Instructions
Teach your cat to play without getting too rough. A Cat Health Guide article titled "Cat Behavior Explained" states, "When the play gets too rough and kitty uses her claws or bites, say 'ouch!' very loud to startle your cat and then withdraw briefly." The combination of withdrawing attention and the loud noise sends a clear message to the cat to adjust behavior.
Provide toys for cats to bite and chase, which can reduce aggressive behavior toward people. Dr. Karen Overall, who holds an MA, a VMD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and a Ph.D. in Zoology, advises, "Never offer human body parts to cats as part of play." Instead, redirect your cat to a scratching post, small stuffed mouse or other appropriate cat toy.
Observe your cat's body language for signs that an aggressive act is imminent. Knowing that a cat will whip its tail, flatten its ears or tense its body seconds before pouncing and biting can help owners know when to back off; this will eliminate stimulation and give a cat space while allowing it to calm down, which is often all that is needed to prevent an attack.
Introduce changes to a cat's environment gradually. Anticipate that your cat may need time to adjust to the idea of a new animal, children, a house full of guests or a move. Put the cat in another room and keep it separate from possible stressors. Introducing the cat gradually to new experiences and people helps the cat gain a sense of control of its environment, an essential element to preventing attacks.
Take the cat to a veterinarian for a check up when all attempts to minimize aggressive behavior fail. For example, if a cat snaps when it is pet, it may have a health problem, such as severe flea allergies. Or if the cat fails to use the litter box properly, a visit to the vet may reveal a painful, undiagnosed urinary tract infection or a behavioral problem, such as anxiety. Both conditions can be treated with prescription medication to resolve hostile behavior.
How Can I Get My Cat to Stop Attacking?
Because of cats' penchants for napping and their small size, few people consider them a serious threat. Although largely domesticated, cats are animals, after all, and will rely on instinctive behaviors, including scratching and biting, when perceiving threats to themselves and their environments. Knowing how to identify basic signs and causes of cat aggression can help owners minimize and eliminate potentially dangerous attacking behavior in their cats.