Those who love cats always say that cats are wonderful pets. They usually praise them for being loving, caring animals who are never short of affection. Others are drawn to cats for their personality. Unfortunately, some cats can act aggressively and be less lovable in the process. If a cat has developed sudden aggressive behavior, it is vital that you nip the problem in the bud and deal with it.



There are different types of aggressive cat behavior. Pain Aggression is of immediate concern. If your cat has always been sweet and mild mannered and is now biting and scratching, you should take it to a vet right away. This aggressive cat behavior may be the only way he can tell you he is hurting.

The most common aggressive cat behaviour is Play Aggression. Normally, it is the owner who induced this behavior. Everyone loves to wrestle with their kitten. As the cat gets older it won't understand that it can hurt you or why you don't wrestle any longer. Unfortunately, this behavior can scare others and give your cat a bad reputation. Getting the claws removed only fixes a symptom, not the problem. Instead, try giving them toys and dangling objects to play with so that wrestling is not their favorite pastime. Also, a loud hand clap can stop aggression.

A threatened cat will lash out to protect itself. Likewise, over stimulating or riling up a cat will cause it to become vicious. If a cat becomes anxious or afraid, it is sure to behave badly. As a cat owner, your job is to watch your cat and learn to read his nonverbal clues. When you see that your cat is nearing his breaking point, gently remove him from the situation. Remember that cats will displace their aggression onto a nearby object - you, for instance - if they see something out the window that bothers them. Be careful for hissing or growling, for that is your signal that kitty needs a time out.

There are other types of aggressive cat behavior, such as Maternal, Dominance, and Territorial. If a cat has kittens, it may be overly protective of them, it is the owner's job to trust the maternal instincts of the cat and leave the kittens alone. Dominance aggression is more complicated and the only way to treat it is to remove attention until the cat is gentler. Territory fights need to be broken up and the cats separated to their own quiet spaces immediately. Making life boring will be the best way to get them to behave.

Punishing a cat will never correct aggressive behavior. Getting help from a cat whisperer, or "feline therapist", if you can't handle the problem yourself, would prove more effective, especially when the problem appears to be a deep-seated one. Whisperers understand feline psychology and how to relate to those naughty kitties.