Does your beloved cat attack you unprovoked any time of the day, scaring you out of nowhere? Such sudden behavior in felines is called aggression. Though aggression is a common trait in cats, it can be annoying and dangerous.
There are many reasons behind the cat’s aggressive behavior, including health issues, injuries, fear, etc. Hence, it is crucial to identify the reasons that cause your cat to attack you. In this guide, we are going to tell the reasons that make your cat attack you.
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Fearful aggression:
As the name suggests, fearful aggression in cats is seen when they perceive a threat & it increases if they cannot escape. The fear reaction depends on how threatening the person, thing, sound, or action is.
They react very aggressively every time they get frightened or scared and show a combination of defensive signals and aggressive signals. These actions can be harmful to both your cat and you. The best way to help them overcome fearful aggression is to avoid the cat until it calms down.
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Territorial aggression:
Cats are highly territorial creatures. Many animal species try and expel other creatures from their occupied territory, as do felines. Such aggression occurs when kitties feel that their habitat has been invaded or occupied by another individual.
Cats usually direct territorial aggression towards other cats, but they can also be directed towards you and other pets in your house. The behavior patterns for such attacks include stalking, chasing, and ambushing intruders.
The most common trigger for this is introducing another cat or pet in your household or making changes in your cat’s living situations.
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Play induced aggression:
Rough play is a common trait in all animal species, including cats. Though the cats commonly have playful intentions, it can be harmful when cats direct such aggression towards you or other family members. Play aggression is prevalent, especially between cats and their owners.
Playful aggression occurs when cats are left alone for a long time or when owners encourage rude behavior as part of the cat’s playtime. Biting, clawing, stalking, and attacking people are behavioral patterns that your cat may show you during play induced aggression.
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Redirected aggression:
Redirected aggression is the most common and most damaging aggression in cats. It occurs when your cat is agitated and aroused by a bird or person that it can’t reach. For instance, when a window or glass pane prevents your cat from reaching its prey.
When your cat cannot reach its prey, it lashes out at the nearby individual. There can be a long wait before the cat reacts with redirected aggression, sometimes even hours. Such sudden attacks often seem unprovoked and can be more harmful to you and your cat.
It is not a malicious or intentional type of aggression. The cat does not look for an attack; it reacts merely due to the trigger caused by the prey.
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Pain-induced aggression:
Pain, frustration, or deprivation may irritate your cat. And like humans, cats can be aggressive when in pain. This type of aggression is mainly directed towards people, animals, objects, especially when someone touches its painful part.
Cats with pain-induced or irritable aggression should be examined for underlying medical conditions. In such types of aggression, you may notice that your kitty will always be in a defensive posture.
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Maternal Aggression
Like humans, queen cats have instincts to protect their kitten from danger. So, a mother cat that has recently given birth show aggression when someone approaches its kittens. Queens can be quite aggressive to defend their kittens, especially in the first few days after birth.
In such situations, provide a quiet, stress-free environment to the mother cat and kittens. You may notice that this aggression subsides as the kittens get older.
Physical signs of aggression and what they signify:
You can help your cat and yourself by following simple steps and identifying the reasons behind your cat’s behavior.
Physical signs |
Postures |
Significance |
| The Tail | Twitching of tail | It means your cat is agitated or trying to analyze the situation. |
| Tail bristling | It indicates your cat is angry and trying to intimidate you. | |
| The whiskers | Flattened whiskers | It shows that your kitty is feeling scared or defensive. |
| Whiskers forward | It signifies that your cat is investigating or going to bite. | |
| The Ears | Ears back | It means your cat is feeling nervous or irritable. |
| Ears flat | It shows that your cat is angry and is feeling defensive. |
How to stop and prevent aggression?
Fortunately, you can help your cat become docile and overcome aggression by keeping an eye on its activities. Try to identify the trigger for its aggression. If you find something unusual, you should take a short trip to the veterinarian to determine the cause of your cat’s attacks and ensure there are no underlying conditions.
There are many ways to encourage docility and healthy playfulness in your cat while keeping it away from aggressive behavior.
- You can intervene and stop an escalating attack in progress by a water gun, spray, or any method that works for you.
- Use a harness or a leash on the cat to gain control. With a leash, you can stop undesirable attacks and prevent your cat from reacting aggressively.
- Create regular routines and play with your kitty at least one hour a day. It will make your cat happy and playful.
- A second cat or pet can be a trigger for aggression. Ensure that you introduce another pet slowly and diffuse tension between the couple. Pay attention to both the pets.
- You can use a calming pheromone diffuser that mimics a mother’s nursing pheromones, helping you calm your cat and adapt to changes. You can consider using ThunderEase Pheromone diffuser. The diffuser can reduce conflict between cats and help in decreasing aggressive behavior like biting or scratching. This diffuser can give you peace of mind and help your cat live in a calm and peaceful environment for a healthy state of mind.
Conclusion:
Aggression is relatively common in cats. You can help your cat with simple measures and steps to reduce aggressive behavior and encourage healthy playing. You should try and determine the reasons behind your cat’s behavior and help resolve the issues. After all, you and your beloved cat share a powerful bond, which you can’t break easily.
All the Best!
