A vet will need a good amount of info about your cat to distinguish this form of aggression from dominance aggression between cats, redirected aggression by a highly aroused cat that can not reach its preferred target, and intolerance of petting (some of the other common types
of aggression in cats).
A Comparative Study on the Chemotherapeutic Control
of Aggression in the Cat.
Not exact matches
The researchers point out that the popularity
of TNR
in the U.S. has been
in part due to a goal
of maximizing feral
cats» quality
of life (e.g. extended life span, vaccinations, assessment for infectious disease) and reducing undesirable behaviors such as
aggression and vocalization while still eliminating colonies over time.
It could also be a redirected
aggression where the original object
of the
aggression (such as a feral
cat hanging out
in the backyard) is not reachable, so the feline goes for the next nearest object, whether that object is another
cat, a pet, or a human family member to vent.
It might also be an act
of passive
aggression in hopes
of avoiding a fight with the dominant
cat.
If your
cat is biting you or bunny kicking you to the point
of drawing blood when you are
in the act
of playing with them, this is play
aggression.
Some
cats need to be the alpha
cat in the home to feel
in control, or they may have some degree
of fear
aggression and instead choose to attack other animals
in the home before they themselves can be attacked.
Fear
aggression can take a while to overcome, but it can be eliminated if you can determine the source
of the fear and remove it, while making your
cat feel that they are safe and secure and
in control
of their environment.
One clue that redirected
aggression may be the culprit is that
cats that previously got along well for long periods seem to suddenly be experiencing a burst
of aggression and
in - fighting.
The types
of aggression listed above are the most common types
of aggression, but they are not the only kinds
of aggression we can see
in cats.
32 hours
of continuing education including: The hyperthyroid
cat with renal failure, feline hepatic lipidosis prevention and treatment, Atkins diet for dogs and
cats, cancer and non-steroidal drugs, ear flushing and medical treatment
of otitis externa, dealing with the allergic dog, urinary obstruction and incontinence, managing the neonate,
aggression in cats, and canine atopic dermatitis.
Chasing the
cat, house training, leash
aggression, resource guarding toys from the children, fighting with the other dog
in the family and separation anxiety are all examples
of behaviors that are difficult to fix
in a board - and - train environment.
It's amazing to think that someday behavioral problems such as fear -
aggression in dogs or inappropriate urination
in cats could be treated by the administration a certain type
of bacteria rather than a drug such as Prozac.
We understand that familiar people may occasionally be able to handle some
of these
cats in their usual environment, but when cornered
in a cage after a car ride
in the presence
of barking dogs and unfamiliar
cats and humans, they become very frightened and often display intense fear
aggression.
In some cases, the
cats have lived under one roof with an ongoing degree
of tension that has now turned to outright hostility and
aggression.
Contact your veterinarian if your
cat has had a change
in behavior
of has started displaying
aggression.
The sight
of an unfamiliar
cat in the yard is a common cause
of behavior problems (such as elimination outside
of the litter box or redirected
aggression).
Chewing behavior
in cats can be due to boredom, teething
in kittens, playing,
aggression, a nutritional deficiency, having been weaned too young or simply because they like the texture or taste
of the item.
You may also see this type
of aggression show up
in older
cats who develop arthritis and it becomes very painful when not handled gently enough.
Unfixed male
cats are more prone to
aggression than other
cats, and it only takes one intact male to affect the behavior
of all the other
cats in your house.
The most common causes
of redirected
aggression in cats are other animals.
An Associate Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, Ms. Williams specializes
in dog,
cat, and other types
of pets with behavior problems like
aggression, separation and other anxiety issues, and housetraining.
Covers a wide range
of solutions to behavior problems
in cats and dogs, such as: digging — licking — door dashing — trash tipping — jumping — housebreaking — litter box issues —
aggression — fearfulness — etc..
All
in all a healthy
cat is a happy
cat, felines that suffer from puking episodes and other symptoms related to food intolerance might display signs
of aggression or periodic timidness.
Levine, E. et al., Intercat
aggression in households following the introduction
of a new
cat.
Random
aggression In some cases,
cats become aggressive for no discernible reason, lashing out as you walk by or attacking seemingly out
of nowhere.
In addition to immediately separating fractious
cats from each other, remove them from the source
of the
aggression.
Hyperthyroid
cats are rarely presented to the veterinarian for behavioral signs, Perhaps because
aggression is primarily wen when the
cat is restrained, we as a profession are more likely to experience this aspect
of the disease than the
cats» owners, Treating the underlying thyroid problem generally resolves the behavioral problems however, and because onset is often insidious, it is only after the endocrine imbalance has been addressed that the owners appreciate the deterioration
in their animal's behavior.
