Understanding Your Cat's Aggressive Behavior: Reasons And Solutions

Aggression in cats is a common issue that can be worrying and stressful for owners. Cats can exhibit aggression through hissing, growling, swatting, biting, or scratching, and it's important to address the issue and consult a professional if necessary. Aggression in cats can be caused by underlying medical issues, such as pain, discomfort, or illness, or it can be due to changes in the environment, such as moving homes or introducing new pets or family members. Understanding the root cause of aggression is crucial to managing the behaviour effectively.

Pain, discomfort or illness

Cats are known for their ability to mask pain and discomfort, so it can be challenging to identify when they are hurting. However, if your cat is acting aggressively all the time, it could be due to underlying pain, discomfort, or illness. Here are some things to consider and steps you can take to address the issue:

Identifying Pain in Cats

Cats may not always show obvious signs of pain, but there are some behavioural and physical clues that can indicate they are hurting. These include:

• Decreased interest in playing, social interaction, and exploring
• Withdrawing and hiding
• Appearing lame or having increased sensitivity to touch in certain areas
• Reduction in movement and activity
• Changes in behavioural patterns, such as avoiding activities that may cause pain
• Poor mood and increased irritability
• Vocalisations like urgent meowing, groaning, hissing, or growling
• Avoiding being handled by moving away or behaving aggressively when approached or touched
• Decreased grooming or increased grooming leading to bald patches and sore skin
• Changes in facial expressions, such as squinting or closing their eyes, flattened ears, or a tense mouth, nose, and cheeks
• Changes in posture and body language, such as increased tension, crouching, or hunching

Common Medical Issues That May Cause Aggression

If you suspect your cat is in pain, it's important to consult your veterinarian for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. Some common medical issues that may lead to aggressive behaviour include:

• Hyperthyroidism
• Dental disease
• Arthritis
• Neurological disorders
• Central nervous system problems
• Osteoarthritis
• Urinary tract disease
• Bone disease
• Cancer

Steps to Address Aggression Due to Pain, Discomfort, or Illness

• Consult your veterinarian: Schedule a comprehensive health check with your vet to identify any underlying medical issues that may be causing pain or discomfort.
• Medical intervention: If the aggression is due to a medical issue, appropriate treatment plans or medications can help alleviate the problem.
• Environmental modifications: Make your cat's environment more comfortable and less stressful by providing a safe space or gradually introducing new changes.
• Behavioural therapy: Seek professional assistance to understand your cat's triggers and learn techniques to modify aggressive behaviour.

Remember, if your cat is acting aggressively, don't panic. It's a sign that something needs your attention, and you can work with your veterinarian and behaviour specialists to find a solution.

Fear or anxiety

Aggression in cats is a common behavioural problem. While cat aggression is sometimes not taken as seriously as dog aggression, aggressive cats can be formidable. They have five potential weapons (teeth and claws) compared to a dog's one (its mouth).

Fear aggression is one of the more common causes of aggressive behaviour in cats. This violent behaviour is a response to an unfamiliar and potentially threatening stimulus, such as a new person or animal in the cat's environment, or a loud noise. Fear-based aggression can also develop when a cat has had a stressful, unpleasant experience in a certain location and has developed a negative association with that place. For instance, a cat may have been physically restrained at a grooming facility.

Cats experiencing fear aggression may run, fight, or freeze. Their ears may be flat against their heads, limbs and tail tucked under their bodies, and their bodies kept low to the ground or angled away from the stimulus. The greater the perceived threat, the stronger the fear response will be. If the cat chooses to fight, either because they cannot escape or because they have learned that acting violently removes the threat, they may hiss, spit, or growl.

Common stimuli for fear aggression in cats include:

• Unfamiliar people or animals getting too close to the cat
• Being placed in an environment the cat associates with a past negative experience
• Loud, unfamiliar noises (such as a vacuum cleaner)
• Any changes to the environment that may frighten a naturally timid or shy cat

To deal with fear aggression in cats, it's important to reinforce non-aggressive behaviour and not to punish the cat. It's also crucial not to accidentally reinforce the aggressive behaviour. Counterconditioning is one of the best methods to reduce fear aggression. This involves slowly desensitising an aggressive cat to the perceived threat over a period of weeks or months. For example, if a cat is afraid of the sound of a vacuum cleaner, the vacuum could be kept at a distance while the cat is rewarded for displaying non-aggressive, calm behaviour. Over time, the vacuum could be brought incrementally closer to the cat while consistently rewarding them with treats until they have little to no reaction toward the once-threatening stimulus.

It's important to note that punishment by the owner can make fear aggression worse. Cats may develop a "stranger danger" fear of people, places, other cats, certain noises, or even odours, and react with aggression. They can generalise one scary experience (such as a car ride to the vet) with all future car rides. A single "bad" episode with a longtime feline friend can turn the relationship sour and prompt inter-cat aggression.

Hormones

Hormone-driven aggression in cats can be mitigated through neutering or spaying. This is a common solution, especially when dealing with aggression between household cats.

In addition to hormones, there are several other factors that can contribute to aggressive behaviour in cats. These include:

• Pain, illness, or underlying health problems: Cats may become aggressive when they are in pain or experiencing discomfort. Conditions such as hyperthyroidism, dental disease, arthritis, and neurological disorders can result in aggressive behaviour.
• Fear or anxiety: Cats may exhibit aggressive behaviour when they perceive a threat and are unable to escape. This fear aggression can be triggered by unfamiliar stimuli, such as a new person, animal, or noise, or by experiences associated with unpleasant events, such as a visit to the veterinarian.
• Territorial disputes: Cats tend to establish and defend their territories. They may show aggression towards new pets, family members, or changes in their environment, such as rearranging furniture.
• Petting-induced aggression: Some cats may suddenly become aggressive when being petted due to overstimulation or a desire to control when the petting ends.
• Redirected aggression: This occurs when a cat is aroused or agitated by an external stimulus, such as another animal or a loud noise, and redirects their aggression towards a nearby person, animal, or object.

Stress

To manage stress-related aggression in cats, it is important to identify and address the sources of stress. This may involve making your cat's environment more comfortable and less stressful. Providing a safe space for your cat, gradually introducing new changes, and ensuring a consistent routine can all help to reduce stress levels.

In some cases, professional assistance may be beneficial. Behavioural therapy can help you understand your cat's triggers and provide techniques to modify aggressive behaviour. Additionally, if your cat is experiencing stress due to living in a chaotic or overcrowded environment, it may be necessary to make more significant changes, such as reducing exposure to conflict or rehoming some of the cats.

It is important to remember that cats can exhibit aggression for a variety of reasons, and stress is just one possible factor. Other potential causes include pain, illness, fear, hormones, and territorial disputes. If you are concerned about your cat's aggressive behaviour, it is always best to consult with a veterinarian or a qualified feline behaviour expert. They can help identify the underlying causes and provide tailored advice and treatment options.

Trauma

Cats who have experienced trauma may also suffer from post-traumatic stress. Their brains are wired similarly to humans, and the effects of chronic anxiety can lead them to become aggressive. This type of aggression is called "redirected aggression," and it occurs when a cat is in a hyper-aroused state due to some external stimulus, such as an animal outside or a frightening noise or smell. Unable to reach the source of their agitation, they turn and lash out at someone or something nearby.

It's important to note that aggression in cats can be complex, and there may be other underlying causes contributing to the behavior. It's always recommended to consult a veterinarian or a qualified feline behavior expert to help identify the specific triggers and develop an appropriate treatment plan.

Frequently asked questions