Although you may love your cat unconditionally, sometimes they can lash out and act aggressively. This is common behaviour for cats because their natural hunter instinct means they’re designed to attack if they feel threatened or afraid and it can leave you with some nasty scars.
There are a few tips we can suggest for helping to stamp out your kitty’s fierce side but be warned, the predator instinct will always be there!
Keep Calm
It’s true what they say, cats really can sense if you are feeling nervous or upset. If you see your cat cowering with its ears pointing backward it may mean they are about to lash out.
If they are displaying this behaviour, remain calm and remove anything that may be causing stress within your environment. Stressful factors could include unfamiliar smells brought into the home through clothes or other objects. After removing, be sure to give your cat plenty of space to relax and calm down.
Reward and Punish
Rewarding and punishing aggressive behaviour is the most tried and tested method of reducing hostility. Effective rewards can be in the form of treats, toys or petting.
Popular punishments include clapping your hands or commanding your cat with words such as ‘no’, ‘stop’ or ‘bad’. These punishments should be delivered with authority and in a calm tone; your cat will sense if you are nervous or hysterical.
Never inflict physical punishment on your animal, it will create fear and make your cat resent you.
Petting
This is perhaps the most enjoyable solution! Petting, stroking and showing your cat affection is the easiest way of bonding and reducing aggression. It’s important to show affectionate behaviour towards your pet from their infancy, as creating a bound early on means your kitten will learn to trust you. Giving your pet lots of love shows your cat that there is nothing to be afraid of.
Providing your pet with a comfortable, relaxed environment and plenty of love is the best way for both you and your cat to live in harmony. For more tips and help on your feline friend, head to our
advice centre for cats.
