9 reasons why cats attack their owners

Cats are one of the most popular pets in the world and are dearly loved by millions, although the dangers posed by their razor-sharp claws and teeth, such as serious infection, are not taken seriously in most cases.

Today we will look at the reasons why cats suddenly attack their owner / become aggressive. Whether the cause is poor play, dominant behavior, fear, or illness, something can usually be done about it.

How often do cat attacks happen?

Serious cat attacks are not uncommon. This is because, no matter how domestic cats may seem, they still possess this wild gene. This is true for their canine counterparts as well.

Both animals can show signs of imminent aggression that are often unnoticed or ignored by keepers. Thus, although aggression is common, it does not occur as often as aggression that causes injury.

The nuances of raising a kitten from the first days of life together

In order to raise a kitten to be obedient and affectionate, you need to know the characteristics of the periods of its development. And in each of them apply the most appropriate methods of influence.

They begin raising the baby immediately after the completion of the period of adaptation to the new place of residence.

They begin to raise the baby immediately after the completion of the period of adaptation to the new place of residence. The first and main concern at this time is litter box training. This must be done affectionately, calmly and persistently. Many cats immediately understand what is wanted from them and begin to perceive the litter box as their latrine.

Immediately after a kitten appears in the house, they carefully observe it, trying to find out what kind of character the pet has. Punishment, even with the best intentions, is unacceptable. The kitten is not yet able to understand what exactly caused the owner’s dissatisfaction, and physical pain will only cause fear or resentment.

With systematic punishment, the animal will develop character traits such as aggressiveness and bitterness. Or on the contrary: the animal will become downtrodden and fearful. In the first six months, it is recommended to avoid situations that are stressful for your pet: noisy feasts and parties.

Causes

Cat attacks may not be as destructive as large dog attacks, but they can be painful, both psychologically and physically. However, they cannot be ignored. First of all, you need to find out where this behavior comes from. These may include the following:

Fear . In most cases, a cat rushes at its owner out of fear. Fear incapacitates a cat and causes it to attack people and other animals. They usually don't do this on purpose; they're just out of sorts. You can help your little feline friend cope with his fears by giving him access to a safe place. This could be anything from a little-used shed in the yard to a nearly empty storage room in the garage. If their fear seems to be at an extreme level, you may need to contact your veterinarian.
Disease . Unusual aggression in normally docile cats may be a sign of health problems. Sometimes when a cat is sick, it may attack you. If it seems like this could be the cause of the behavior, schedule a visit to your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Misrepresented game . Cats chase each other around the house, attack each other and fight over toys. In other words, they love to play. However, they must understand the difference between unacceptable and acceptable play. This way they won't confuse biting or scratching with play. One way to control your cat's excitement and prevent her from lashing out during play is to give her plenty of toys. Also, keep in mind that cats get bored easily, so add a new toy to their pile from time to time.
Hunting instinct . This is a cat's instinct to hunt. Although they usually do not perceive you as their victim, some situations may be the exception. The first is when they want to practice their stalking and attacking skills on you. You could be walking around your house, minding your own business, and get attacked out of nowhere. Of course, it won't be an actual attack, but it will be painful, with several bloody scratches on your calf. Redirecting your cat's attention to his toys rather than his feet is a great way to discourage this behavior. You can make your cat chase a dot with a laser pointer, or play hunting with a toy mouse or insect.
Territorial behavior . The presence of an intruder, usually in the form of another cat, can be enough to cause our feline friends to revert to their baser instincts. Having another cat can sometimes stress your pets and cause them to become aggressive. This aggression towards animals invading their territory can be transferred to you, or more precisely, to your hand, when you try to pet them, the cat lunges at you.
Maternal instinct . Kittens can provoke the mother cat to attack the owner. You may have been responsible for raising your feline companion and giving her a home, but she will be far from sane when you try to pet her while she is feeding her kittens. You can say you don't want to cause harm as much as you want, but some kittens' moms just won't stand for it.
Pain . Your cat may lunge at you due to pain. The explanation could be so simple. This is quite understandable since even we tend to lash out at others when we feel uncomfortable. Of course, we're not inclined to create a bloody mess, but nevertheless, we get to where our feline friend came from. As for where their pain is coming from, you may need to consult your veterinarian about this.
Overstimulation . Sometimes petting can overstimulate a cat's senses and cause discomfort. This leads to cats lunging at the person petting them. Some signs that your petting is causing excitement are changes in body position, loud meows, quivering skin, and flapping of the tail.
It would seem there is no reason . Cats may attack you for no reason. Although it is rare, it can be difficult to diagnose when it occurs.

Redirected aggression

Occurs when the cat sees or feels the stimulus, but does not come into contact with it. For example, your pet observes a stray animal or a neighbor's pet through the window and even smells another animal. And if there is no opportunity to attack, aggression can be redirected to the person.

Sometimes cats redirect aggression towards people / petful.com

Sometimes the same behavior occurs due to loud noises and even the presence of strangers in the house.

What to do about it

The easiest option is to eliminate the irritant. For example, close the windows with curtains or isolate your pet from a neighbor. Various toys will also help distract the animal.

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