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A variety of different types of feline aggression exist:
1) play aggression,
2) petting aggression,
3) fear and anxiety aggression,
4) redirected aggression,
5) aggression associated with lack of inhibition (often a result of premature weaning),
6) pain-associated aggression, and, less commonly,
7) territorial aggression and predatory aggression.
Play Aggression
Play aggression is a common type of feline aggression, and tends to be seen most in young, energetic cats, and then diminishes with age and maturation. Kittens and young cats practice their predatory skills through uninhibited play behavior, stalking and attacking their targets which are often siblings, mother cats, small bugs, and occasionally even inanimate objects. This is a normal behavior in cats and is an integral part of kittens' learning processes, but presents a problem if directed at non-furry targets such as humans. It becomes increasingly problematic if it is not discouraged and continues as cats grow older and stronger.
PREVENTION & CORRECTION
Fortunately, play aggression is relatively easy to correct, and several simple steps may be taken to prevent and/or curb play aggression:
Never engage in play with your cat using direct physical contact with them while hand wrestling with your kitten may seem cute and harmless, it becomes progressively less cute as they grow into adult cats and continue to attack human hands and feet!
If your kitten or cat attempts to directly engage in physical play with you, withdraw all hands/feet and dangling limbs, and quietly ignore all inappropriate play overtures.
Never swat at your cat, or tap their nose in order to 'punish' them for their play behavior: in addition to being ineffective, it simply increases arousal levels in cats with uninhibited play, and may stimulate them to reciprocate with more physical aggression.
Once your kitten/cat has ceased to solicit direct physical play with you, reward him or her with attention and treats, and then engage in appropriate play that involves other physical objects as the prey target - ie. toy mice, balls, 'fishing-rod' toys, and other play objects.
Reward your cat with food, treats, and attention during and after all occasions in which appropriate play behavior is displayed.
Always have mentally stimulating toys available for your cat and rotate which toys are available to them every week so they don't become bored with them, and they continue to focus on toys as their prey targets.
Petting Aggression
Petting aggression, also referred to as conflict aggression, is another commonly seen form of feline aggression, but unlike play aggression, there are no easy solutions for the correction of petting aggression. Cats who display this form of aggression typically appear to be friendly, sociable cats who actually solicit attention from people by rubbing against them, joining them for cuddles, or by making other affectionate overtures. But cats with petting aggression only allow people to have physical contact with them for very limited periods of time. Their behavior will change suddenly and they will strike out with claws and/or teeth.
CORRECTION
The best method of managing petting aggression in cats is to simply learn how to recognize the warning signs of the impending behavior change, and to engage in shorter interactions with these cats.
SIGNS TO WATCH FOR
Warning signs of imminent petting aggression can include:
Rippling skin along the back
Dilating pupils
Tail flicking
Ear rotation to the side
Fear Aggression
Fear aggression is often a result of inadequate socialization during important time periods during kitten-hood, and/or due to negative, frightening experiences during sensitive developmental periods. Fearful dispositions can also result from genetic inheritance, so it is possible for cats who have not had any negative social experiences, and who have been adequately socialized, to still express fear aggression. Occasionally cats who don't normally do not display fear aggression may do so transiently in response to significant environmental stressors. Examples include a large number of guests entering the home setting or a large dog being brought into the house.
Cats who are orphaned from littermates and their mothers earlier than appropriate (before 8 weeks of age) are slower to learn, more fearful, more prone to be aggressive, and are at higher risk of developing compulsive behaviors. Cats who are not well socialized with humans before 14 weeks of age are typically more fearful and aggressive toward people. Cats who have experienced strongly aversive events and stimuli during the sensitive period of 3 to 9 weeks of age may be lastingly influenced by the events, and may have more fearful dispositions as a result.
PREVENTION:
Despite genetic predispositions, preventing fearful behavior toward people can be established with proper human socialization early in kittens' lives. Older cats can be socialized using similar methods, but the process is slower and may not achieve the same levels of success:
Spend time gradually socializing kittens to new people: men, women, children (under supervision and with instructions on gentle handling).
Spend time introducing your kitten to other kittens, cats, and pets, as well as novel inanimate objects.
During all socialization sessions, always be sure to provide escapes, or 'outs,' for your kitten, such as perches, cat beds, and secluded areas so that they may retreat to if feeling uncomfortable. Escapes mean your kitten will not feel trapped during these encounters, and will be more relaxed and receptive to novel interactions and can safely enjoy observing the situations.
Provide treats, toys, and other forms of stimulation to make the social experiences positive and fun.
To desensitize cats to various potentially stressful stimuli, spend time exposing kittens to gentle versions of such stimuli like noises, strong smells, busy rooms, and riding in vehicles, without creating genuinely frightening experiences, and always using positive attention, treats, and familiar comforts and toys to make the experiences more pleasant.
