Human-Directed Aggression in Cats

You're walking into your living room, minding your own business, when BAM! Your cat lunges from out of nowhere, all teeth and claws! She latches onto your ankle, delivers some kicks and a painful bite, and then slinks away before you even know what hit you. You are shocked, annoyed, and in pain. What causes this Jekyll and Hyde behavior in your normally lovely, adoring cat?

Human-directed aggression in house cats is an all-too-common problem. At minimum, it is upsetting and annoying when your feline crosses over to the dark side. At worst, severe injury can result.

If your cat is habitually hurting people, it's time for professional veterinary help. Painful conditions such as dental disease, arthritis, and skin problems could be causing your cat to lash out. Your vet will do a full medical and behavioral evaluation to determine the exact problem and the solution.

Two leading causes of cat aggression toward humans are play aggression and status-related aggression. Characterizing the problem and its triggers can help with damage control. The sooner you act on this issue the better because these problems can intensify with time.

Play Aggression in Cats

This is probably the most common scenario that causes cats to scratch and bite their owners. Luckily, it is usually the most amenable to treatment.

Young kittens hone their sparring skills early in life. Litter-mates play-fight and play-hunt by stalking, pouncing, kicking, and biting each other. This pantomime can be quite rough. But kittens quickly learn to keep claws sheathed and soften their bites lest they suffer retaliation from the other cats and the cessation of play. Kittens who lack this critical early socialization because they were orphaned or adopted by humans too early can grow into cats that play too roughly.

The classic play-aggressive cat will crouch, stalk, and pounce at your moving arms, hands, ankles, or toes. Some will hide—around a corner, under a bed—then ambush as you walk past. Body cues such as flattened ears, dilated pupils, and a swishing tail are signs that your cat is in play-hunt mode and about to strike. Play aggression is most common in kittens and cats below the age of 3. It may be more of a problem in single cat households and where the house is empty most of the day. All that pent-up energy needs an outlet.

The following measures may help tame your feline play-aggressor:

• Tire her out. Toys that appear to flutter, jump, or scurry like or a bird or small rodent are the best choices for your tiny tiger. Fishing pole toys with feathers and catnip-filled mice fit the bill nicely. Perches, condos and scratching posts give your feline athlete plenty to do. Schedule routine play sessions at least twice a day so your cat can leap, jump, and pounce to her heart's content.
• Prevent. Learn to anticipate the play-hunt attacks. Does your cat always bite your feet through the covers as you turn in for the night? Preempt this with a rigorous play session 30 minutes before bedtime. Does she ambush you as you step out of the shower? Keep the bathroom door closed and have a toss-toy ready to distract her when you come out. Putting a bell around her collar may warn you when she's lurking.
• Redirect. If you sense an attack is imminent, startle your cat with a loud "no" or a blast from a squirt gun. Then, be ready with a more appropriate toss-toy to send her charging in the opposite direction.
• Don't get physical. Never roughhouse with your cat or use your hands or feet in play. This will only give her the go-ahead for more unwanted attacks. Hitting your cat never helps. In fact, it aggravates matters and can lead to other behavior problems.
• Kitty time out. If your cat is simply too jazzed up, put her in another room and close the door until she's gotten her kitten-crazies out. Make sure she has food, water, toys, and a litter box in the room with her.
• Get another cat. If your home and lifestyle allow, a new feline playmate can actually help. Opt for a young adult cat who is likely to have a similar energy level.

Status-Related Aggression in Cats

Play-aggressive cats, left untreated, may be at risk for developing the next problem: status-related aggression. Like the dominant-aggressive dog, the cat with status-related aggression has a need to control people and situations. Examples include the cat that begs for attention but then swats or bites shortly into the petting session (see "Petting Induced Aggression in Cats"). Another example is the cat that lashes out when removed from a favorite sleeping spot. Or one that stakes out a doorway and swats when you walk through it.

These are cats with a confident, assertive temperament. They will pace, rub, vocalize, and demand attention one minute (e.g. when you're working on your computer or talking on the phone) and then bite and run the next. They may be pushy to some family members and deferential to others, depending on what they think they can get away with.

While these attacks may at first seem to come out of the blue, careful observation will usually reveal a pattern to the behavior as well as telltale postures that precede the strike, including:

• Flattened ears
• Twitching tail
• Direct stare
• Dilated pupils
• Tense body
• Low growl or hiss

As contrasted with play aggression, the direct stare and low growl signal that the cat means business.

Treatment of status-related aggression aims at gaining control over the cat while avoiding situations where the animal has the upper hand, er, paw. Timely treatment is important because this problem has a strong learned component. When you recoil to nurse your wounds, your cat learns that biting works.

• Prevention. The first step is to avoid, if possible, situations where your cat's pushiness is likely to come to blows. Don't pet her past her breaking point. Don't shove her off your favorite chair. Remember that cat bites and scratches can be very serious.
• Ignore. Refuse to give in to your cat's entreaties for petting or snuggles, tempting though this may be. All interactions occur on your terms, not your cat's.

• Interrupt. By contrast, if you can recognize that your cat is about to strike and startle her in a non-interactive way (such as with a sharp noise or a squirt of water), you can often effectively diffuse the situation.
• Take control. As with an aggressive dog, a pushy cat must learn that all the good things in life (such as food, attention, affection, and playtime) occur at your bidding. Cats must be quiet and calm before being petted. Many cats can be taught to obey simple commands like "sit" or "come" for a small food reward. The cat must then sit (for a food treat) before climbing in your lap. She must come for a food reward when it's time for her to vacate your work space.
• Avoid physical correction. Even a small tap on the nose can be perceived as a challenge and escalate the aggression. This is an easy way to get hurt. And rough play with your cat is a no-no.
• Seek veterinary advice. Status-related aggression can be serious and hard to treat. Your veterinarian or veterinary behaviorist can determine the exact nature of the problem and recommend treatment. Due to the sometimes refractory nature of this problem and the risks involved, drug therapy is often used alongside behavioral treatment.

With diligence and perseverance, your cat can be taught not to bite the hand that feeds her.

Sources:

You May Also Like These Articles:

Stress in Cats

Cat Aggression: Why Some Cats Fight

Territorial Aggression in Cats

Cat Aggression Overview

Play Aggression in Cats

Human-Directed Aggression in Cats

Feliway - A Useful Tool to Help Treat Stress in Cats

Why Do Cats Hiss at People?