Most view cats as docile, peaceful and quiet creatures. It is an assumption by many that as long as a cat has a good place to rest, has clean drinking water, and food that it is all that is needed to create a docile, loving, yet independent cat.
But not all cats have the laid back couch potato meditative zen type of style. Some cats are constantly going at 160 mph. Fast, agile, interested, investigating, and bouncing off the walls, keeping their owners awake at night by leaping across the bed or attacking toes under the blanket. Cats are as different to each others as humans are. As long as the personality style is acceptable by the owner there is no problem.
The one personality trait that most cat owners are not willing to deal with, however, is aggressive tendencies within cats. Dogs can sometimes get away with aggressive personalities because some owners actually want a dog that is mean and able to scare people away. Cats, on the other hand, are generally brought into a home in order to protect the family. For this reason, aggressiveness is not really a trait that most cat owners look for.
Aggressive cats can inflict a lot of damage. While a cat can't compare to the damage that can be done by a large dog, their speed and agility can cause some great pain. Aggressive cats should never be around young children with supervision.
While there may be some cats that are aggressive by nature, most aggression is man made. Cats who have been abused or tormented have only one way to defend themselves and that is to be aggressive. Another common reason is if the cat has pain. Painful teeth with deep cavities is very common with cats. A cat with excruciating pain in her mouth will act aggressively if someone comes near her face.
If your cat is acting aggressively what should you do? First, have your cat examined by a veterinarian to diagnose any teeth or gum problems or other painful physical ailments. Then, get a book on cat behavior and learn to spot the signs you cat is giving you when she is getting agitated. Be affectionate with your cat so she learns to trust you, play with her frequently, that helps the bonding between the two of you. Research a product called Feliway which is very successful in helping aggressive animals to calm down.
You'll have to accept the fact that some cats are just aggressive by nature, and that it isn't something they can necessarily be trained away from doing. If your cat endangers the residents within your home - such as young children or babies - then you'll have to make the decision of whether to keep the cat or find it another home. If you surrender the cat to a local shelter you need to inform them of the cats aggressive tendencies so that it doesn't wind up in another home with young children.
Find more articles authored by Virginia Sutherland such as Cat Health Sneeze and Cat Health Colds. Or visit her website at http://www.luvmycritters.com
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