Stop an Aggressive Cat

Like a person, a cat can become aggressive for a variety of reasons. More often than not, your best bet is simply putting some space between you and a cat that is on the offensive. To learn how to deal with cat aggression that is caused by different factors, scroll down to Step 1.

Stopping an Aggressive Cat that is Fearful

 * 1) Know that aggression can be a cat’s way of showing you he is afraid. A cat will do everything he can to avoid getting into a fight. However, if he is very afraid and sees no other way of defending himself, he will lash out at you. [[Image:Stop an Aggressive Cat Step 1.jpg|center]]
 * 2) Try to understand why the cat is afraid. The key to stopping an aggressive cat who is afraid is understanding why he is afraid. Stopping his aggression may be as simple as stepping a foot or two back and giving him some space. Maybe you made a loud noise that startled him, or you moved quickly and it frightened him. Whatever the reason, it is generally best to give a cat some room when he is becoming aggressive. [[Image:Stop an Aggressive Cat Step 2.jpg|center]]
 * 3) *If possible, walk away, or give the cat a way to escape by taking a step back and letting him pass.
 * 4) Look for warning signs of aggression. When a cat is afraid and decides to become aggressive, he will arch him back and fluff up his tail. His tail will also form an inverted U-shape. He will give you other warning signs, like hissing, growling, and flattening his ears to his head. If you see these warning signs, walk away from the cat.[[Image:Stop an Aggressive Cat Step 3.jpg|center]]
 * 5) Do not make eye contact with the aggressive cat. As odd as this may sound, looking away from the cat may be your best bet when dealing with a cat who is on the offensive. A cat who is about to attack another cat will attempt to out-stare his opponent. If you make eye contact with the cat, he may think that you are planning on attacking him, therefore look away as soon as you notice any signs of aggression that the cat is displaying. [[Image:Stop an Aggressive Cat Step 4.jpg|center]]
 * 6) Avoid cornering the cat. One of the most common situations in which a cat becomes aggressive is when he finds himself cornered with no means of escape. If you are approaching a cat and he has nowhere to go (for instance, in a hallway or alleyway with no open doors), he may choose to become aggressive because he is afraid of you.[[Image:Stop an Aggressive Cat Step 5.jpg|center]]
 * 7) *If you see the warning signs mentioned above, walk away or go around the cat so that he has a way to escape.

Stopping an Aggressive Cat Who is in Pain

 * 1) Understand that a cat can become aggressive when she is in pain. Sometimes, you may need to approach an aggressive cat in order to help her. In this instance, it is less about stopping the aggressive cat, and more about preventing her from injuring you or yourself while trying to help her. [[Image:Stop an Aggressive Cat Step 6.jpg|center]]
 * 2) Use a blanket or towel as a barrier between you and the cat. The best way to secure an aggressive cat that is in pain is to cover her with a blanket or towel. Its first important to keep the cat from attacking your legs and feet. To do this :[[Image:Stop an Aggressive Cat Step 7.jpg|center]]
 * 3) *Shake out the towel and grip one of the long edges, placing your hands about a third of the way in from either end of the towel.
 * 4) *If the injured animal is on the ground, hold the towel at ninety degrees (or perpendicular) to the ground, with the long edge parallel to, and touching, the floor.
 * 5) *Hold the towel at arms’ length, acting as a vertical barrier between your legs and the aggressive cat.
 * 6) Talk soothingly to the cat. While holding the towel in between you and the cat, walk very slowly towards her and talk to the cat in the most soothing voice that you can muster. Talk quietly and in an even tone, making sure that you don’t make any loud sounds or sudden movement.[[Image:Stop an Aggressive Cat Step 8.jpg|center]]
 * 7) *Don’t shout if the cat attacks the towel. If the cat is very scared, she may charge at the towel. Don’t yell, as this will only bring out more aggression.
 * 8) Secure the cat with the towel. With a quick, confident movement, grip the cat’s chest firmly through the towel, one hand on either side of the rib cage, and lift her up off the ground. Hold the cat in a towel at arms’ length with her rear end dangling down, head up, and spine roughly vertical (the cat will attempt to curl up).[[Image:Stop an Aggressive Cat Step 9.jpg|center]]
 * 9) *In this position, even if the cat turns to bite, your hands are protected by the towel. Likewise your hands and body are well away from her claws.
 * 10) Put the cat in a carrying box. Have someone open up a box or carrier cage for you to put the cat in. Move swiftly and calmly to the carrying box and, without removing the cat from the towel, place her and the towel inside the box. Make sure that the lid is secure.[[Image:Stop an Aggressive Cat Step 10.jpg|center]]
 * 11) Take the cat to the vet. Rather than letting the cat deal with the issue on her own, you should immediately take the cat to a veterinarian so that the source of the pain (and the aggression) can be found.[[Image:Stop an Aggressive Cat Step 11.jpg|center]]

