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Why Does My Cat Hiss, Scratch, and Bite?
There are several effective strategies to decrease aggression in cats. Approaches will vary depending on the cause of the behavior.
Batting at things or tackling moving objects is normal behavior in cats. If your cat pounces on you or other household members, she may be bored and require more interactive playtime. However, unprovoked hissing, growling, scratching, and biting can indicate a problem.
Causes of Aggression
Cats may be aggressive because they were not properly socialized as kittens or because they have been mistreated. Some cats are aggressive because they have inherited the tendency from a parent, and sometimes people train their cats to be assertive without realizing it. Encouraging a kitten to pounce on your feet, bite your toes, or tackle your wiggling hands may be cute, but when an adult cat does this, someone might end up in hospital with an infected bite wound. Cats may also become aggressive as a result of pain or anxiety. It is crucial to bring your cat in for a veterinary check-up to rule out any medical problems before attempting other treatments for aggression.
Aggression Toward Smaller Animals
Aggression toward smaller animals is a natural hunting behavior, and it is unreasonable to expect cats to curtail these tendencies. If you don’t want your cat to catch birds and mice, a noisy bell on her collar will ensure that she rarely has a successful hunt.
Aggression Toward Cats and Dogs
Cats are highly territorial, both toward their species and animals of other species. Also, dogs are natural predators of cats in the wild, and many cats retain the instinct to defend themselves aggressively. This defense instinct may also be applied to people. If you have a cat attacking other pets or people in your home, there are treatment options available.
Desensitization
Some strategies can help new pets grow comfortable with resident pets and vice versa. These include desensitization, which means allowing the two animals to gradually become accustomed first to one another’s scent and then to the sight of one another. For example, this can be done by feeding two cats on either side of a closed door or confining a dog with a baby gate to one portion of the house until the two animals are comfortable in each other’s presence.
Conditioning
Conditioning involves associating one thing with another. For example, provide her favorite food whenever her aggressive cat is in the same room as the animal or person to whom she is showing aggression. She may come to associate the presence of that individual with the positive experience of good food. When using this strategy, it is essential to ensure that other people and animals keep a respectful distance and don’t bother the cat while she is eating.
Reinforcement
Reinforcement involves providing rewards, which can be anything from verbal praise to pats to treats when the cat curbs her aggressive response. For example, when the cat is in the room with the person or animal that provokes her hostility, you can first calm her down by patting her and speaking in a soothing voice and then offering the reward when she behaves calmly.
Punishment
Punishment, which can be physical or verbal, increases fear and aggression in cats and should be avoided. A cat punished in the presence of the animal or person to whom she shows charge will associate that individual with a negative experience, and the hostility will be exacerbated. For example, if your cat is scratching or biting, you can grab her gently by the scruff of the neck to pull her away and say “no,” but anything more forceful, such as hitting or shouting, will likely increase her aggression than diminish it.
Medication
Many medications are used to treat anxiety and aggression in cats, including tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and benzodiazepines. These medications can also treat other anxiety-induced behaviors, such as pulling out fur. But only as a last resort, as they can have side effects, and cats may become addicted to benzodiazepines. Medication is usually only used for a few months, though it is required for more than a year in some cases.
Consult a Veterinarian
Before implementing treatment for aggression, consult a veterinarian. Specific medical issues may be contributing to your cat’s aggression, so it is essential to speak to a professional to develop the most effective treatment strategy.
