| Most cats are not aggressive towards people, | | | | an owner can be the victim of re-directed |
| but if you have one that is, it can be a | | | | aggression, i.e. the cat attacks the owner |
| nightmare. Cat bites and scratches are not | | | | when it cannot get at its intended target - |
| normally as harmful as those from a dog, but | | | | another cat it can see or smell.Cats play |
| it's still not very nice being attacked by a | | | | status games rather more rarely than dogs, |
| cat as an adult, and even worse if you're a | | | | but on occasions you will get an animal that |
| child.Although aggressive cats are nowhere | | | | thinks it's Top Cat and indulges in behavior |
| near as common as aggressive dogs, there are | | | | where it challenges the owner to prove it |
| still more than 20,000 cases of cat-scratch | | | | wrong. Professional help is needed from a cat |
| disease in the United States annually. If you | | | | behavior specialist to sort this out before |
| are bitten or scratched by a cat, it's | | | | it escalates out of control.Some do's and |
| important to clean the wounds with an | | | | don'ts to help control cat aggression:Have |
| antiseptic solution as soon as possible.So, | | | | the cat looked over by a vet for signs of |
| why exactly do cats turn aggressive and | | | | illness or injury.Scale down the amount of |
| attack people? Well, there are several | | | | physical contact with the cat.When it goes |
| reasons:A cat in pain can tend to lash out. | | | | into 'attack mode,' startle the cat with a |
| If a normally good-natured cat suddenly | | | | loud noise etc. as a diversionary tactic.Play |
| strikes out at you for no reason, take it to | | | | with the cat 'at arms length' by using e.g. a |
| a vet and have it checked out for illness or | | | | toy on a string held away from the body.It |
| injury.A fearful cat can be dangerous. A | | | | may be necessary to confine the cat to a |
| mature cat that was never properly socialized | | | | cage, particularly if a young child is at |
| when younger, or a cat that has been | | | | risk.Don't make prolonged eye contact, always |
| mistreated at some time in its life, can lash | | | | look away from the cat's eyes after a few |
| out through fear.Some cats may start to | | | | seconds.Don't use physical punishment. This |
| direct the kind of stalking behavior normally | | | | will only make the cat more aggressive.Chris |
| reserved for prey, at an owners hands or | | | | Curtis developed Bakersfield Pets Photo |
| feet. This can be particularly disturbing if | | | | Gallery as a place to showcase photos of his |
| it gets directed at small children.Sometimes | | | | family's beloved cats. |