When cats become agressive and fight, keep your distance.
“Mommy! The cat just bit me! And all I was doing was petting her. I wasn’t hurting her, honestly. Mommy, she scratched me.” Cat aggression is not an uncommon problem, and can be displayed by both adults and kittens. This is why all caring pet owners should know how to handle any aggression their cat might display, especially if there are children in the home. This problem needs to be resolved quickly before the behavior becomes ingrained and an adult cat seriously hurts a child or even an adult.
An alpha cat (the ‘number one’ cat in the group) demands to be given extra or special attention. These alpha cats like to use aggression to gain rewards for themselves instead of any other cats in the house or territory. They can turn hostile over food, space, toys, and definitely any attention another cat (or even person) in the family might be getting.
Even a trained house cat can become aggressive as a way to stop something they believe to be unpleasant. An alpha cat could ‘ask’ to be petted by rubbing your legs, sitting on your armchair or lap and then suddenly start to scratch or bite you because it wants you to stop what you were doing. This aggression or tendency is often called ‘petting-induced behavior’ and is widespread in cats that might not have received much petting or physical affection, or who may have been mistreated by a previous owner. This is a method of showing who is in control of any situation.
It is imperative that any aggressive behavior that your domestic cat shows is dealt with immediately and in a firm way. If a cat bites or scratches you when it is sitting on your lap being stroked or petted, you should show your displeasure by immediately putting it on the ground and telling it ‘no’ in a disapproving voice and not allowing it back on your lap for a couple of hours. When you do allow it back up again, make sure that your cat realizes that you are in charge of what happens. You must be the one to start and finish any petting that occurs. If your cat starts biting, hissing or scratching again, take her and shut her in a room (with food and water) for an hour or so. Repeating this a few times will let her know that you are the alpha person, not her. This method will also work if an alpha cat tries to push other cats out of the feeding area or tries to eat all the food. Make sure the other cats (and your family) are able to eat in peace before allowing the alpha cat back in for her food.
Kittens can also show a high level of attack type behavior, although in kittens it is considered normal and is usually called ‘play-aggression’. It is a genetic disposition within kittens to play rough. Play-aggression usually occurs when your kitten becomes a juvenile and starts to practice natural survival instincts. Luckily, this is just a stage that most kittens, given some love and attention, will grow out of as they mature.
In the case of a playfully aggressive kitten, you will have to learn patience. By playing with and watching your kitten, you will soon learn to read and understand your cat’s ‘body language’ and you can then prevent the undesirable behavior before it becomes entrenched. Make a game of it and initiate some gentle play aggression yourself – it can be a wonderful bonding situation as well as a lot of fun.
The kitten in this video is being teased and is frightened. It is cornered and has nowhere to escape to. Notice how the ears are flat back indicating anger at what is happening. This cat is learning how to be aggressive and could well turn on her owners later.
Learning more about your cat and understanding why it does various things, and stepping in to prevent a problem such as cat aggression before it becomes a real problem doesn’t just benefit you, the owner, it also allows your cat to live a happier and less stressful life. And by taking steps to work on a problem immediately it manifests will make life easier for both of you.
For those of you who wish to learn more about cat aggression and how to avoid being bitten or scratched, *Cat Secrets Revealed is an excellent resource.
Cat Training or Keeping Them Off Your Counter Or Desk
Tags: alpha cats, cat aggression, cat attack, cat fighting, play aggression, types of cat aggression
hi
i desperatelly need your help. i have 2 cats first one mitzi is a ragdoll we bought her from a breeder,second one gipsy is a domestic long hair i got her from a petshop as a kitten because i couldn’t stand watching her in that cage. She came in a few months after mitzi. I had them for 2 years now they played together they ate together they really loved each other.
today they were playing and for some reason gipsy just snapped and now she is very very agressive towards mitzi and us but only when we try to grab her.i don’t know what to do i am crying because i don’t want to lose any of them.
i don’t have any kids and they get all our attention. they have a huge area enclosed outside and the whole house to play inside.
they are not spaded but not pregnant either.
please help me
cristina
Hi Cristina,
Have you checked gipsy to make sure she is not hurt in any way. Is it possible that mitzi snapped at her or bit her when you weren’t around? Give them both some special attention when the other one isn’t around. It sounds like you have a wonderful setup for your cats. Unless you want kittens, have them both spayed as soon as possible.
Kathy
Hi there,
I also desperately need your help… I have had cats my entire life and have always been blessed with wonderful, calm, loving and playful cats.