Stopping an Aggressive, Poorly Socialized Cat

 * 1) Move away from the cat. If you are petting a cat who is semi-wild (what veterinarians refer to as feral), or the cat was never really around people or other animals when she was young, she may suddenly turn aggressive without any warnings. This is because she never learned how to say “that’s enough” in a nice way--she will attack your hand rather than getting up and walking away. [[Image:Stop an Aggressive Cat Step 12.jpg|center]]
 * 2) *Because of this, you will need to be the one to walk away. If a poorly socialized cat becomes aggressive, simply stand up and move away.
 * 3) Watch for the cat’s flash point. If you are petting a cat that you know might become aggressive at the drop of the hat, watch for her ‘flash point’. This is the telltale sign that she is about to turn aggressive, even if she was just affectionately rolling around on your lap. The flash point signs include :[[Image:Stop an Aggressive Cat Step 13.jpg|center]]
 * 4) *A twitching tale. An agitated cat will subtly start to swish her tail back and forth.
 * 5) *Skin twitches. Similar to when a fly lands on a horse’s skin, and the horse moves the skin to get the fly off, your cat might twitch her skin when she doesn’t want to be petted anymore. A skin twitch will look like a slight muscle movement that will also move the fur in a specific spot on the cat’s body.
 * 6) Be mindful that some cats don’t have a flash point. Sadly, some cats won’t give you any warning sign that they are about to become aggressive. If you know that a certain cat has a habit of suddenly becoming aggressive without warning, proceed with caution when you choose to pet her.[[Image:Stop an Aggressive Cat Step 14.jpg|center]]

Preventing Aggression From Developing

 * 1) Counter-condition your kitty. Sometimes, an aggressive cat will need to be trained out of his aggressiveness. To do this, keep some cat treats handy. When you pet your cat, hold a treat in one hand and pet the cat with the other. Watch his tail--he will start to swish his tail back and forth when he becomes aggressive. As soon as you see this movement, give the cat a treat. Doing this several times a day will help your cat to associate your petting with treats and gradually he will likely grow less aggressive. [[Image:Stop an Aggressive Cat Step 15.jpg|center]]
 * 2) Avoid petting your cat’s belly. Some cats really don’t like to be rubbed on their bellies and will become aggressive if you pet them in that area. In the wild, a cat would never expose his belly to an attacker because it is the most sensitive part of his body. That natural instinct still lives on in many cats. To avoid bringing out your cat’s aggressive side, stick to petting him on the head and back.[[Image:Stop an Aggressive Cat Step 16.jpg|center]]
 * 3) Expose your kitten to humans at an early age. One of the reasons that a cat can be aggressive towards people is because he didn’t get used to humans at an early age. If you have a kitten, make sure that he gets to hang out around people starting around when he turns 12 weeks old. Let people hold him, pet him, and play with him. [[Image:Stop an Aggressive Cat Step 17.jpg|center]]
 * 4) Have your cat spayed or neutered. Aggression is linked to sexual urge, so when a cat is spayed or neutered, the sexual urge is--for the most part--removed, as is aggressive behavior. Of course, your cat might become aggressive for another reason, but getting your cat spayed or neutered can certainly lower his or her chances of developing serious aggression. [[Image:Stop an Aggressive Cat Step 18.jpg|center]]
 * 5) Take your cat to the vet on a regular basis. As discussed in a previous section of this article, cats can become aggressive when they are in pain. Taking your cat to the vet on a regular basis will help to keep your cat healthy and pain-free.[[Image:Stop an Aggressive Cat Step 19.jpg|center]]
 * 6) *Make sure your cat gets vaccinated for rabies during one of his trips to the vet. While there are many diseases that can cause aggression, rabies is definitely the worst and can actually be fatal for both the cat and yourself.
 * 7) Give your kitten or cat toys. Sometimes, kittens will mistake your toes or feet for toys. If you let this mistake continue, your kitten could grow into a cat that aggressively attacks your feet whenever you walk in the door. To avoid this, give your cat or kitten toys that he can play with. When your cat goes to attack your toes, throw a toy (like a ball of yarn or a squeaky toy) in the opposite direction to distract your cat.[[Image:Stop an Aggressive Cat Step 20.jpg|center]]
 * 8) *Scratching posts are also good toys for cats. They help your cat to release pent up energy and helps them to learn not to scratch you or your furniture.
 * 9) Make sure your cat has a good hiding place. Sometimes cats will want to be alone. Your cat needs a place to unwind and feel safe. A dark corner of a room, or an elevated spot where they can sit and watch you without being seen will do nicely.[[Image:Stop an Aggressive Cat Step 21.jpg|center]]
 * 10) *A cardboard box that has been turned upside down is a perfect hiding spot. Cut a small hole in the box so that only your cat can fit into it.
 * 11) Never use violence to punish your cat for being aggressive. If your cat scratches you and you lash out by hitting your cat, you may break the bond formed with your cat. A cat that has been abused by a person will be very wary of getting close to another person so never use violence to show your cat that he was wrong to scratch you.[[Image:Stop an Aggressive Cat Step 22.jpg|center]]

Tips

 * The best way to stop an aggressive cat is to move away from him.

Warnings

 * If you have to approach an aggressive cat, always make sure to wear protective clothing like gloves and long pants so that you can avoid injury.