When Cats Are Aggressive
by Virginia Sutherland

Cats are usually considered relatively calm and peaceful animals. Many assume that a cat will be loving and docile, playful and independent, in other words, acting like a cat, if they are just given good food, clean water and a safe place to rest.

Not all cats are wired this way.  Individual cats have varying personalities, just like people do.  While one cat might be cuddly and laid back, another cat might be so high strung that the owners miss out on sleep at night because the cat is constantly bouncing off the walls.  As long as the personality quirks of each cat are acceptable to the owners, there isn't a problem about differing personalities among cats.

The one personality trait that most cat owners aren't willing to deal with, however, is aggressive tendencies within cats.  Dogs can sometimes get away with aggressive personalities because some owners actually want a dog that is mean and able to scare people away.  Cats, on the other hand, are generally brought into a home in order to protect the family.  For this reason, aggressiveness is not really a trait that most cat owners look for.

Cats that are aggressive can cause quite a bit if damage. While they are small and can't inflict the type of bite a large dog can, their speed and agility can cause damage very quickly.

While there may be some cats that are aggressive by nature, most aggression is man made. Cats who have been abused or tormented have only one way to defend themselves and that is to be aggressive. Another common reason is if the cat has pain. Painful teeth with deep cavities is very common with cats. A cat with excruciating pain in her mouth will act aggressively if someone comes near her face.

What should you do if your cat is aggressive? First, get some books about cat behavior. Learn to see the signs if kitty is getting agitated. Cats will give off signs that will give you time to back off. Feliway is a product used to calm anxious cats and to lower aggression. Also be gentle and demonstrate tenderness towards your cat so she learns to trust you, and include some quality playing time to increase your bond.

It may be that your cat is just aggressive by nature, or is acting aggressive due to a dog in the house, or young children. while aggression is most often due to fear, it can not always be trained away. If your cat is a risk for young children or babies, it may be best for all involved to find your cat a home with no children.