How to Calm Down an Angry Male Cat

An angry male cat can inflict damage to both you and any animals in your home if not kept calm. An aggressive cat will have dilated pupils, make himself appear larger by puffing out his fur, place his ears back, growl and hiss at you, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Avoid direct eye contact with the cat so you do not encourage an aggressive challenge. If the cat tries to bite or scratch you while pet him, stop touching him and slowly back away from him before taking measures to calm him down.

Things You'll Need

  • Cat pheromone spray
  • Cat pheromone diffuser
  • Calming flower essence
  • Homeopathic calming cat treats
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Instructions

    • 1

      Ignore the cat's aggressive behavior and close the door to the room that he is in, giving him time to calm down alone. Give the cat a "time out" for an hour or two before approaching him again.

    • 2

      Cover the windows your cat can get to by closing the draperies or blinds. Some male cats may suffer from redirected aggression, caused by exposure to outside stimuli such as birds or other cats. When the cat sees the outside animal, he can redirect his aggression to you or other animals in your home.

    • 3

      Spray a calming pheromone spray on your cat's favorite places to sleep such as his bed, couches or other spaces. These sprays mimic the natural facial pheromones of cats that put the cat at ease. You can also plug in a pheromone diffuser to your cat's favorite room.

    • 4

      Rub a few drops of a calming flower essence on your cat's feet so it will lick it off or put it into the cat's water. These essences contain chemicals that naturally put the cat into a calm mood, especially before a trip in a cat carrier. You can also purchase homeopathic calming cat treats at a pet specialty store to feed to it which contain calming chemicals.

    • 5

      Bring the cat to a veterinarian for a check up. Some conditions such as arthritis, dental disease or a physical injury cause the cat pain which leads to anger and aggression, especially when touched. If the cat is not neutered, have the doctor perform this procedure to decrease his aggression level due to the instinct to mate and protect territory.

    • 6

      Reward the cat with a treat if he displays calm behavior to keep him in a nonaggressive state and positively reinforce this behavior.