Owners can usually determine the cause of a cat's aggression based on the cat's personality and behaviour.
Anger- and Fear-Based Aggression in Cats
Angry aggression in cats is usually caused by territorial or status conflicts, whereas fear-based or defensive aggression may occur because a cat is naturally timid and fearful or is being bullied by other pets or people in the house. Anger-based and fear-based aggression are usually accompanied by hissing and spitting, whereas boredom aggression, or playfighting, usually occurs without vocalization.
When aggression is fear-based, it is important to reduce stress in the cat’s life wherever possible and spend plenty of quality time with the cat. A veterinary check-up is also recommended to rule out medical problems that may be causing the anxiety, particularly if it has come on suddenly. Other pets should be prevented from bullying the nervous cat, even if this means confining pets to different areas of the house when an owner isn’t around to supervise.
See Types of Aggression in Cats for information on recognizing and treating aggression that is caused by anger or fear.
Boredom Aggression or Playfighting in Cats
If the cat’s aggression involves unprovoked pouncing, biting, or clawing without hissing or yowling, the likely cause is boredom, which is particularly common among indoor cats. Boredom aggression usually indicates that the cat doesn’t have a good outlet for her natural hunting and fighting behaviours.
Rough playfighting is more likely to occur if owners have inadvertently trained their cats to believe that tackling people is okay by allowing them to pounce on or bite their hands and feet when they were kittens. The best strategies for dealing with play aggression are negative reinforcement and providing a more stimulating environment.
Use Negative Reinforcement to Stop Attacks
Most people reflexively scold or swat at a cat when it tackles them, but this strategy is more likely to increase aggression than to decrease it. It suggests to the rambunctious cat that you are playing along by being aggressive yourself, or causes the cat to fear you, which can generate defensive aggression.
If you notice that the cat is about to launch an attack, you can provide negative reinforcement by squirting her with a small water pistol or shaking an empty can filled with pennies to make an unpleasant noise. However, these strategies only work if done during the brief window of time when the cat is about to attack so that the negative stimulus will be connected with the intention to attack. If used afterward, they will have no effect other than confusing and frightening the cat.
An even better strategy to implement just before an attack is to pick up a nearby toy, such as a wand with a ribbon or toy on a string, and distract the cat with it by moving it along her line of vision. If this is done regularly, most cats will eventually wait for you to grab a toy when they want to play rather than launching an attack.
If the cat does attack you, disengage and then ignore her to make your point. Don’t provide any attention, physical or verbal. Bored cats may attack just to get any attention they can, even negative.
Use Regular Play Therapy to Siphon off Excess Energy
Play with the cat regularly using interactive toys to siphon off excess energy and lower the likelihood that she will be compelled to exercise her natural hunting impulses on you or other members of the household. A hyperactive, aggressive cat that is acting through frustration or boredom can usually be cured by providing a couple of play sessions a day to tire her out.
In the interim, if you are concerned about your cat scratching you or other members of your household, you can trim the tips of her claws or purchase a product called Soft Paws – nail caps that fit over a cat’s claws to prevent accidental scratches. Declawing is not advised, as it is an extremely painful surgery that often causes health complications and lifelong psychological and behavioural problems, as well as leaving the cat defenseless against predators.
Create a More Stimulating Environment
Indoor cats require a stimulating environment to prevent the boredom and restlessness that can lead to playful aggression or destructive behaviour. To improve the indoor environment, purchase or make cat trees for indoor climbing and cat toys for solo play.
References:
- Johnson-Bennet, Pam. (2007). Starting from Scratch. Penguin Paperbacks.
- Tree House Animal Foundation. (2005). “Play Therapy and Cat Toys.” TreeHouseAnimals.org.
- Wisconsin Humane Society. (2009) “The Cure for Playful Aggression and Boredom.” WIHumane.org.
Jennifer Copley - Jennifer Copley, BFA, BEd, has a diverse base of expertise that includes research, writing, education, pet care, and various other ...
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