Cat Aggression

~ What is it? ~

Aggression is the second most common feline behaviour problem seen by animal behaviourists. This is where threatening or harmful behaviour is either directed towards a person, another cat or other animals. Aggression refers to a wide variety of complex behaviours that occur for different reasons under various circumstances. In pet cats, aggressive behaviour can range from cats who hiss and avoid the target of their aggression, to cats who attack.

~ Understanding Cat Body Language ~

Understanding what cats are communicating through their body language is essential for cat parents. It enables them to more accurately “read” their cats and understand their feelings and motivations for doing what they do. It also helps them respond more effectively to behavior issues like aggression.

Body language is made up of body postures, facial expressions, and the position and carriage of certain body parts, like ears, tail and even whiskers. Cat body language is more subtle than dog body language and can be harder for people to interpret.

Knowing the basic postures and what they mean can help cat parents deal with problems more effectively and enjoy their cat’s company fully, as they can understand a common language.
Threats and aggression can be either offensive or defensive. An offensively aggressive cat tries to make himself look bigger and more intimidating, whereas a defensively aggressive cat adopts a self-protective posture and tries to make himself look smaller. The following are typical postures seen in feline aggression. A rule of thumb is to not touch, attempt to reassure, or punish cats showing these postures!

~ Signs of Aggression ~

Offensive Postures Include:

A stiff, straight-legged upright stance
Tail is stiff and lowered
Direct stare
Upright ears, with the backs rotated slightly forward
Hackles up, including fur on the tail
Constricted pupils
Growling

Defensive Postures Include:

Crouching
Head tucked in
Tail curved around the body and tucked in
Eyes wide open with pupils partially or fully dilated
Ears flattened sideways or backward on the head
Hackles up
Open-mouthed hissing or spitting

Obvious Aggression, whether defensive or offensive, includes:

Swatting/ striking with paws
Biting
Fighting
Growling/screaming
Rolling onto their side or back to expose their weapons: teeth and claws

~ How can we help solve this? ~

Natural therapies

Tranquil Formula (slow release), Tranquil Treats (fast acting), Feliway including diffusers and sprays and Zylkene are all natural therapies that may help with aggression. However, it is not always certain that these will solve the issue.

Vet Therapies

If the issue is major and no natural therapies are helping, it is best to consult the veterinarian to ensure there are no underlying health issues. Diet can also be put under this category as Hills Prescription Diet c/d MultiCare Stress food can be fed as a further alternative and can be used in conjunction with prescribed medications and natural therapies.