Content
- Why is my cat aggressive?
- check your own behavior
- Divert your aggressive energy
- a calm environment
- put us in your place
- because in the end you love him
We all have our character and personality, both human and animal. However, it is one thing to have a strong character and quite another to be aggressive. This happens a lot with cats. In fact, according to some studies, aggression is the second most common feline behavior problem.
The good news is that this type of character can be improved or even eliminated, but it is a goal that requires patience and knowledge on the subject. You must first learn to calm him down, as we don't want the situation to get out of hand.
If you have a feline that responds with aggressive attitudes, continue reading this PeritoAnimal article in which we will explain the causes and giving solutions in case you have a aggressive cat.
Why is my cat aggressive?
Your cat can react aggressively for many reasons. It can even bite. Analyze your daily life and determine if you are a isolated behavior or if follow a pattern. If the situation is persistent, it is best to consult your veterinarian or a specialist in feline behavior to give you some advice that will help improve your cat's behavior in the long run.
If your cat is not usually aggressive but has reacted violently, it may be due to different causes:
- The cat is protecting its territory or itself because it feels threatened or afraid. In these cases it is important to respect your space and try to improve your trust with us with treats and kind words.
- It can happen that, after a long adventure, your cat has been harmed. Faced with an illness, it is also common for cats to become more aggressive. This is your way of expressing your pain and discomfort.
- Last but not least, boredom, lack of activity and isolation can be the causes of an aggressive and unpredictable character.
check your own behavior
Sometimes when our cat reacts with some aggressive attitude, unconsciously, we tend to move our hands too actively, pulling them apart, to avoid getting hurt. Without knowing it, we are encouraging our pet to continue this type of behavior. They may see it as a stimulus to continue within this same dynamic.
What should I do if this happens?
First of all, you should try to remain calm and spread your hands as smoothly as possible, without jolts. Then answer with a firm no, as many times as necessary until the cat makes the connection between the three behaviors: attack - separate - correct.
It can also happen that, unintentionally, we try to move more than the cat is willing to accept, we disturb the cat while it sleeps, or we try to force it in an uncomfortable situation. Remember that the cat is a living being and has its own personality and a defined language. Purring or scratching is often a simple way of asking us to leave them alone. Learning to communicate with him and, most importantly, respect him, is a good way to help calm an aggressive cat.
Divert your aggressive energy
Another technique that can work very well is not to give too much importance to the subject and deflect aggressive energy. Distracting the cat from its own aggression is sometimes a positive tool. When the cat starts any violent attitude the best will be redirect your attention to some toy that you like a lot. You can launch it and you'll see how the cat's gaze and attention will scatter a bit.
Another option is to wet your fingers and wet your cat with some water, letting it go. However, be assertive with these types of actions as we also don't want the cat to see this as a way of teasing and prompting you to attack. Most cats don't react unless they feel cornered or provoked.
Cats like sheets of paper and play with them, try sending them a sheet so that it falls on them. The cat will feel a little removed from the whole situation and at the same time see it as a game.
Use food and treats to divert your attention through the taste buds. Open a can of your favorite food, the smell will rise above your anger. Put it in a container, leave it there and walk away, give it your time and space.
a calm environment
Don't test your pet's tolerance. Give her a space where she can retreat and feel calm and relaxed whenever she feels bad or affected by something. Give him time for himself. Don't push him or look for him too much, if with your body language he's telling you that it's not the ideal time to interact.
Again, don't try to give him more affection than he wants and needs. Turn down the lights in the room (this will calm the emotions) and walk away for 15 or 20 minutes. Take the time to relax your own voice and body posture.
put us in your place
Cats are very sensitive animals and also react according to their body language and attitude. When your cat adopts an aggressive stance and finds himself agitated, don't stand in front of him and wait for something to change.
This will be threatening for your feline because it will see you as an authoritarian figure rather than a figure of justice. If you are not in an immediate danger situation, lie down on the ground or sit on a low stool and bring yourself to your level. Be small like your pet.
because in the end you love him
Patiently accept that your cat may have violent attitudes from time to time, as it will not always agree with everything (it is still an animal). What is needed is to reduce the level of aggression so as not to reach an extreme degree. never punish your cat because if you are behaving aggressively, it will only make the situation worse and increase your fear and anxiety.
Animals don't act aggressively because they do. Remember that this is your way of expressing that you feel threatened by something or someone. The best way to calm an aggressive cat will be eliminating or removing the source that leaves you in that state.