The cat I have now I almost two years ago from an animal shelter; at the time, she was only 7 weeks old. She is (for the most part) very loving and is extremely intelligent (plays fetch and fully understands a stern “no” if she is misbehaving).
Our problem all along has only been that if I am not paying complete attention to her (if I am reading or trying to sleep) she will “bounce” off my arm or ankle, bite and dig her claws in – then slowly walk away. Only once did she attack my face, and that was when she was only about 4 months old. This behaviour has bothered me in the past, but the only thing I have done to rememdy it was to hold her down by her scruff and scold her with one or two stern “no”s, then letting her go sulk.
This past week, however, she has really scared me. I am now 8 months pregnant with my first child and after attacking my ankle (once again) while trying to sleep, I got up and she ran away, started hissing, growling and ‘screaming’ at me – she even got herself so worked up that she eliminated on the floor. I left her be, to calm down,a nd she was back to her loving self the next morning.
Last night; however, I went down to the living room to find my cell phone, and she ran behind the sofa and started to growl and hiss at me again; she looked as if she was ready to attack me. I am VERY worried that her aggression is going to get worse (I have no idea what is causing it) and with the birth of my daughter soon happening, I am afraid I cannot trust her.
I SO don’t want to give her away, but my child comes first. Please advise if you have another solution! She IS my baby too.
Much thanks…
Hi Angela,
As a mother I totally understand your worries. Cats are incredibly perceptive and she may have picked up on your changes now you are pregnant. I think she is trying to establish herself as the ‘alpha person’ in your house, especially now that you are occupied with the coming birth. This is why she will do something to hurt you then walk away or compete for your attention all the time. Try shutting her in a room where she can’t do too much damage (eg laundry/bathroom) each time she attacks you. Do it immediately if at all possible, so she will associate the punishment with the behavior. Leave water in there and food if it is a meal time but leave her in there for 30 minutes. It will probably be noisy as she won’t enjoy this. After half an hour let her out and make a fuss of her so she knows she is still loved. If she bites or attacks you again, put her back in the laundry for 45-60 minutes. It is important to make a fuss each time she is let out but if she tries to bite you during this time, straight back to the laundry. Increase the time she is left each time the behavior occurs. It might take a week or so (hopefully not) but you must make her realize that you are the ‘alpha person’ in the house.
Please let me know how you go with this. Good luck with the birth of your daughter. All babies are special but the bond between mother and daughter is indescribable.
Hello there,
I was recently received two cats from my husband’s aunt. Both cats are over five years. These cats are obese, so I regulate how much they eat because when the female eats too much, she throws it up on the carpet. I try to play with the male cat (female sleeps all the time, plus she is blind) and since I control how much they eat, they have lost some weight. The male cat uses his claws for everything, even for tapping my knee for attention. Recently he has become more vocal, and also aggressive. When he wants food and I dont give it, he runs around the house, meowing loudly and occasionally clawing furniture and me. Basically he gets very aggressive if he does not get what he wants. What should I do?
Hi Kia
It can be hard as the cats are adults, but you have to make the male cat know you are boss. Keep up with rationing the food and exercise, it does help. When he runs around the house clawing and meowing, try to catch him and put him in a closed room where he can’t do much damage. Laundry or bathroom are good for this. If necessary, wear gloves and long sleeves or use a towel if you have to as you don’t want to get scratched. He will complain loudly when he is shut in but will eventually quieten down. When that happens, let him out and make a big fuss of him. Repeat this each time he gets aggressive. You will find the time out in the closed room will reduce. With your blind female, try to get her interested in chasing a squeaky toy or a small ball that has her smell on it. You can do this by leaving the toy in her bed or perhaps smearing a very small amount of food on it. She will be able to find it by smell.
Good luck. Please let me know how you go.
Kathy
Please help! I have a 3 year old male Maine coon cat,
and he also i believe is trying to demonstrate he is in control. He just attacked me again after he was all loving and letting me brush him. It is clear he loves me and he has always been loved on, but he turns and is scary and jumps on my hip from
behind… I don’t always have a water bottle nearby, and I automatically say no and put him in a room. But he keeps doing it every month or so, and when I have went on vacation in the past and a friend watches him after about 10 days or so he will do it to them! Please help! I love him dearly and want him in my life but not if this doesn’t stop, what can be done? Thank you
Hi Lindsay,
Has your cat been neutered? If not this could account for his aggression. Has anyone been teasing him? He may be reacting to this. If the answer to those questions is no, it sounds like petting induced aggression. He has had enough of being stroked and this is his way of letting you know. Try grooming him for a shorter time. Keep putting him in a closed room with food and water and some toys to play with each time he attacks you. You are not punishing him, you are letting him know that this sort of behavior is unacceptable and that you are the one in charge. You might need to do this for some time until he learns the consequences of attacking you.
