Cats & Aggression

Cats are not born aggressive. Experiences in their lives may generate aggression, and once these experiences continue to occur, the aggression tends to get worse as the cat gets older. Unless there is some kind of brain tumor or some such medical issue affecting the cat’s behaviour, aggression is usually in response to an outside stimulus.

A cat may be aggressive out of fear or due to pain. Cats are usually very stoic and mask any pain or discomfort that they are feeling, but some may lash out. With the removal of the pain, the aggression should disappear. Similarly, a cat that displays aggression because it feels threatened is relatively normal. The need to lash out and protect oneself is a perfectly normal response throughout the animal kingdom.

A mother cat may become aggressive when someone or something gets too close to her nest, and this may include her beloved human. Though all mother cats do not display aggression, this too is normal behaviour, and once her hormones return to normal levels, the aggression should disappear. However, there are instances where cat aggression becomes a problem. It may be aggression shown to another cat or animal in the household, or it may be aggression shown towards it’s human. 

Just like humans, every cat does not necessarily like every cat or animal that it must share a home with, and though outright aggression does not usually occur except for the odd occasion, it does happen. Most often, a simple hiss and a swat are enough, but some cats just don’t like each other. If it is a big problem such that the cats get injured and require a trip to the vet, this type of cat on cat aggression is not usually going to be resolved, and re-homing of one or other cat is the best solution. However, these instances are rare. Most cats will tolerate even those in the household that they don’t like once a safe distance is maintained by all. Getting too close can just provoke the cat into an aggressive act, and this will just make the situation worse.

All too often, as a kitten, humans in the cat’s life may play roughly, thinking how cute it is that the kitten attacks a finger or a toe, because at that age it’s not a problem and does not hurt, but as the cat becomes an adult, this rough play becomes distinctly unpleasant for the human and can get totally out of hand. Without realising it, the human has encouraged this type of behaviour, so the poor cat doesn’t know what is wrong and doesn’t understand why it is no longer acceptable. Therefore, a rule of thumb, is to play with your kitten (and adult cat) using toys that keep your own hands (and toes) at a distance. There are numerous such toys available on the market, plus it’s very easy to make something with an old rag and some catnip for “flavour”.

More specific instances of cat aggression will be dealt with in a later posting and in more detail. The above are generalisations that are fairly common occurrences.