Much has been said and there is talk about dogs that must be feared because they are said to be very dangerous and could even cause you a lot of harm even if you have treated them well, something that, on the other hand, is not true, but Are there aggressive cats? It would not be strange to think about it, since the feline is a generally solitary and very territorial animal.
If you already have to have a lot of patience when training dogs, cats must be treated with more care if possible, because if we treat them badly once, we can assume that the degree of confidence that we have been able to achieve will be broken as it is broken a crystal glass falling to the ground. And it can be very difficult to get it back.
Aggressive cats: myth or reality?
Humans, like other animals, protect themselves against pain. Nobody likes to be scratched or bitten, and if an animal does it during our earliest childhood, it is likely that we grow up feeling a certain fear and insecurity when it passes us by. But many of these fears could be dispelled if we took some time to learn from that animal that did not do so much damage, because there is always a cause behind the effect.
Cats are solitary animals, yes, but they can become very social if they are respected and given affection in the right doses (that is, every time they ask for them and whenever we want to give them while they rest or play, without overwhelming them) ; on the contrary, they will grow up isolated from people if they have not maintained that daily contact when they were puppies, or if they do not pay attention to their felines at home. This means that depending on how much love we give them, they will be more sociable or less.
For nature, cats have to be aggressive when hunting, or when defending their territory or their family or their own life, but in the other situations that can be found throughout the day, all they will do is rest, eat, explore their environment and interact with their species from time to time (or daily in the case of lions ). Thus, behind aggressive behaviors there is always a cause, a reason why these animals must fight.
En este sentido, they don't differ much from us. Human beings can also be violent when our loved ones are being threatened, or when our lives are in danger. It is completely natural. It is instinctive. Does that mean that the human race is dangerous? Does that mean that cats are dangerous? No not at all. There may be some individuals that are, especially in the case of humans, but I think that labeling a species as dangerous or aggressive (felis catus in the case of cats, Homo sapiens sapiens in the case of people) by a few individuals is something that should not be done.
When are cats aggressive?
Focusing on the cats that live in the houses, with or without permission to go outside, these furry dogs can be aggressive in these situations:
- The arrival of a new four-legged animal to the family: is a typical case. We adopt or acquire a new dog or cat and the cat we already had gets upset. It huffs, growls at you and may even want to attack you. To avoid this, it is very important to introduce them little by little, leaving the "new" animal in a room for 4-5 days and changing the beds during that time so that they get used to the smell.
- Tense family atmosphere: cats are very sensitive. They can easily detect our feelings and emotions, absorbing them. If these feelings are negative, they will have a hard time, to the point that if the situation continues for days or weeks, the felines will reach a point where they will not be able to anymore. When they have reached their limit, one way to "explode" may be by being aggressive and irritable.
- When they feel pain: if they have any illness or if they have suffered an accident, they will feel bad for several days, which is logical. But there are some cats that tolerate pain very badly, to the point that they can have aggressive behaviors. To avoid this, there is nothing like plugging in the diffuser Feliway in the room where they are, and give them lots of pampering - without being overwhelmed - and prizes in the form of cans for cats.
- When they have operated on a friend: It does not always happen, but when two or more cats live together in a house, when they have operated on one of them, when they return they can be a bit antisocial with it. Why? Because of the smell it gives off. Our nose cannot detect it -or not as well as yours-, but having been in the veterinary clinic or hospital for hours or days, our cat's body smells like a veterinary clinic or hospital. That is a smell that cats do not like, so when they feel it they make it known. To avoid problems, the convalescent cat must be kept in a separate room from the rest until it improves.
Why do cats bite?
Cats are generally peaceful animals. They know that with their nails and teeth they can do a lot of damage, but they also know that they can hurt them, so they only bite people when they feel threatened or when they play. To avoid this, it is extremely important to treat them with respect and affection, and never let them play with our hands or feet. You have more information in these articles: How to prevent my cat from biting me, Why does my cat lick me and then bite me, and What do I do if my cat bites me.
Can aggressive behaviors be avoided?
Yes, but not 100%, since it is impossible to control all situations and we cannot know exactly what will happen in a month or a year. But we can do many things to make our cats social, friendly and affectionate, and they are the following:
Give them a lot of love
I know, I can be very insistent, but affection is essential to ensure that our friends can live well and happily with us. You have to start giving them from the first day they get home. If they are puppies, you have to pick them up several times a day, and if they have arrived as adults you have to give them their personal space and make the most of those moments in which they feel comfortable and relaxed.
Have patience with them
Especially kittens or very active cats can spend the day running around from one place to another. Along the way, they may not notice and drop some things and they break, not to mention that there are furry people who enjoy doing mischief. But, regardless of how old they are, you have to be patient.
Reward them for their good behavior
Every time they do something well, do not hesitate to reward them. There are many ways to do this: giving them a can of wet cat food, a pet, a hug, a toy to play with.… Rewarding their good behavior will not only make them happy, but it is also a way to ensure that they will behave again.
Do not play with your hands or feet
Kittens or cats must be made to understand that no part of our body is a toy, no matter how old they are. It is true that when they are very puppies they do not do so much damage, but it must be borne in mind that once they are adults they will continue to do everything they have learned and everything we have allowed them to do as children. Thus, every time it tries to scratch or bite us, we have to stop the game and leave the animals on the floor -if they were on the sofa or bed-, or alone -if it was on the floor-.
Socialize them with other four-legged animals ...
If you have friends who have dogs and / or cats, it can be used for our kittens to interact with them. In this way, if tomorrow we want to have more cats or a dog, it will be easier for them to adapt.
… And with people
Keeping cats in a room every time visitors come is not a good idea. With this, the only thing that is achieved is that they grow up isolated, feeling very insecure in the presence of strangers who come to see us. Thus, It is highly recommended that the furry live with the family and with the visits. Of course, you have to keep the doors and windows closed to prevent them from leaving the home, but otherwise, it is advisable to let them interact with the humans who come.
We hope these tips are useful to you 🙂.