I’m so happy that you want to solve the problem. Some people will just take the cat to a shelter. Please let me know how you go.
Kathy
Any suggestions about how to keep the neighbor’s cat from spraying on my front door? Nice cats. Not sure why they’ve started this. We do own a dog, but it is NOT allowed to harrass the cats, and is always kept on a leash if outside the house or our fenced yard.
Hi Kay
Try spraying some strong smelling oils or use a citrus spray all around the door and the area leading to it. My elderly cat started using our walk in robe for her ablutions and citrus spray (from Woolworths) soon stopped it. I just sprayed the area inside and outside the opening (no door) and up the walls. Lavendar is another good one to use. You could also try sprinkling something like cayenne pepper around the door. If the neighbor’s cat sniffs that it probably won’t be back for a while.
Hope this helps.
Kathy
Hello Kay,
I’m worried with regards to my parents’ cat suddenly becoming excessively aggressive and/or defensive towards them, end the (elderly) grandmother, living with them (no kids in the home, no other pets).
She was the youngest of the litter, and the smallest, but definitely the feistiest – the reason i picked her out. Two years old now, she has been very friendly the whole time, play-fighting sometimes, but no more than that. Her favorite person is my mother, and she is friendly with everyone else.
Two incidents occurred, both behaviorally-similar: from resting position (sleep, presumably), OUT OF NOWHERE she will start to scream (lengthy, loud whine), and slowly advance in an offensive crouch towards a family member. The first time was in my grandmother’s bed, where she also decided to relieve herself, and bite my grandmother. The second was months later (I witnessed it) – the primary target was my mother (or her feet, to be more precise), then my father’s feet and my own. No attack this time. Took her a minute to quiet down, and ten more minutes of wandering around and looking around to calm down, and have her fur return to its normal look.
She has been spayed, not de-clawed. Lives in Condo – closed-off environment.
Thanks in advance!
Hi Rick,
I am mystified as to why this would happen. Has the environment been changed in any way? Painting, changing furniture around etc? Has the food been changed? It sounds as though she is having nightmares and reacting to them. The fact that she is taking so long to return to normal suggests fear. See if you can get hold of some tincture of valerian and give her one drop per pound of body weight twice a day. You can also try the Bach Rescue Remedy from health food shops.
Please let me know how this goes. I’ll also do some more research.
Kathy
Hi Rick
This is quite unusual behaviour. I wonder if she is having nightmares. The fact that it takes time for her to calm down means she has been frightened by something. You could try some tincture of Valarian at 1 drop per pound of body weight twice a day. You could also get hold of some Bach Rescue Remedy from natural heath shops to see if that works. Gentle voices will also help calm her, although that can be hard if she has bitten someone. The elimination on the bed could have been an involuntary one due to fear.
Please let me know how you go. I’ll also do some more research.
Kathy
Kathy,
Thank you very much for your advice – I’ll definitely give those methods a try. As for their effectiveness – in this situation it’ll be difficult to tell, seeing as how the occurrences are quite rare, to say the least. I’ll be sure to let you know if there is a similar episode(s) in the future. I’ll also note the treatment used.
Regards,
Rick
I am having a problem with my cat. I have 2 cats and one has been sick and with the vet all day one day and since then, he was being kept in a room alone to watch food and water intake. Since then, the other cat has been hissing and batting at him everytime they get together. These 2 cats are normally very affectionate with each other (they are litter mates). What can we do about this behavior.
Hi Teresa,
Sometimes cats will attack another one that ‘smells’ funny and your sick cat has been at a vet and will have picked up all sorts of medical smells on his body. Even with grooming, if he feels up to it, will take time for the strange smells to dissipate completely. Be firm each time the other cat starts hissing and batting, removing him to another room if necessary.
Kathy
Hi Teresa,
Sometimes a cat will hiss at or attack another one, even a litter mate, if it smells ‘funny’. If your cat has been at the vet for a day, it will take a couple of days for the ‘medical’ smell to dissipate, even with grooming. If the hissing etc is bothering your sick cat, speak firmly to the aggressive cat and if necessary, shut him out of the room where the other one is.
