Did you know that aggressiveness is one of the most frequent problems in felines? Although obviously we should not fall into the error of associating cats with aggressiveness, since they are truly domestic animals whose behavior is usually very calm. However, a cat is not a dog and therefore does not have the same level of sociability. A cat does not have to accept another cat, on many occasions, it does not even accept the presence of members of the human family in the corners that it considers to be its exclusive domain.
These characteristics make up the genuine character of felines, which can sometimes become problematic. In this article on our site we explain why your cat is very aggressive towards other cats and how to act.
What causes aggression between cats?
Have you decided to take in more than one cat at home? This can be a good option, as each will benefit from the other's presence, but it also increases the risk that cats may develop aggressive behavior.
The main causes of a cat being very aggressive towards another cat are the following:
- Cats generally begin to show intolerance and aggression towards each other when they experience stressful situations (moving, visiting the vet, traveling or vacation).
- Inadequate socialization.
- Conflicts in the organization of the territory.
- Pain caused by illness in one of the cats can also lead to aggressive reactions.
- The feline hunting instinct can also cause aggression between them, as their predatory instincts can be activated by another feline.
- The aggressiveness of a male cat towards another cat of the same sex is due to hormonal issues and is very easily observed when there is a female in heat nearby.
- When a cat goes to the vet or is bathed, it may be that his body odor changes. The other cat, not detecting the same smell, may attack it due to ignorance.
In any case it will be very important to know how to calm an aggressive cat, because if our cat attacks a fellow cat and we try to calm him down with treats, he will learn that aggressiveness brings him benefits.
How to act in case of minor aggression
Mild aggressions are manifested mainly through snorting and screaming, they are characterized by being very scandalous but rarely cause serious injuries. In these cases we must understand that it is a natural and normal feline communication.
In the event of mild aggression from one cat to another, human intervention should be minimal:
- Positive interference will be used only to distract the cats' attention towards more positive stimuli, such as play.
- All spaces in the house must be left open so that the cats have complete freedom of movement, and it is not advisable to separate them.
- Pheromone therapymay be used until the behavior of both cats has stabilized. To find out what it consists of and how to obtain the desired results, don't miss our article on natural tranquilizers for cats.
How to act in case of serious attacks
Serious aggressions are characterized by being constant and it can be seen that the conflict occurs between a very active and dominant cat and another which, on the contrary, is very passive. In these cases, cats can use all their weapons (claws and teeth) in an attack, therefore, human intervention is essential:
- The Separation with eye contact is one of the best strategies when a cat is very aggressive towards another cat. To do this, both felines will be separated with the help of a fence that allows visual contact and sniffing between them. Initially, the feeder and the drinker will be located far from the fence, and as the days go by they will gradually get closer. When aggressive or fearful behaviors are not observed, the cats can be together again. It is important that during the separation, and despite it, play between the felines is encouraged.
- Pheromone therapy is also an excellent option to stabilize the behavior of both cats.
- In cases of very high anxiety, and always under veterinary supervision, sedatives and/or antidepressants can be used.
Obviously, we recommend that before using pharmacological treatment you have the advice of a specialist in feline behavior and that at the same time you opt for more natural means to prevent a cat from being very aggressive towards other cats, such as example homeopathy for felines.
