Spend a few minutes watching social media, and you'll agree: Cats are soft, friendly and cuddly. Until they're not.Whether it's your own cat or a cat you've just met, it can be quite intimidating to watch a kitten become aggressive and decide to pick on you. As a professional cat sitter, behaviorist and mother of cats for many rescued felines, I've known more than my fair share of cats that behave in downright scary ways.
What makes a cat go from the innocent angel to the Tasmanian devil? There are as many reasons as there are cats, but it all comes down to a few main culprits :
fear and anxiety
under- or over-stimulation
medical problems and/or pain
We will explore the anatomy of each and how to calm an angry cat.
Fear and Anxiety
You will see that cats become fearful and aggressive when they feel fear or anxiety. From attachment problems that cause separation anxiety to inappropriate aggression that can cause a cat to attack, these cats are simply trying to protect themselves from the unknown and potential danger. Newly adopted cats, as well as your own cat companion, can both exhibit this type of aggression.
Anxiety in newly adopted cats: A newly adopted cat may exhibit this type of behavior once you have brought it home. In most cases, little is known about the cat's living conditions before adoption, and the kitten is likely to be frightened and confused about what is happening to her.
Being moved from her home, placed in a shelter, and then adopted into your home can be a traumatic experience. She will need time to adjust. He may react by hiding, and attempts to coax him into hiding may be met with angry wheezing and spitting until he gets his bearings and begins to trust you.
Current Cat Anxiety: If your current feline friend begins to act fearful and aggressive, there could be several reasons for his or her behaviour to change. Changes in the household can be a source of insecurity:
the arrival or departure of new people/animals
outdoor kittens to hunt
moving to a new location
Reasons like these can cause your cat to get angry in unexpected ways.
Many couples have consulted me once they were married because of their cat's aggressive behaviour towards the new partner. Fear and anxiety related to the perceived lack of resources (e.g., parental affection or space on the bed) is often the reason. Even a small change can make a cat a little freaked out.
One of my cats, Precious, has already reacted aggressively to me after I had my nails done. She started growling and slapping my hand!
Under or over-stimulation
If your cat does not receive enough or even too much attention, he may become irritated. You can't bring a new cat home and leave it alone to make its life in your home. It is a myth that cats are solitary and do not want to be disturbed by people. But you must also consider your cat's need to spend time alone. After all, cats need those 18 hours of beauty rest!
Under stimulation: If you leave a cat alone and never approach it, yes, it risks becoming a distant and unfriendly cat that never really trusts you or its environment. He may get bored, not stimulated, lack love and decide to bite or scratch you if you try to touch him.
Cats need constant interaction with us and reassurance that they are welcome in your home - that's what makes them feel safe with you. From the day you bring your cat home, the bond between you and your cat needs to be nurtured and maintained, and your cat needs to be reassured of your love through constant attention and interaction.
Over-stimulation: Let's say you've done all of this and now have a wonderfully loving relationship with your cat - for the most part. Still, sometimes your cat may hit you in ways that seem unprovoked, or bite your hand when you pet her, and then run away.
This is a reaction to over-stimulation. Your cat will give you subtle clues to let you know to stop touching her, but if you're not careful, you may miss her. Your cat will bite as a last resort to ask you to stop. Also be careful, if you haven't had a play session or cuddle with your cat for a while, she may be bored, suppress her energy and may bite you to get your attention.
Medical issues and pain
Medical Issues I clearly remember a behavioural case where I followed up with someone who had initially consulted Jackson Galaxy. This normally affectionate cat, huddled up against his feline counterparts in the house, would suddenly become venomous every time the other cats approached. Jackson rightly requested that the cat be seen by a veterinarian, where it was discovered that the cat had an unknown back injury. After taking over the consultation on the case, the client revealed that one of the other cats had jumped on the now angry cat during recess. We assumed that this had caused the cat pain due to the previously undiagnosed back injury.
Pain can make a cat act in a way that is not its normal personality. I know that when I'm sick I can get pretty angry with people, because I just want to be left to rest and recuperate. It's the same for your cat, and the only way he knows to be left alone is to become aggressive to keep people and other animals away.
When my cat Trouble had cancer, he changed his behavior. Although he didn't become wildly aggressive, his normally docile behavior changed to one of isolation and growling when approached by his feline friends. Once we diagnosed the problem and put him on pain medication, he was his usual personality for the last few months of his life.
Whenever you notice a change in personality, a visit to your veterinarian is a must. It is not uncommon for a problem that is supposed to be behavioral to have a medical cause and, once treated, it corrects aggressive behavior and pain.
How to Help
Help your cat through periods of aggression by first identifying the root cause of its behavior. If it is a situational, medical or a combination of both, the best way to correct the problem is to determine the source of your cat's anxiety so that you can address it appropriately.
A visit to the veterinarian, a better knowledge of your cat's body language, spending time with him and knowing when to leave him alone will help his mood to become lighter and happier. The use of your veterinarian's medication, over-the-counter herbal remedies or a combination of both can also help calm your cat down so that she can become cozy again, like all those cats on social media. Look, isn't he cute!