Kathy
Hi,
I’m experiencing an aggression issue with my cat that I need to resolve. She’s 8 years old and is my only pet. At the time I got her I wasn’t aware that kittens need to be socialized, so she wasn’t around other people or animals. Last Sunday I worked with a small group to TNR a feral colony that I’ve been taking care of. Yesterday afternoon I had to go to the place where the cats are recovering (there are free roaming cats there, too) to take one of the cats (who is in her trap) to the veterinarian. The recovery place and the veterinarians office both smell of cats, and the smells “attached” to my clothing. When I walked into my house, my cat walked toward me, raised her head, waved it around, and started sniffing. That’s when the trouble began. She has been hissing and growling at me ever since, and it’s very scary. I’m fearful that she won’t be able to control herself and will go after me. When I go into my bedroom (where she’s hanging out), I have to bring something to use as a “block” to separate her from me. I’m not the alpha here … she is, but I want that changed! What can I do about this situation? What will stop her aggression toward me? I’ve sprayed and aired out the house, and showered/washed my hair. I’m also NOT going to participate in direct TNR anymore so won’t have any exposure to the smell of other cats. Thank you for your help!!
Hi Kathy,
The first thing you have to do is regain your cat’s trust. Try wearing some old clothes that smell of you (not freshly washed) and getting down to her level. Have a toy or a small container of pebbles or marbles ready to distract her. Make yourself comfortable on the floor and call her. If she will allow it, stroke her and talk to her gently. If she looks as though she is getting ready to hiss or growl, distract her with the toy or pebbles. If she does start hissing or growling or nips/scratches you, don’t hit her, just say ‘no’ in a very firm voice and get up and walk away. Be confident in this walk so she can see you mean to leave her. Fake it if necessary. After an hour or so, go back and try again. If she becomes aggressive, repeat the ‘no’ and walk away. You can do this as often as your schedule allows for but make sure there is enough time between the sessions for her to realize that she has done something wrong. I know it is hard to not hit or yell at a cat that has tried to scratch you but you want to regain her trust, not let her think you are someone to be frightened of.
By getting down to her level you are working on regaining her trust. You are also socializing her. Each time you feed her, bend down and stroke her and talk gently and encouragingly. Do this also if you walk past her during the day. Set aside some time during the day for playtime. When possible, encourage her to sit on your lap during the evening. These are all methods of socializing. To make her aware that you are the ‘alpha’ person, you have to be firm in your ‘no’ and walking away. Ignore her when she’s naughty. Shut the door on her, but not for more than 30 minutes and make sure she has water. But always reward the good behavior with strokes or treats if you want.
This will take patience on your behalf but over the days and weeks, you will see a change in her behavior. There will be times where you make progress and times when you feel you’ve gone backwards. This is normal.
I commend you for your work with feral cats and the TNR program. However I fully understand and agree that your own cat is your main responsibility. Please let me know how you go and if I can be of further help.
Kathy
Thank you so much for this information, Kathy. I am going to do what you suggest and hopefully things will be back to normal before long!
Please let me know how it goes Kathy.
I have two 5 yr old female cats, both spayed and kept indoors. They always been great together and now one is extremely aggressive towards the other. We moved last year and that’s when it all started. There are also many cats outside that come into the cats view. We know that these cats are the cause of the problem and the bad cat wants to be the domiate cat. We have taken the cats to the vet and they are health. The bad cat was put on Amitriptyline for months and it did not help. We seperated both cats, used spray bottles (and by now she just sits and gets sprayed with no fear) and to NO avail, after a year of trying to stop this, the cat has gotten worse and aggressive to the point of dangerously killing the other cat. I don’t know what to do and I am starting to think she needs a new home with a sweet old lady who has no other pets.
Hi Barbara,
This is very sad. Have you tried letting the bad cat outdoors? Is it safe for her to do this? Perhaps if she has a new ‘interest’ she’ll leave your other cat alone. Can you separate them completely? Keep them in different parts of the house for a while? Unfortunately it’s not easy to find homes for adult cats. It is up to you of course but if your other cat is in danger, you might have to make a choice. I wish you luck and please let me know how you go.
Kathy
Hey there. I have a male cat, he’s 5 years old and we recently (3 months ago) moved to a bigger city -just temporary-. I don’t know why but he’s being having this seizures in the middle of the night. He suddenly wakes up all aggressive (as if somebody were trying to hurt him) and he tries to defend himself by scratching anything near him -me included because he sleeps in bed next to me-. It takes him some time to realize she’s just sleeping next to his mom. I wasn’t so worried about it until last night that he scratch me on my lip really badly (I woke up with Angelina Jolie’s upper lip so you can imagine)… ¿What do I do?????????
