Sometimes our furry can show aggressive or violent behavior if it feels attacked or cornered. Of course, the most effective way to prevent this from happening is by understanding its body language and treating it with respect and affection, but it may happen that one day, without further ado, it bites and / or scratches us when stroking it.
How to make my cat stop being aggressive? If we have this question, below we will discover why it appears like this and what we should do to make it calmer.
Why can cats be aggressive?
There are several reasons why a cat, even the most affectionate, can be aggressive:
- Feels cornered: For example, when a second cat, dog or person watches over you while you cover or close a possible exit.
- They have invaded their territory: the cat is a very territorial animal. When we introduce a second animal to the home we must introduce it little by little so that no problems arise.
- Has been mistreated: whether in the past he has been a victim of abuse or if he is being mistreated now (yelling at him, forcing him to do things he does not want, pulling his tail and sticking his fingers in his eyes, among others, are behaviors that humans do not we have to show) the cat will be very irritable.
- Have pain: a cat that is sick or that feels pain in some part of its body can be aggressive.
- He is surly by nature: There are cats that simply do not like human contact even though they have lived with them all their lives. In these cases the best thing to do is ... do nothing.
What to do to stop being aggressive?
In addition to what we have discussed so far, there are several things to keep in mind when adopting a cat. One of the most important and obvious is that its not a dogIn other words, we cannot expect to gain your trust the same day we bring you home. For that, we first have to show him that we really love him and that we respect him. How? Very simple: with cans of wet food, with toys, and with unexpected caresses (for example, when eating or distracted by something).
Another thing we will do is respect their space and their way of being. This means that you don't have to try to change your personality. I mean, if it's a cat that doesn't like being held, we won't. I can tell you that one of mine is quite surly: he does not like to be held and may even growl at me if I do it for a long time (1 or 2 minutes); however, he loves to be caressed when he is relaxed in bed. It's all a matter of finding the ideal moment to show him how much you love him.
Don't let me bite ni scratch. This you have to keep in mind. In the same way that you are not going to mistreat him, he has to learn not to use his fangs or nails to hurt you, even if it's playing. Therefore, from the first day he comes home you must teach him not to. In the links I explain how to achieve it.
Neutering your cat before he is in heat (six months or so) is a way to reduce or even eliminate aggressive behavior. This is a simple operation after which the animal will recover quickly (a week in the case of cats, and a few days in the case of cats).
Mutual respect will be what turns your relationship into a pure and lasting friendship.