How to Control Female Cat Aggression

Female cats are much more prone to aggression than their male counterparts. When a new cat is introduced into a household, the female cat will often fight with the newcomer regardless of their age, while the male may welcome and mother them. Since female cats are often naturally aggressive, it is important to take care of this behavioral problem before it overtakes her and every animal and human she comes into contact with.

Things You'll Need

  • Cat treats
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Instructions

    • 1

      Begin working with your female cat as soon as you notice signs of aggression. When you catch the behavior problem early, you have an easier time of removing it. The longer you wait, the harder it will be for the cat to change her behavior.

    • 2

      Avoid any physical punishment when your cat is behaving badly. Unlike other animals, cats do not respond well to negative stimulation. Your cat may even act worse than before if smacked with a newspaper.

    • 3

      Startle your cat right as she starts to show aggression. If you see her about to swipe at another cat, stomp down on the floor once with your foot. Do this at a safe distance so the aggressive cat doesn't take this as an attack. The sudden noise will distract the cat and will make her think twice about the attack she was planning.

    • 4

      Give your cat a treat when she's being good. She should be rewarded when she acts nicely to other cats or humans she usually acts aggressively toward. This positive reinforcement will reduce the amount of aggression she displays in the future.

    • 5

      Separate any cats that have been fighting. Keep one cat in a different room than the other and introduce them to each other slowly over the course of a week. If they begin to fight during one of these meetings, put them back in their separate rooms immediately. Soon they'll realize that they need to be nice to each other if they want to spend time together.

    • 6

      Avoid stressful situations that raise your cat's aggression. If she has a hard time being around dogs, either close her off in a bedroom when a dog visits or ban dogs from the house completely. Give her space when she doesn't feel like being petted and let her roam the house on her own in order to prevent aggression.