Aggressive Cat Behavior: Cats Behaving Badly
In order to minimize or curtail aggressive cat behavior, you need to have an excellent understanding of your cat. Your pet is more than likely a happy and sociable cat. Although this may seem perfect, more than likely there will be times when your cat does not behave in its usual manner.
If you want to change your cat's behavior then you need to bear few things in mind. The first and foremost is how you perceive your cat's behavior. Your cat might be behaving naturally but you find it annoying. Second thing is that you cannot correct her behavior by using any physical means.
Problems with aggressive cat behavior may involve destroying furniture, using the bathroom out of the litter box, fighting, and even attacking the owner. When making a solution to these problems it is vital to change the behavior of the cat with non-aggressive means, so the wrongdoing is associated to the act instead of you.
There he goes again scratching your living room couch, take heart he isn't doing to make you mad or to demolish it. Scratching is a natural habit for him. Instead offer him a scratching post to curb that instinct. Praise him when he uses it and if he slips up and starts attacking the leg of your couch again place him near his post. He will get the idea in time.
One particularly frustrating aggressive cat behavior is fighting with another cat. Cats are frequently territorial when more than one cat is living in the same house. They also are born with an instinct to hunt and stalk. Another cat in the home or your shoestrings creates a good source for prey. The best solution for this problem is to make sure the cats each have their own litter box and food bowl.
Aggressive cats sometimes are ill. This aggressive behavior is a way that a cat will guard himself when he is feeling exposed and vulnerable. Remember to give him the space he requires, cats tend to want to stay by themselves when they are ill. Keeping a close watch on your cat will help you to learn his mood swings, temperament and any temporary cat problems that may arise.
In order to curb or avoid aggressive cat behavior, you must have a firm understanding of your feline friend. Your cat will act as it feels natural to do so. Also, physically disciplining a cat due to problem behavior will never help in the long run. It is necessary to change the cat's behavior by using non-aggressive methods. Remonstration must be associated with the cat, not you. Purchase a scratching post and praise the cat whenever it uses it. Changes in mood can cause docile cats to become aggressive cats. Illness can also cause temporary cat problems that manifest as aggression.
Published December 9th, 2007
Filed in Family
