What Causes Aggressive Cat Behavior?

Typically, cats are docile animals, but they can express aggression through scratching and biting. If your cat is acting aggressively toward you, the members of your family or other animals in the household, treat the problem promptly. If a cat is acting aggressively, there is a reason for it. Examine your cat's circumstances, and think about why it is acting this way. Once you identify the cause of the aggression, you can work toward curing it.

  1. Playfulness

    • Kittens and young cats are prone to play aggression, where they bite and scratch in play with litter mates and their mother. While this behavior continues to be common among cats, they only need to bite and scratch certain things; such as their toys. If your cat tries to play fight with you, do not play with it. Instead, hiss to startle it and, if it persists, walk away and ignore your cat for a few minutes.

    Fear

    • If your cat is startled by something new or encounters a stressful situation, its aggression is due to fear. For example, if a cat knows when it is going to the veterinarian, it may react with biting and scratching to being placed in the carrier. Cats may also respond to people or other animals in this fashion. Identify what the cat is afraid of, and work toward trying to desensitize the cat through exposure.

    Territoriality

    • Cats are territorial animals. They are most comfortable when securely aware of everything within their territory. If you add someone new to the home -- a new baby, a new roommate or a new animal -- the cat feels as if its territory is being invaded. The aggressive behavior is meant to drive the intruder away. A slow and steady acclimatization process may be necessary to solve this problem.

    Medical Issues

    • If your cat starts behaving aggressively for no perceptible reason, especially if the change takes place over a matter of days, take your cat to the veterinarian. Sudden changes in behavior in a cat may indicate a medical problem that needs to be resolved. Other signs that your cat may have a medical problem include reclusive behavior and an intolerance to being touched.