My cat has become aggressive: what can I do?
Your cute kitty can’t stand you anymore, your sweet kitty jumps on you and bites your feet as if you were prey? There is surely a good reason for your cat to become aggressive. Truc Mania takes a look at the issue and suggests ways to reconcile with your favorite fur ball.
Why has your cat suddenly become aggressive?
Your cat has become aggressive and you don’t know how to manage his behavior? It’s true that an angry cat is impressive and can scratch or bite you. There are several causes for your cat’s aggressiveness and we will help you to better understand it and to help it regain its serenity. Indeed, an aggressive cat is not a happy animal and it is by offering him an adapted environment that he will be able to be calmer and become cuddly.
Beware of adopting kittens that are too young
The kitten is experimenting and this sometimes involves scratching, as it has trouble channeling its energy. The cat will tell him when he’s overflowing and teach him how to behave differently with prey and with humans. This is why it is very important not to separate a kitten from its mother too early. If the learning is incomplete or imperfect, the cat may grow up with deficiencies that will prevent it from being sociable and behaving appropriately.
Human Trauma
As with poor or incomplete training, trauma can cause aggressive behavior. If your cat has been mistreated, especially if it has been beaten with the hand, it will adopt an aggressive attitude of defense, because for him the hand represents a danger.
Tiger syndrome
The tiger syndrome is confusing for the owner, because it seems to take hold of the cat suddenly. Sometimes it seems as if the cat has gone wild again, as its hunting instinct seems to have taken over. You should be concerned if your cat shows unusual aggressive tendencies. It can be dangerous to others, but also to itself.
This syndrome is usually caused by poor nutrition and lack of exercise. If the cat has not been properly trained by its mother, then the symptoms become even more severe. Fortunately, you can do something about it, including balancing her food, playing with her and respecting her need for peace and quiet.
Balance your cat’s diet
Your cat’s mood and overall well-being are directly related to the food you offer. The quality of the food is important because your cat is a carnivore, so it needs a diet rich in meat or fish. You should avoid kibbles with a lot of cereals, because they will calm his appetite for a moment, but after a few minutes he will be hungry again.
By depriving your cat of a rich food, you’ll end up with a situation where he’s hungry all the time, which will lead to severe frustration and aggressive behavior. Add to this a small dose of stress caused by the feeling of lack, and you get a rather explosive cocktail.
Take the time to play with him
Domesticated cats retain their predatory instincts and need to exercise and be in a hunting situation. If your cat doesn’t have the opportunity to catch prey, she’ll be missing something to be completely fulfilled. Cats that can go outside will have more opportunities to release their energy, but a cat can get used to living only indoors.
If you live in an apartment, there’s no need to feel guilty about it; it’s better to spend your time playing with your cat. However, this implies knowing how to stop him when he gets carried away and can no longer tell the difference between you and the toy. With practice, you’ll get your cat to understand how to behave.
Don’t punish your cat
Cats do not function at all like dogs, and it is useless to try to punish them, because they are not able to understand. Cats are far too independent to accept rewards or frustrations.
When a cat does something wrong, you need to use more clever subterfuges than just punishment. For example, you can use a repellent to prevent him from urinating in a particular area, rather than trying to make him understand with a lot of pointless scolding.
Don’t disturb him when he’s resting
As with extreme stress situations, it’s important to leave your cat alone when she’s sleeping. Disturbing your cat when he’s resting will make him cranky, and if it happens often, he’ll get angry.
If you have children, you must educate them at the same time as you do with the animal, if only to avoid incidents, such as scratches or bites. Some cats don’t mind being carried around and pampered all the time, while others, who are a bit wilder, like it, but sparingly.
Your cat decides what’s best for him.
Except for food, medical care and the possibility to go out or not, for the rest, it is not you who decides! Yes, some people even say humorously that they live with their cat. You can’t force your cat to sleep in a specific place, eat at a specific time or sleep when you think it’s time.
The best way to prevent a cat from becoming aggressive is to accommodate its personality and act accordingly. As anyone who has more than one cat knows, they are all different and require different levels of attention.
If your cat’s behavior has changed dramatically, you may want to consult a veterinarian to see if there is a purely medical problem behind this metamorphosis.
