A Cat’s aggression can be caused by an array of human activities as well as medical conditions that triggers it. An aggressive cat tends to attack by biting and scratching human beings or other cats as a result of fear and defense. Most of the attack aren’t intentional and is just a quick reflex movement. This behavioral issue is treatable but will take time and effort on our part to improve the life of our cats.
An aggressive cat is usually the result of improper handling of felines and medical conditions. Aggression in cats also occurs for numerous reasons such as territorial problems, maternal instincts, predatory reasons, induced-petting, pain-induced, playful, etc. It is important to take the necessary steps to ensure that your cat, as well as the feline, is safe.
Understanding the Idea Behind Calming an Aggressive Cat
After studying and identifying the aggression behind your cat, it is important to resort to some changes. It will help you better manage your cat without complications. There are various forms of behavioral aggression in cats. Some of them are easy to handle, and some are hard to understand and requires you to be more attentive to your cat. For instance, imagine your cat has maternal aggression, and you are looking for a solution. In cases like this, we should just leave mama kitty alone to do her business, which is taking care of the newly born kittens. This form of behavior will subside in a matter of a few days.
Do Not Punish Your Cat when Aggressive
The first thing you should keep in mind about calming your cats is to understand that treating your cat in a rough and punishable manner is a big no. This will only create more aggression instead of reducing it. Treat your cat gently and avoid any rough movements and activities to calm your feline down. It will create a quieter and gentle environment and de-escalate the aggression and also teach you how to deal with an aggressive cat in the right manner.
Cat Toys
Offer them a stuffed toy or any cat toys to redirect their energy and to sway the cat away from gravitating towards rough activities. However, it is best to give a stuffed toy designed for dogs to cats instead of the cat toy so that it does not get torn or spoiled when the cat attacks it. This will calm them down and give you a better idea of how to calm an aggressive cat.
Keep New Cat Away from Old Cat
Another way of calming a cat down is to separate new cats from the old ones for a while. Cats are known for being very territorial with their area and belongings. It is advisable to provide a different litter box for the new cat, and also their living places should be separated. The eating plates should also be separated. Separation for a temporary period will calm the aggression of the cats.
It is common to see cats fighting each other, but it is never advisable to go ahead and break up the catfight just like that. Aggressive cats are dangerous, and they can harm you, and so the best way to break up the fight and calm down an aggressive cat is to make a loud sound with any object inside the house. It will cause them to stop fighting and go back to minding their own business.
One important thing to keep in our minds is to abstain from punishing our cats in any shape or form. Punishments will only affect the cat and make it more insecure and fearful. The perfect way to calm down its aggression is to do the opposite of punishing and treat them with love. When the owner does not entertain the aggressive play of the cat, it teaches the cat that unsuitable playful aggression isn’t entertained at all.
The Right Way to Introduce a Puppy to an Aggressive Cat
It is important to create a confined space for either your cat or the puppy and give them equal chances in exploring the house, so they get used to their smell and presence. It will help them cope with the fact that a new pet is in the building.
Exchange Items to Get Them Comfortable
You can start exchanging their belongings such as their bedding, toys, pillows and also the blankets to recognize the smell and get comfortable with it. Exchanging their towels is also a smart idea in bringing them closer.
Do Not Leave Your Pets Unattended
One precaution you should take is to avoid leaving both pets unattended and non-confined while you aren’t home. The bond is building up after the introduction, but things can easily go wrong if they are both left unattended. Confine both the pets securely.
Setup Short Meetings
The meet-ups between the two pets should be controlled and short. You can continue to extend the time they spend together after they start to get comfortable. It is also advisable to keep your puppy on a leash. Continue with the leashed meet-ups until the new puppy becomes calm and quiet.
Never Be Partial
Give love and affection to both the pets and avoid partial treatments. Reward both the pets with treats, praises and platonic love when they show positive behavior. Do not punish your puppy when it becomes restless and does something negative.
Keep Your Puppy Distracted from Your Cat
It is smart to distract your puppy if it becomes too fixated on your cat. The puppy can be restlessly focused on the cat, and this creates aggression, which in turn will also create aggressive behavior in your cat. It is advisable to get them away from each other to avoid a fight.
There should be supervised interaction for at least a month until both of them get comfortable with each other to the point that they can be left alone together. It is also best to get your cat a hiding place for privacy as they enjoy their space. Cats tend to get irritated if they are constantly in the company of dogs and human beings.
Aside from learning how to introduce a puppy to an aggressive cat, it is always advisable to make frequent trips to the veterinary to check up on their health.
Conclusion
Aggression in cats is a normal thing, but some forms of aggression do need medical assistance as it can prove to be dangerous. There is an array of aggression in cats, and each differs, but it is always important to study them and provide your cat with the help that it needs. Feline owners should also learn how to calm the aggression of the cats without being violent. It is important to be patient and positive throughout the entire process, whether you’re helping a cat improve its health or improving the companionship between a cat and a dog.
