Aggression is a significant concern for cat owners, being the second most common behavioral issue encountered by feline behaviorists. While often underestimated due to cats’ smaller size compared to dogs, aggressive cats possess formidable capabilities with their teeth and claws, capable of inflicting painful lacerations and potentially spreading infections like cat scratch fever. Fights between cats, though rarely fatal, can lead to costly veterinary care and pose a risk to household members and visitors.
Understanding feline aggression requires recognizing their subtle body language. This communication is crucial for owners to interpret their cat’s feelings and motivations, helping them address behavioral problems more effectively. Cat body language encompasses postures, facial expressions, and the position of ears, tail, and whiskers. Unlike the more overt signals of dogs, feline body language can be harder to decipher, but knowing the basics significantly enhances an owner’s ability to manage their cat’s behavior and deepen their bond.
Aggressive behaviors can be offensive, where the cat attempts to appear larger and more intimidating, or defensive, where the cat adopts a submissive, self-protective posture to seem smaller. It is vital to avoid touching, reassuring, or punishing cats displaying these aggressive postures.
Offensive Aggression Postures Include:
- A stiff, upright stance with straight legs.
- Stiffened hind legs, with the rear elevated and the back sloping downward towards the head.
- A stiff tail, either lowered or held straight to the ground.
- Direct eye contact.
- Ears held upright, possibly rotated slightly forward.
- Piloerection (raised fur), including on the tail.
- Constricted pupils.
- Facing the opponent directly, with potential forward movement.
- Vocalizations such as growling, howling, or yowling.
Defensive Aggression Postures Include:
- Crouching.
- Head tucked in.
- Tail curled around the body and tucked in.
- Wide eyes with partially or fully dilated pupils.
- Ears flattened sideways or backward against the head.
- Piloerection (raised fur).
- Whiskers may be retracted (anxious) or fanned forward (fearful, assessing distance).
- Presenting a sideways profile to the opponent, not direct.
- Open-mouthed hissing or spitting.
- Quick strikes with front paws, claws extended.
Overt aggression, whether offensive or defensive, involves swatting, biting, fighting, growling, shrieking, scratching, or preparing for an attack by rolling onto the side or back to expose all weapons.
Classifying Aggressive Behavior in Cats
To address aggression effectively, it’s crucial to understand its triggers and motivations. This involves evaluating the circumstances surrounding an aggressive incident: who was involved, when and where it occurred, and what led up to it.
A veterinary examination is paramount, as numerous medical conditions can contribute to or cause aggression. These include hyperthyroidism, epilepsy, abscesses, arthritis, dental disease, rabies, trauma, and cognitive dysfunction in older cats. Ruling out underlying medical issues is the first step in resolving aggression.
Aggression in cats can be classified based on its function or purpose. Understanding these classifications helps identify the cat’s motivation and potential gains from the behavior.
Inter-Cat Aggression
Aggression between unneutered males is common, driven by competition for mates and territory. These conflicts often involve intense stand-offs, growling, hissing, and howling, potentially leading to fights.
Aggression within a household can be more subtle. It can occur between males and females, or between females. Factors contributing to this include physical size differences, lack of positive social experiences with other cats, learned negative associations with another cat (e.g., loud noises), or simply personality clashes. For more detailed information on this issue, please refer to our article, Aggression Between Cats in Your Household.
Fearful or Defensive Aggression
This type of aggression arises when a cat perceives a threat and cannot escape. The body language is a mix of defensive signals (crouching, flattened ears, dilated pupils) and aggressive signals (hissing, spitting, piloerection). The best approach for a defensively aggressive cat is often to give it space until it calms down.
Territorial Aggression
Cats are territorial and will defend their space against perceived intruders, including other cats, dogs, and even people. Territorial aggression can be directed at specific individuals. Cats mark their territory through scent marking (chin rubbing, urine spraying) and may stalk, chase, or ambush intruders, displaying offensive postures. Triggers include reaching sexual maturity, introduction of new cats, significant household changes, or stray cats entering their territory.
Play Aggression
Common in younger cats, play aggression can become problematic when directed at humans or becomes overly vigorous. It involves natural predatory and play behaviors like stalking, pouncing, and biting. Kittens learn to inhibit their play-fighting through social interaction. Factors like early weaning or long periods of solitude can contribute to play aggression. Encouraging cats to chase hands and feet can also exacerbate this issue.
Redirected Aggression
This is considered one of the most dangerous forms of feline aggression due to uninhibited bites and frightening attacks. It occurs when a cat is agitated by something it cannot reach (e.g., another cat outside a window) and redirects its aggression onto a nearby person, dog, or cat. There can be a significant delay between the initial arousal and the redirected attack, making it seem unprovoked. It is crucial not to intervene in a cat fight or approach an agitated cat. Common triggers include observing other animals, strong scents of other cats, or loud noises.
Petting-Induced Aggression
Some cats become irritated by prolonged petting. This aggression typically involves a nip or light bite followed by the cat running away. It’s thought that repetitive physical contact can become unpleasant, leading to arousal, excitement, or even discomfort from static electricity. When a cat signals it wants petting to stop (e.g., tail twitching, flattened ears), the owner should immediately comply.
Pain-Induced and Irritable Aggression
Triggered by pain, frustration, or deprivation, this aggression can be directed at anyone or anything. Even normally docile cats may lash out when in pain or anticipating handling of a painful area. Medical conditions such as arthritis, dental disease, or abscesses are common causes. Punishing a cat for pain-induced aggression can worsen the issue.
Maternal Aggression
Mother cats (queens) instinctively protect their kittens. Maternal aggression can be directed at perceived threats, including people and other animals, especially in the days following birth. It is advisable to avoid handling newborn kittens during this sensitive period.
Idiopathic Aggression
This classification applies when the cause of aggression cannot be determined through behavior history or medical examination. Cats exhibiting idiopathic aggression can be dangerously violent. Redirected aggression must be ruled out before this diagnosis is made. Owners of such cats must carefully consider the cat’s quality of life and the safety of those around them.
Predatory Aggression
Predatory behavior is natural and highly motivated for cats, serving to obtain food. It involves a sequence of stalking, chasing, and a killing bite to sever the spinal cord. While not typically classified as aggression, it is a powerful instinct. Owners might observe this when cats intently watch prey through windows, exhibiting tail twitches and chattering sounds.
Seeking Professional Help
A comprehensive veterinary workup is essential for all aggressive cats to identify any underlying medical conditions. Various health issues, medications, and even diet can influence a cat’s mood and susceptibility to aggression. Close collaboration with a veterinarian is crucial for effective treatment.
Aggression is a complex and potentially dangerous behavior problem that requires professional intervention. Misapplication of behavior modification techniques can be detrimental. A qualified professional, such as a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB, ACAAB) or a board-certified veterinary behaviorist (Dip ACVB), can provide a tailored treatment plan, offer guidance, and help assess the cat’s quality of life and the risks involved. Resources for finding such professionals are available through organizations like the ASPCA.