Calming products For any type
of aggression, City Kitties recommends trying feline pheromone plug -
ins and collars to calm your
cat.
One study found that with the introduction
of gabapentin, the affected
cat displayed a decrease
in pain - associated behaviors including
aggression, avoiding human interaction, and loss
of appetite.
Less obvious signs
of pain include changes
in sleep patterns, hiding, behavioral issues and
aggression, an overall decrease
in appetite, and an objection to being brushed or stroked.11 The signs
cats may display when they are experiencing pain are widely varied and vague and, even when present, do not provide much information as to the source or cause
of the pain.
Urine marking and some types
of aggression are more pronounced
in un-neutered
cats as well.
It includes autoimmune diseases
of the thyroid, joints, blood, eyes, skin, kidney, liver, bowel and central nervous system; anaphylactic shock;
aggression; seizures; epilepsy; and fibrosarcomas at injection sites, especially
in cats.
We strongly recommend this vaccine for all
cats, not just outdoor, indoor / outdoor, those
cats who live
in a house with an indoor / outdoor
cat and those
cats with a history
of aggression towards other
cats or humans.
Speaking
of hogging the bed, allowing your pets to sleep
in your bed can create or intensify dominance and
aggression issues
in both dogs and
cats.
Stress causes a range
of unusual behaviors
in cats that include
aggression and other territorial behaviors.
* Changes
in appetite — eating less or more * Loss or gain
of weight * Excessive vocalizing * Changes
in litter box usage — going outside
of the box * Box sitting — a
cat sitting
in their litter box * Excessive grooming * Restlessness * Noticeable health issues * Excessive salivation or panting * Frequent vomiting * Destructive behaviors — such as scratching the carpet or furniture *
Aggression * Trembling * Lethargy * Depression
However, the fact is that any animal, including
cats and other types
of animals kept as pets, is capable
of aggression under the «right» circumstances and
in response to the «right» provocation.
Spaying and neutering can also reduce the likelihood
of unwanted behaviors such as
cats spraying to mark a territory and
aggression in cats and dogs.
Also, a
cat who is playing is not hostile and its ears will be
in the calm, forward position, instead
of set back (which indicates fear or
aggression.)
The Connection Between Fear and
Aggression A 2008 study in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association looked at cat a
Aggression A 2008 study
in the Journal
of the American Veterinary Medical Association looked at
cat aggressionaggression.
A
cat with a behavior problem such as
aggression can be a source
of strife and even heartbreak
in your family, with the
cat the eventual loser.
Hunting, pouncing, and body postures
of play
aggression are the types
of behaviors displayed by
cats when
in search
of prey.
Creating fear
in cats is the last thing you want to do, as
in extreme cases it can cause
aggression and urinating outside
of the litter box.
Changes
in the way your
cat eats and drinks, activity levels, social interaction or the development
of aggression or hiding away could all be signs something is amiss.
Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea (dogs /
cats on high doses) Excessive thirst, decrease
in appetite Damage to joint cartilage
in dogs < 8 months =»»
of =»» > Urine crystals
in dehydrated pets May worsen existing obsessive behaviors Rare incidences
of dizziness, seizures, depression, lethargy and nervousness Rare incidences
in cats of vocalizing,
aggression and dilated pupils If you notice anything unusual, contact your veterinarian Can this drug be given with other drugs?
Published
in The Journal
of Feline Medicine and Surgery, the study found that «food puzzles» can help indoor
cats take advantage
of their instincts to fight the issues associated with captivity, from obesity and diabetes to
aggression.
The outcome
of those 15 animals are as follows: 9 animals were humanely euthanized (2 dogs due to
aggression issues that could not be safely managed, and 7
cats due to terminal illnesses) and 6 animals died
in our care (3 were newborn puppies that passed away shortly after birth, 2 were dogs that died off - site during surgery or
in a foster home, and 1 was a kitten that passed away en route to the vet due to severe illness).
They also didn't report whether age correlated with behavior problems, but I wonder if
aggression toward humans is more prevalent
in younger
cats and kittens, with more
of a playful / predatory bent, than the more fearful, defensive types
of aggression problems seen
in some
cats.
Sixty - one percent
of owners reported at least one undesirable behavior, with many
cats displaying
aggression toward people (36 %), closely followed by urination outside the litterbox (24 %) and
aggression between
cats in the home (21 %).