| Cat
Aggression : Fear |
| Fear aggression may be
a result of punishment by people, or may be associated with other types
of fear. Although
many cats may retreat when fearful, those that are on their
own territory or are prevented from retreating because they are
cornered, are more likely to fight. |
| Cat
Aggression :
Play |
| Play aggression is commonly shown by young cats
toward people or other
pets in the family. Overly rambunctious play along with grabbing,
stalking, pouncing, nipping or biting of people or their clothing are
common signs of play aggression. Although it is a normal behavior it
can lead to injuries. If handled incorrectly it could lead to more
serious forms of aggression as your cat matures. |
| Cat
Aggression : Territory |
| Territorial aggression can be exhibited toward
people or other animals
(usually other cats) that approach or reside on the pet’s
property.
Territorial aggression can occur towards cats outside of the home, but
also towards cats that live in the household. This may be with the
addition of another cat, or when resident cats reach social maturity at
1-2 years of age. |
| Cat
Aggression : Predatory
|
| Predation is the instinctive desire to chase and
hunt prey. Predatory
behaviors include stalking, chasing, attacking, and ingestion of prey
animals, but may occasionally be directed at people or other pets.
Although the desire to chase can be reduced by using desensitizing and
counter-conditioning in the presence of the stimuli, this is a very
dangerous form of aggression, which must be prevented. |
| Cat
Aggression :
Pain-induced
|
| Pain-induced aggression is
usually elicited by handling or contact that
elicits pain or discomfort. However, even if your cat is not exhibiting
pain, certain medical conditions (endocrine imbalances, organ disease,
etc.) may make the pet more irritable and prone to aggression. Fear and
anxiety further compound many of these cases. |
| Cat
Aggression : Maternal |
| Maternal aggression is directed toward people or
other animals that
approach the queen with her kittens. With desensitization,
counterconditioning, good control and highly motivating rewards, it may
be possible to train your cat to accept handling of the kittens. |
| Cat
Aggression : Non-Recognition |
| This explosive type of
aggression occurs between feline housemates that
have previously had a reasonable relationship. It probably occurs
through “failure of recognition.” Non-recognition
is most often
triggered when one cat in the family is brought back from the
veterinarian's office, or the groomer, and smells and behaves
differently. If a fight ensues, it can damage irreparably the
relationship between the cats and lead to the development of
territorial aggression. It is best avoided by separating indoor cats
after outside excursions until it can be established that they are
friendly toward each other. |
| Cat
Aggression : Social
Status |
| Information on the social structure and
relationship between cats is
continually being updated with new research. Cats do maintain social
relationships when living in groups leading to the speculation that
some form of social structure also exists. Social structures are often
maintained with aggressive displays and actions. Some cats may display
aggression toward their owners or other cats when displaying
assertiveness. This type of aggression is infrequently described in the
veterinary literature but is a consideration in those cats that bite or
attack their owners or other cats in order to control a situation. |
|
|
Domestic
Cat
