Aggressive Cats - What Can You Do?
Cats have been domesticated for quite some time now. However, they still possess a few wild traits. As cat owners we see our cats personality, and see that their thought process is almost human like, but no matter how much we think are cats are human like, they are not humans. Their reasons for doing things is not our reasons for doing them.
One of the biggest problems a cat owner has is when their feline friends think their toes are toys. Well, first you must know that pouncing is a natural instinct, so stopping the action is out of the question. What you can do is redirect this predatorial instinct to something other than your toes. You must know first yelping in a high pitched voice is kinda like a really fun squeeky toy. So instead sternly yell, “OUCH!” Then give them a toy to pounce. Sooner or later your cat will get the message. Just be patient.
Cats need to be socialized. We’ve all heard of feral cats and how completely undomesticated they are, and if you don’t take measures to properly show your cat the ropes, they can end up in a similar, if less severe, predicament. Your cat needs to be used to being around and being handled by people other than you. If you don’t do this, you shouldn’t be surprised when they react negatively to this new stimulus. Your cat must also know the rules of play. If they bite you, stop playing with them and walk away. In time, your cat will come to understand your limitations and what they need to do to get the playtime they want.
Some cats simply don’t like to be handled for long stretches of time, maybe as an extension of their independent streak. If your cat will only tolerate three to five minutes of petting at a time, let them go. No matter what you do, every cat (and every other animal for that matter) has its limits and they’ll come back to you when they feel like it.
At times, your cat may not be feeling well, and since they don’t know how to express what they need in words, they will bite or scratch when in pain. If your cat is reacting aggressively to normal petting there may be something wrong. Take them to a vet immediately to rule out any health concerns.
All you need to do as a cat owner is see things from their point of view every once in a while. Don’t apply human emotions and motives to your cat; they have a different way of reacting to things than we do. In order to control your cat’s aggression, all you need to do is have a pretty good grasp of animal behavior and actively on making your cat the best pet they can be.
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- Kathrynn Kelley
