Feline aggression (Proceedings)

Cats have a different hierarchy structure than do dogs (cats are not small dogs!). Cats do not easily respond to dominance-subordination relations with people (or new cats) based upon force or interactive punishment. However, teaching cats parlor tricks (sit, jump, retrieve) may help establish the owner's authority over the cat. At the least it helps the owner develop a good relationship with their cat. This may help with some types of aggression directed towards people.

Discussion of aggressive behavior can be based upon that directed to other cats, namely intermale, territorial and fear-related and that directed mostly towards people, namely fear-related, play-related, petting-evoked and redirected. Predation, while involving teeth and claws, is usually not considered an aspect of aggression.

New research is changing our view of the cat towards a more social, group living model more typical of the way cats are currently living in human households. The way we categorize aggressive behavior in cats may change in the future.

In discussing cat aggression problems with owners, a description of the body language of the cat is very helpful in determining motivation. Pointing out examples from books or handouts can aid you in figuring out if the cat was showing defensive or offensive body language.

Intermale aggression (toward cats only)

     • History and causes

          o This type refers to the pronounced predisposition of male cats to fight with other males. While intermale aggression is more likely to occur in intact than in castrated males, some castrated males fight as vigorously with other males as intact males.

          o Aggression between females could be called interfemale, but the classifications below provide a better explanation of the aggression.

     • Treatment

          o Castration: Past results indicate a 90 percent probability of reducing this problem in tom cats, regardless of age.

          o Serotonergic drugs: Along with behavior modification. Although estimates of the probability of achieving favorable results have not been published, some positive results have been mentioned in case reports. Progestins are not recommended, due to the potential for serious side effects.

Territorial aggression

     • History and causes

          o This is the type of aggression typically displayed to new cats introduced into the home, as the resident cat tries to drive away the intruder. The new cat, of course, may be aggressive in return. The cats may eventually adapt to each other or the aggression may continue indefinitely.

          o Territorial aggression may also be seen in a resident cat's responses to a neighborhood cat that comes on its property.

          o This can also emerge among cats raised in the same house. In some cases, the behavior appears to be a manifestation of the behavioral process that underlies dispersion, seen in the wild ancestor of domestic cats. In others, it may occur after one animal has been absent for a time and returns, such as when returning from a veterinary office: it may then be perceived as a "stranger".

          o Differs from fear-related aggression in that the cat does not avoid encounters. However, the other cat may suffer from fear-related aggression.

     • Treatment

          o DS/CC to (re)introduce cats. A program of gradual exposure may be helpful. This may be accomplished by separating cats within a household (separate feeding stations, litter boxes, etc.), but where they can still see and smell each other. Fights should be avoided because they may increase attacks by one cat while intensifying the fearful behavior of the other.

          o Increase space (vertical as well as ground level), and resources ("house of plenty") can help decrease tensions, and let the animals avoid each other.

          o Use of serotonergic drugs may facilitate the cats' adapting to each other. Do not use buspirone for offensively-aggressive cats.

          o The end result may be only mutual toleration. Most owners are comfortable with that endpoint.

Fear-related aggression

     • History and causes

          o This type of aggression is directed to either people or other cats. The cat may show typical signs of defensive-aggression, including the Halloween cat posture (a combination of flight, attack and defense components) or a crouched stance with flattened ears and dilated eyes. The latter should not by mistaken for a submissive posture, and if approached, the cat may very well attack. Behavior may be directed toward people, if the cat cannot hide or avoid contact with human visitors. This type of aggression is usually seen if the fearful cat cannot escape.

          o To the degree that the aggression keeps the fear-producing stimulus (animals, people) away, it is reinforced.

          o Early exposure of kittens to children or strangers may prevent fear-related aggression from being directed toward these people later.

     • Treatment

          o Avoid fear-producing stimuli until they are desensitized. Avoid handling the cat when it is aggressive.

          o Desensitization and counterconditioning to fear-provoking stimuli.

          o A serotonergic drug, such as fluoxetine, may be used as an adjunct to behavioral modification. An anxiolytic may increase aggression if a fearful cat avoided other cats, however. On the other hand, because defensive fear-related aggression sometimes appears to encourage attacks by other cats, medications that decrease fear-related aggression may theoretically decrease fighting between cats.

Play-related aggression

     • History and causes

          o This may be a problem when the stalking, pouncing, biting and scratching are directed toward a moving person. It can also occur toward another cat, causing fear in that other cat. May be a combination of the cat's active, aggressively playful personality, and "play-deprivation" when the owner is gone for long periods of time, or doesn't play much with the cat. Hand-reared cats may be more predisposed to this type of behavior, especially if the foster-owner encouraged (or didn't discourage) biting of human body parts. This can be a major problem with young children or the elderly.

     • Treatment

          o Avoid situations that provoke this behavior

          o Redirect play to an appropriate object. Carry a toy on a sting to redirect the play away from the person's leg. Regularly engage the cat in play sessions using appropriate toys (fishing pole with a stuffed sock, etc.).

          o Remote punishment, such as a water spray or loud noise at the beginning of the attack. Arrange for acceptable outlet of playful behavior first. If an owner is going to punish in a timely fashion, it's just as easy to redirect play in a timely fashion.

          o Maybe think about fostering or adopting another similarly active cat.

Redirected aggression

     • History and causes

          o Cat is in a highly aroused aggressive state from having been in a fight with another cat or having seen another cat in an antagonistic context. The aggression is then directed to people or other pets that touch or closely approach it. Owners who are not aware of what aroused the aggression may interpret this as an unprovoked attack. The cat is otherwise fine.

     • Treatment

          o Avoid interacting with the cat when it is aggressively aroused; wait until it is calmer, perhaps when it is eating or grooming.

          o Move the cat to an enclosed area away from others where it can calm down by itself. Use blankets, boxes or wide boards to move the cat while keeping it away from you. Do not try and pick up the cat while it is aroused. At times, the owners may have to leave the area and enclose themselves away from the cat to be safe.

          o DS/CC to triggers of aggression. This works on the inciting cause.

          o + /- serotonergic drugs.

Petting-evoked or petting-induced aggression (toward humans only)

     • History and causes

          o This is an odd, but common, behavior where a cat that is being held or petted by a person suddenly turns and scratches or bites the person who has been petting it. Usually, but not always, there are warning signs such as restlessness, tail-twitching, ears furled back, and dilated pupils.

          o There is no logical naturalistic explanation as to cause. Apparently, the cat has a limited tolerance for petting and has simply reached its limit.

     • Treatment

          o The best is just to avoid the behavior by not holding the cat too long. Be aware of warning signs; not all cats enjoy prolonged petting (cats are not small dogs).

          o Desensitize and countercondition to gradually longer periods of petting.

          o Treatment with an anxiolytic may be useful if the attacks are unpredictable and cannot be managed otherwise.