Cat Aggression Problems: What To Do When A Good Cat Turns Bad

Have you ever had to go through the horrible experience of watching your adorable kitty go berserk and mercilessly attack another cat in the house or even you? If so, you are not alone, cat aggression problems are some of the most common problems among cat owners. Fortunately, fixing this misbehavior isn’t difficult at all, it just requires a bit of investigative work on your part. The key to stopping your special friend and companion’s violent outbursts is to discover the underlying cause of your cat’s aggression problems.

My cat used to be peaceful and calm. Now he’s freaking out for no apparent reason!

This could be for several reasons. For one, it may be a case of redirected aggression, meaning your kitty is upset about something unrelated to you or other cats living in the home, but is simply taking her frustrations out on you. On the other hand, it could be that a fight has developed between your cat and another cat in the house or maybe even another cat in the neighborhood. In any case, you should closely monitor your cat’s life and find out what has changed to upset him so severely. At worst, these cat aggression problems could even be a medical problem.

I adopted a new cat and the cat I already have is beating it out! (Or vice versa)

Felines are not generally pack animals, however they do have a social structure that can be a breeding ground for certain cat aggression problems. Bringing a new cat into the house can upset this structure if you already have cats. A dominant cat will try to assert his authority and claim his place as “top cat”, even through violence if necessary. In most cases, it’s normal for cats already living in the house to do a few “postures” or hit to let the new cat know who’s boss, unless they’re extremely passive. However, if one of your existing kittens has an overly dominant personality and the new cat does too, this can lead to some pretty violent fights over social status. If one of your cats is upset enough by this situation, he may take it out on you too. Cat aggression problems of this nature should be dealt with without showing favoritism.

Is there a way to stop cat aggression problems?

Yes, very rarely is there a situation where a cat’s aggressive behavior cannot be fixed. The key is to understand and identify the source of your cat’s problem. Once discovered, removing this misbehavior is quite simple. However, cats can be extremely difficult to understand at times due to their subtle nature. Also, some cats don’t communicate as well as others.