Hi Amy,
This problem is more common than you might think. Your cat is in a totally new place, away from all the smells, sounds and other cats he was used to. Yes it was three months ago, but he sounds as though he is still adjusting. Also, many people (myself included) now believe that cats do dream. I’ve had one of my cats wake as if they’ve had a fright and start hissing for no reason. It’s not fun when it happens when you’re asleep too, but what I’ve found that works for my cat is to whisper to her. There must be something in the sound of a whisper that calms them, as it doesn’t matter what the words are, it is the sound and tone of your whisper that does the trick. I have a 14 week old kitten that still loves to bite if she doesn’t get her own way and whispering to her while holding her stops her biting and she starts to lick me instead. Not easy when you’ve been woken by a hissing, scratching/biting cat, but if possible, try it.
Please let me know how you get on with this.
Kathy
Hello,
Last night my cat got caught under my dogs paws when he was running and got stepped on. As she was trying to escape he claw got caught in his side and she was thrown down. She screamed and hissed and attacked my leg later on in the night when i startled her and today she attacked the dog again when he ran past her.
She is eating normally and even slept cuddled with me last night. She was also fine with my dog until he made sudden movements..will she be ok?
Hi Melissa,
I’m sure your cat will get over the fright she got. That’s why she hissed at you and attacked you, she was frightened. The fact that she slept cuddled with you and is eating well is good. She trusts you. However she is still wary of the dog and sudden movements because she doesn’t understand that what happened was an accident.
Give her some extra love and attention and gently introduce her to the dog while you’re holding her. I’d do this sitting on the floor so they’re all at the same level. Let her sniff him and when she’s ready, let her go. I think in a week or even less she’ll be fine. However if you’re still worried or things don’t improve, don’t hesitate to contact me again.
Kathy
Hi,
I have an energetic 3year old neutered male cat who has always had a little bit of a ‘dark side’. He has always been a house cat and we’ve had him since he was 9 weeks old. He doesn’t really like anyone other than myself and my husband. Usually when I’m alone with him he is very loving and behaves most of the time, however when my husband is home with me my cat will often turn aggressive towards me by attacking my ankles and biting me. He almost always behaves towards my husband.
We are expecting our first child and two months ago we did out our spare room for the nursery which is the room the cat always spent most of his time in and now we don’t allow him in there. When we first denied him into the room, he stopped eating his food and turned nasty, we tried being affectionate with him but refused to give him any more food till he’d eaten what we’d put down.
He eventually started eating normally againafyer about a week of sulking, although now he has got diarrhoea and doing it everywhere other than his box. He is his normal energetic self only being aggressive. It’s only towards me he is nasty and it’s getting worse. When he is like this we shut him away to calm down but I’m so worried with the baby coming that the aggression only going to increase. Please help x
Hi Jodie,
First of all congratulations on the impending birth of your first child.
Your cat has noticed the changes in you by the pherophomes your body puts out (we can’t smell them) and is aware things are changing. This has been confirmed in his eyes by being denied the use of the nursery. I’m sure your husband is paying you extra attention due to your pregnancy and the cat is jealous which is why he attacks you when hubby is home. Continue with loving him and giving him extra attention when you can but be firm when he attacks your ankles. Use a firm ‘no’ and perhaps a tap on the nose bridge and put him in a different room for 5 or 10 minutes. Do this as soon as he attacks your feet. It will take time but it does work. I’m shutting my 12 month old cat Asha out of the office when she uses her claws on my knee to get attention. I don’t hear her come in, I just get the claws. When this happens she gets a firm ‘no’ and is shut out. She can get into the office through a wheel set into a wall but when she does come back, she is very well behaved. My knees are starting to not looking like pin cushions now. You need to be consistent and patient.
With the diarrhoea, have you checked with the vet to see if it’s a medical problem? Has his food been changed? It could be behavioral because of the changes in the household. I’d have him checked out and see if you can get something that will calm him. You don’t need this extra worry while you’re pregnant so try the time out method and also the vet.
Good luck with the baby and your cat. You are beginning a whole new chapter in your lifes together, one that is exciting and very rewarding. If I can be of more help, please don’t hesitate to ask. And I’d love to hear how you go.
Kathy