Domestic cats are normally not aggressive with humans. They usually want a safe and quiet home where they can live in peace and security. Given a peaceful home with gentle humans, they will display affection and gentleness themselves.

However, there are times when a cat becomes aggressive, and this is upsetting and confusing to humans. Some human activity actually can cause it, so read these tips to ensure that your cat remains gentle and peaceful in your home.

 

Start Gentle - Stay Gentle

If you adopt a kitten from a shelter, you have the best chance of having a gentle and loving cat, as long as you do your part with kitty.

1. Respect the kitten. Give it room to explore and do not tease it. Some people think it is "fun" to roll kitty on her back and jab at her tummy in a "wrestling" match. This teaches the cat aggressive behavior from an early age. DO NOT DO THIS!

2. Don't force kitty to "like" being held. If you pick up kitty and she struggles or tries to get away, respect that and gently put her down, and don't pick her up again! Not all cats like to be held. Some feel threatened and some are scared by this action. You cannot "force" a cat to like to be held, you will only generate aggression and make kitty feel unsafe.

3. Don't ever hit or chase your cat! Cat's instinctively stalk and prowl. If you play this "game" with kitty, you are teaching her that you are her prey. If your cat stalks you, even in play, turn immediately and say a loud, firm "NO!" and stand your ground. Kitty must learn that you are not food or prey, and the "stalking" game is not acceptable.

4. DO play with kitty with proper toys, such as a soft ball so she learns safe ways to play. she can stalk her toys, not you. Make sure she has toys to chase and stalk and catch.

5. NEVER play with kitty's face. This invites biting behavior. You can gently stroke kitty's face is she is comfortable with that, but grabbing her face, tweaking her nose and other foolishness is asking for trouble.

6. Watch your children and others in the house and make sure they follow these guidelines. YOU may be gentle with kitty, while your child may be aggressive with her, which is no help at all.

7. Do not EVER throw a cat on the bed or sofa to "watch her bounce". This is absurd behavior that I've seen some people do, thinking it is funny. It isn't funny and can harm the cat, as well as cause aggression.

8. DO NOT drag kitty by the arm out from under the bed, the sofa, the chair, etc. How would YOU like it if someone did that to you? If kitty is under some furniture and you need her to come out, coax her out with food, a toy, or catnip, and if she doesn't come out, then leave her alone. Forcing a cat to come out from under furniture deprives it of a sense of shelter that it may need. If you DO coax her out, have a heart and praise her for coming out, don't yell at her, or hit her!

The KEY is KINDNESS.

Common sense should tell you how to behave around your cat. Treat her like a precious commodity (which she is) and with gentle strokes when she is in the mood. If she isn't in the mood, leave her alone. She is a sentient being and has moods and feelings, just as we do.

 

Latent Aggression - Get Professional Help

Sometimes a normally gentle cat will develop aggressive behavior later on in life, a few months or years after joining your household. This is very confusing to humans and needs to be addressed by a professional - your Vet and others whom your Vet can recommend.

1. If the cat is normally gentle, but has developed aggression and you have not made significant changes (i.e. got a dog, another cat, moved to a new home, had a baby, etc.) you need to have the cat checked by a qualified Vet for disease and neurological disorders. People can develop mental problems, so can cats. Diagnosis is required.

2. If the cat is a long haired cat, you must always keep or have the cat groomed, especially for "matts", "Matts" are twisted hair clumps that can be very painful to a cat (or a dog) and the cat may respond to the discomfort with aggression. Cats can also develop dry skin and itching problems. Good grooming will help manage these. Your Vet can advise you, or take the cat to a professional groomer and if you like, learn how to groom your cat properly.

3. Watch the cat's diet. You should feed your cat quality cat food (not dog food) that meets her nutritional requirements. Don't feed her human food (especially spicy foods). Cats have a different digestive system than humans and process chemical intake differently. Their food is usually quite bland by human standards, and that's best for the cat.

5. Of course, you should never give your cat alcohol or drugs of any kind unless prescribed by your Vet. Catnip is usually safe for cats. However, if your cat becomes aggressive when allowed some catnip, then do not give catnip to your cat! Drugs to avoid giving your cat include: Aspirin, Ibuprofen and other human "over the counter" and prescription medications. Some are poisonous to cats, and others can cause long- and short-term neurological damage.

6. Ask your local animal shelter for advice. Some have workshops, others know specialists who deal with aggression issues. In return for their assistance, you can make a contribution.

7. Keep peace among yourselves. This may sound foolish, but cats pick up on human behavior. If your family life is full of turmoil, your cat will learn from it. If members of your household hit each other, get into fights and screaming matches, your cat will pick up on it. To a cat, you are NOT human, you are just a big, funny looking cat. So what's good for you is good for her. She will learn from your behavior, and if that behavior towards others in the home is aggressive, she will learn the same behavior. If necessary, and your home is in constant turmoil, seek professional human counseling. This will help you AND your cat.

 

Finally, is the cat you have taken in or adopted a domesticated cat? Did you pick up a stray or feral cat? Cats can only be domesticated when they are kittens. An adult cat who is feral, or who has been out long enough to revert to the "wild" will not domesticate again. Cats are clever and will "feign" good behavior in order to get food and shelter, but eventually will return to anti-social behavior once the need is met.

Be very careful of picking up strays and ferals, not only because of potential diseases (which you could spread to your other pets, if you have them) but to avoid future problems. It is sad, but a feral cat does best being feral, as long as it is safe. Taking one in to "give it a home", is often asking for trouble. If you have questions about a feral cat you have found, contact your local animal shelter for proper guidance.

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About the Article Author:

Tim Thompson, author of this article, has been living with cats for many years. As a student of behavioral statistics, he has learned the importance of observation to understanding behaviors in humans and animals. He has served as a member of the Board of a local rescue shelter and worked with their foster care givers for 8 years. On the home front, he is the human companion of Gertrude and Eddie, two tiger tabbies who are constantly teaching Tim new things about living with cats.