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If Your Cat Gets Too Aggressive …
from:I've seen a lot of mean, nasty stray cats lurking in alleyways that could just about take your hand off with one vicious swipe of its paw. These are cats you probably don't want to mess around with if you aren't interested in a premature visit to your doctor.
However, for the most part, cats are not aggressive towards people, but if you find yourself with one that is, it can be a real nightmare. Cat bites and scratches are not usually as harmful as those from a dog, but it's still not nice for an adult to be attacked by a cat, and much worse for a child.
Even though dogs tend to be much more aggressive than cats, there are still more than 20,000 cases of cat-scratch disease in the United States every year. If you are badly bitten or scratched by a cat, make sure you clean the wounds with an antiseptic solution as soon as possible to prevent infection.
So, why exactly do cats turn aggressive and attack people? Well, there are several reasons:
A cat in pain tends to lash out. If your cat is normally good-natured, but suddenly strikes out at you for no reason, in all likelihood they have somehow sustain an injury or illness. If this behavior continues, it's a good idea to take it to a vet and have it checked out.
A fearful cat can also be dangerous. A mature cat that was never socialized properly when younger, or a cat that has been mistreated at some time in its life can lash out through fear. Some cats may also start to direct the kind of stalking behavior normally reserved for prey, at their owner's hands or feet. This can be particularly upsetting if it's directed at small children, so be careful.
Sometimes an owner can be the victim of re-directed aggression, such as when the cat attacks the owner when it cannot get at its intended target, perhaps another cat it can see or smell.
Cats rarely play status games the way dogs do, but on occasion you will get one that thinks it's Top Cat and indulges in behavior where it challenges the owner to prove it's wrong. The best solution for this behavior is professional help from a cat behavior specialist to sort this out before it has a chance to escalate out of control.
In summary, here are some do's and don'ts if you find yourself with an aggressive cat:
Have the cat checked over by a vet for signs of illness or injury.
Scale down the amount of physical contact with the cat.
When it goes into 'attack mode,' try to startle it with a loud noise etc. as a diversionary tactic.
Don't get too close when playing with the cat. Try to stay 'at arms length' by using e.g. a toy on a string held away from the body.
If the cat's behaviour becomes intolerable, it may be necessary to confine it to a cage, particularly if a young child is at risk.
Don't make prolonged eye contact, always look away from the cat's eyes after a few seconds.
Some people will strike a cat when it becomes overly aggressive. Don't do it. Physical punishment will only make the cat more aggressive.
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Glenn Cutforth is a writer, eBook publisher and graphic designer.
Visit his websites at: The Complete Cat.com and How To Classics.com
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