exhibit impulsive aggression that has no apparent trigger or environmental cause.
If your cat has tolerated handling before and suddenly begins to show aggression when petted, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian.
What does your cat becoming aggressive mean?
Aggression can be a behavioral sign and not a diagnosis. It is usually motivated by fear of unfamiliar stimuli, frustration from inappropriate or prolonged handling, as well as the distress of a cat unable to escape from a negative experience, such as in a veterinary clinic. Aggressive behavior can even be triggered by pain or an external provocation to which the cat is not able to respond immediately and can redirect its hostility towards the owner or another nearby animal.
Here are some signs to look out for when a cat is signaling to you that they are about to be aggressive: dilated pupils and staring, crouching and tense posture, side-to-side tail movement, accompanied piloerection of whistles.
Related Article: The Best Types of Cats for Breeding
Do cats lose their aggression while playing?
Playful attention-seeking behavior is common in very active kittens and young cats, especially at night, dawn/dusk, or mealtimes.
Bored, lonely cats will stalk, pounce, and attack humans if they're neglected or don't get regular playtime.
Most cats do well growing up when owners improve their cats' lives by teaching them to play appropriately using hanging toys rather than using hands and feet. Owners should redirect kitties to toys that mimic prey, provide twice-daily interactive play with a feather wand, and introduce leash walking and click training.
How do you know if your cats are playing or fighting?
Affiliated individuals will chase, stalk, pounce and kick each other with their paws. Play sessions are usually quiet, and cats struggle by rolling on their sides or backs. Bites can also be encountered in a mild form without causing injury or pain. Happy cats will not scratch, hiss, kick or growl, and there will be a sense of balance and play.
In non-play defensive aggression, a cat positions itself in a very protective manner by crouching, backing away from the recipient, flattening its ears, tucking its head, and erecting its hair with hisses and growls. In case of offensive aggression, a cat will place itself in a very threatening posture: it will stiffen its paws, show a piloerection, stare at the target and move towards it with a rigid tail, emitting long meows and growling.