Page 39 - Complete Cat Care: How To Keep Your Cat Healthy and Happy

◁ Fighting it out
Cats are innately threatened by others that
are not part of their social group. Conflicts of
interest often result in fighting, especially
among cats that are forced to share resources.

Aggression toward other cats
is related to stress caused by
a perceived, or real, threat to
security. Because of their limited
social communication skills, cats
find it difficult to resolve conflict.
Consequently, where cats cannot
easily avoid other cats—for
example, when they have to
share a cat flap—they may fight.
Squabbles in the house can be
avoided by providing each cat, or
social group of cats (see p.23), 37
with necessary resources in
separate areas where they will not
meet. If your cat is fighting with
areas of conflict; therefore, any negative experience. If your cat neighboring cats, speak to the other
social or environmental issues shows signs of fear, do not try to owners about time-sharing, so that
must be addressed. Ensure that interact with him or approach him your cats go outside at different
there is one tray per cat, plus one directly. Instead, wait until he times and never meet. Also, Behavioral problems
extra tray. Clean soiled areas approaches you and gradually provide plenty of cover in your
thoroughly using a safe biological build up his confidence by using garden so that your cat can hide
agent, avoiding ammonia or other food or a toy as a reward for and feel more secure.
strong-smelling chemicals. learning to trust you.
Aggressive play can include
Aggression attacking people by grabbing them
Signals of aggression include with claws and biting. High-pitched What to do if your cat
staring, hissing, spitting, sounds or sudden movement, such has a behavior problem
scratching, and biting. In most as passing feet, may trigger this ■ Have your cat's health checked
cases the cat has learned that reaction, which generally develops by a vet to rule out underlying
aggression is necessary or through inappropriate play medical problems
effective. It is "normal" for cats to behavior being permitted in ■ Try to find out what first
show an aggressive response, for kittens. Don't encourage kittens initiated the behavior, and identify
example, if they feel threatened to pounce on your hands and feet. factors that trigger it now
and are unable to escape. Aggressive play may also be ■ If possible, protect your cat
from the triggering factors
Aggression can also be a sign of reinforced by the “victim’s”
health issues, so have your cat reaction—movement and noise ■ Never punish your cat for
inappropriate behavior or give him
checked by a vet if he shows are an invitation to further attacks attention for it
uncharacteristic behavior. and stimulate predatory instincts. ■ Redirect normal cat behavior,
The two main reasons for a cat's Instead of responding to ambushes, such as scratching, onto more
aggression toward people are fear ignore your cat; stay still and do not appropriate targets
and uninhibited play. Aggression talk to or even look at him. Use ■ Ask your vet to refer you to a
used as a defense strategy by a your attention as a reward when he qualified and experienced feline
behavior expert
frightened cat usually develops joins in a game without making you
through poor socialization or a the target of his teeth and claws.

US_036-037_Behaviour_problems.indd 37 24/10/2013 14:57