Books & Articles
Topical Articles
Feline Follies - Cat Behavior
Cat Biting/Aggression
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Cat nipping, biting, and attacking is more common in younger cats, un-neutered or un-spayed cats, cats who are given indoor/outdoor access, cats who reside in a home with invading cats frequently strolling around the outside perimeter of the home, and cats who were not adequately socialized with people between 4-6 weeks of age as kittens, and during it's first 6 months of life at their new home.
In addition, cats who are sexually frustrated or blocked from engaging in redirected instinctive nocturnal hunting behaviors, will tend to lash out at owners. Cats who are ill with a disease, or who have low thyroid hormone levels, or who have been traumatized physically (de-clawed, abused, corporal punishment) or mentally (taken away from mother and siblings too early, neglected) will also tend to act in asocial ways.
In my in-home consultations with cat owners who complain about biting or scratching cats, the most noticeable common element is that the owner is handling the cat WAY too much, too often, and for too long of a period of time. The cats are constantly being picked up and carried around, or petted too vigorously, or for marathon massage sessions which overstimulates the cat's nervous system and hence, thereby triggering the nipping or biting behavior.
Body language which portends an aggressive or uptight kitty include:
- Pupils constricted (narrowed)
- Arched back
- Ears backward
- Ears flat against head
- Quick flick of tongue over lips
- And either a bristled or lashing tail
So, depending on which circumstance fits your situation with a nipping or biting cat, will determine the remedy and behavior modification plan used. Many times, the common behavior techniques required to put a stop to a biting or attacking kitty (for a 4-12 week period, and sometimes with anti-anxiety medication like Buspirone), include:
- Do not pick up the cat unless it's dying and bleeding to death!
- Do not pet the cat in a harsh way.
- Keep petting under 10 seconds at a time.
- No corporal punishment.
- Make it solely an indoor cat.
- Obtain wand toys and cat nip mouse prey substitutes to redirect cat's natural hunting instincts and to avoid hand being too close to cat's mouth.
- Have twice daily one on one anti-anxiety focus sessions with cat nip and catnip toys, talking soothingly to the cat.
- When the cat is calm and relaxed (look at it's body language), praise and treat your cat.
- Any aggressive displays, startle without getting physical (e.g., depressing ultra sound device or squirt of water). Ignore the cat for the rest of the day and phase back in attention the next day.
- If the attacks are serious and frequent, wear long pants and gloves while you implement the several week re-conditioning program to protect from serious injury and/or infection.
- Spay or Neuter the cat between 6-9 months of age.
- Have the veterinarian take blood and urine samples to rule out a disease (eg., thyroid levels).
- Socialize the cat during the first 6 months of life to people in a positive non-threatening manner.
- Select a cat from a breed which is known to be easy going and social.
By identifying what possible triggers or omitted experiences your cat has experienced or is experiencing now, and implementing over a 4-12 week period, some or all of the above behavior modification suggestions—along with possible anti-anxiety or anti-depressant medication from your veterinarian—you will have the necessary ingredients to correct such aggressive behavior.
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