CORRECTION:
To decrease stress levels and fear aggression of already neophobic, fearful cats, decrease their overall exposure to stressful situations, and ensure that you can easily recognize warning signs of fearful and aggressive behavior to avoid incurring injuries during interactions with them:
Maintain solid routines at home with respect to your cat's feeding times, when you clean the litter box(es), and when you play with, groom, and stroke your cat.
Avoid creating sudden, startling noises in the home such as loud alarm clocks, having televisions or music on high volumes, cooking timers, microwave alarms, and fire alarms.
Keep the litter box(es) clean and use a clumping, fine grain cat litter substrate. If you have a multiple cat household,having enough food and water bowls, litter boxes, and scratching posts for all of the cats is essential, so that amenities are not guarded by more dominant cats in the social hierarchy within the household.
Have perches and cat beds available at varying heights in multiple rooms so that your fearful cat has 'escape' options at all times. Strategically place boxes and crates around your home, and keep closet doors open, in order to provide more cat retreats where your fearful cat can feel safely concealed if necessary.
Use calming feline facial pheromone in spray form (spritz on favorite cat beds and perches), and use the plug-in diffuser form of pheromone for dispersal around your entire home.
Provide mental stimulation with training, interactive toys, puzzle feeders, catnip, cat grass, window ledge perches, and other environmental enrichment methods, so that fear and anxiety is not augmented by boredom and social frustration.
SIGNS TO WATCH FOR:
Fear expression in cats includes the following:
Crouching, hissing, and growling
Ears flattened backward
Hair completely erect
Hiding, rapid breathing Redirected Aggression
Redirected aggression is a unique type of feline aggression. It occurs when cats are highly aroused by particular stimuli, usually the sight, sounds, and/or smells of other animals, and is expressed at a target close to them that is not the original source of their stress. For example, if a cat sitting in a window sees a cat outside, he or she may become agitated and attack their companion, a cat sitting beside them whom they have known for many years. Similarly, a cat who is highly aroused by a stressor may even attack their owner or other nearby humans, and may temporarily appear as though they do not recognize who they are attacking.
PREVENTION AND CORRECTION:
What to do if your cat shows signs of redirected aggression:
Never attempt to interact with your cat when they are in this highly aroused state since their behavior can be extremely aggressive and unpredictable.
If handling your cat is unavoidable while in this state, then use a thick blanket to cover your cat with. Being swaddled like a baby may have a calming effect on your cat, and will provide you with some protection against their claws and teeth.
Look for trends in your cat's behavior, and try to determine what stimuli trigger your cat's aggression; once you identify your cat's triggers, implement preventative measures in order to avoid future incidents.
Seek help from your veterinarian so they can advise you on how to better cope with your cat's unique situation.
Lack of Inhibition Aggression
This form of aggression is most commonly associated with cats that were orphaned early in their kitten-hood and, similarly, those who were prematurely weaned prior to reaching at least 8 weeks of age. As described in the "Petting Aggression" section, kittens' interactions with their siblings and mothers are paramount to their development of appropriate feline 'etiquette.' While kittens' activities often appear to be nothing more than clumsy playtime fun with their littermates, it is through these sibling interactions and disciplines meted out by their mothers that they learn behavioral boundaries. Kittens who have not received their full 'feline education' are more prone to display aggressive behavior later in life because they simply do not always know 'right' from 'wrong.' They lack appropriate scratch and bite inhibition because they missed out on essential developmental periods with their feline families, and instead were hand-raised by humans.
Unfortunate cats who have been declawed often display a lack of bite inhibition when they feel threatened, because they are quite aware that they lack their normal primary defense mechanism, so biting behavior escalates far more quickly than otherwise seen in cats whose paws are intact (as they should be!).
Lack of bite inhibition can also be induced by particular drugs and, even less commonly, can be caused by certain central nervous system diseases.
PREVENTION
Do not wean kittens any earlier than 8 weeks of age.
Allow kittens to roughhouse with one another and don't prevent their mother from disciplining them.
NEVER declaw a kitten or cat!
Avoid handling your cat if they have been given medications that can decrease bite inhibition.
Pain-Associated Aggression
Many cats become aggressive when particular body part is patted or brushed if they experience discomfort associated with it. The hips are an area where this phenomenon is commonly noticed, particularly as cats age and their hip joints become arthritic this type of reaction while you are grooming their derriere may signify that it is time for your cat to have an orthopedic assessment by your veterinarian. Similarly, if your cat becomes aggressive while you are scratching their cheeks or chin, this may represent the presence of painful dental disease.
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The information provided in this article is for educational reference purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice and care of your veterinarian, nor medical diagnoses or treatments. All questions regarding your cat's health should be discussed with your veterinarian.
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