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Tabbytudes Cat Behavior Column - May 2003
Written by Amy Shojai
May 2003
Dear Readers,
This past month you kept my in-box filled with questions. I'm delighted TabbyTudes is so popular, but discouraged that I don't have more time to reply individually-some questions will have to wait until next month. Since most of your letters dealt with kitty aggression, this month's column addresses how to understand and deal with that issue. I've chosen one letter to feature, but my response should also answer other readers' aggression concerns. I also offer some insight and advice for owners of "amorous" kitties, escape artists, and talk about unusual scratching targets. Don't overlook the Tabby Tip at the end of the column to read about a surprising trigger of aggression. If you don't see the answer to your burning question, and can't wait for the next column, you're sure to find lots more information in my books.
Purrs,
Amy
Letter of the Month: My Cat Attacked Me
Hi,
My cat attacked me with a vengeance. There were two cats fighting just below the window. I was in the window with my cat and the window was up, the screen was in the window. One of the cats screamed and I yelled so they would maybe run. The next thing I remember was blood all over me. My cat that loved me so much was attacking me. It was so scary. I had gashes in my head and all over my face and hands. Luckily my husband was home and threw a sheet over him. It took a while but he finally calmed down. Now I am afraid of him. I can tell he is suffering emotionally. I love him so much and I feel like I have lost my baby.
I was getting a little concerned because he was getting aggressive in the mornings to get me out of bed. After this happened, I started putting him in a big kennel cage at night. I am afraid this will harm him more emotionally as he's not used to it. I do have it where he can see me as I sleep. He's never alone in a room. I don't want to find him a home, as I am afraid it could happen to someone else. And I don't want to put him to sleep. I don't know what to do.
We live in the country and there are lots of cats from the woods around here. He's a stray I rescued as a baby. Any advice would be appreciated.
Donna
Amy Shojai's Reply:
Hi Donna,
First of all, I am terribly sorry you and your cat friend went through this experience. Cat bites and scratches are very serious and I hope you received proper medical care.
Feline aggression is a very serious issue that's difficult to "diagnose" and try to fix over the Internet, because there can be so many causes and variables involved. I've chosen your letter because it appears to have a pretty clear-cut trigger-that is, the other cats within sight/hearing/smelling range, but no way for your kitty to reach them.
Donna, I feel confident that your cat really didn't mean to attack his favorite human. You were the victim of "displacement/redirected aggression." Kitty simply became aroused by the presence of the other fighting cats. When unable to vent emotions toward the true instigator, cats typically lash out at the nearest target. You just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The same thing happens with people when we've had a bad day at work and the boss has yelled at us-we sure can't yell back, so we come home and instead snap at the kids or a spouse for the tiniest reason.
Incidentally, your husband did exactly the right thing. Tossing a blanket or sheet over the upset cat blocks out the sight of the target and gives kitty time to cool his jets. Aroused cats need up to two hours to calm down after such an attack, so the best thing you can do is leave them alone. When lots of strays are part of the mix, stay alert to what's happening outside and give your cat his space-don't talk to him, don't touch him-when he's agitated.
Until you rebuild some of your lost trust in each other, alternative sleeping arrangements are a practical solution. Cats easily "read" how we feel about them, and your nervousness around the cat feeds his own nervousness. It will take time for you both to calm down. You can help your cat with the pheromone product, Feliway, which mimics the calming scent of the cat's cheek glands. Feliway comes as a spray and as a plug-in. Try spraying all the windows to take the edge off any stray cat sightings.
There are other common triggers of feline aggression. Most cats are very scent-related and a person smelling of dog, or a strong perfume or cologne, could tie kitty's tail in a knot. In households where children come and go a great deal-spending time in Mom's house, and then weekends at Dad's-they may not smell enough like the cat to remain familiar. A bit of Feliway spritzed on pants cuffs or ankles might help ease that transition.
Cat-on-cat aggression can sometimes be resolved by making both cats smell alike. I've talked about the "vanilla trick" before. Dab vanilla extract or your favorite perfume under the chin and at the base of the tail of each animal. Voila! Suddenly the interloper-kitty smells familiar and is no longer a threat.
Much more information about aggression is available in my book PET CARE IN THE NEW CENTURY. Here's a quick overview of some of the common types that affect cats.
Status-related aggression: Cats who want control, and to be in charge, use the "leave me alone" bite to stop petting, for example. You've done nothing wrong - it's simply the cat's dominant personality.
Dominance aggression: Includes food and toy guarding, and redirected aggression. Cats want to "boss" other animals. This may be hereditary. A hallmark of dominance aggression is that it gets worse with discipline.
Fear aggression: Also a genetic component involved. Some cats become aggressive every time they get scared-strangers coming to the house, or a visit to the veterinarian can prompt these cats to wig out and attack.
Intercat aggression: Related to social standing, with older or weaker pets often victimized with the dominant cat blocking access to food, play or attention. Some types of tranquilizers have a side effect that makes cats "friendlier"-so hard case cats may benefit from very tiny doses of Valium. Ask your veterinarian about this.
Territorial aggression: Notoriously hard to correct in cats, this is usually aimed at other cats or people. Such cats may lure other kitties into their territory and then "discipline" them for trespassing.
Most aggressive behavior directed at people arises from misunderstandings between the cat and human. But there are some conditions that result from abnormal brain function. In all cases of aggression, it's best to have a behaviorist diagnose what's going on in order to design the best plan to deal with the situation. Donna, rest assured your cat loves you. I hope you'll both soon come to trust each other again, and this situation will never happen again.
All the best, Amy
Other letters this month included questions about odd scratching targets, cat escape artists, and amorous attraction to sweaters. Every cat develops his own scratching techniques and preferences. I'd never heard of cats clawing oil paintings before-but it makes sense. Linseed oil is a component of the paint, and cats often are attracted to oil-base items.
Clawing carpet is pretty typical, and cats often target edges of stairs or near the wall where they can really get a good grip. Scratch marking is visual, so pulling up the carpet is a GOOD thing to the cat. Citrus-smelling sprays work well to keep cats at bay, but must be regularly refreshed. Feliway also works well-cats won't scratch on top of the cheek scent-marks this product mimics-but again, the scent must be refreshed time and again. Cats often dislike the scent of Vicks so painting a bit of this along the baseboard may keep the cat away for a time. For a more permanent solution, try placing plastic carpet liners at the wall's edge, with the sharp nub-side up.
Plastic carpet liners also work well to keep cats a safe distance from doorways, to prevent mad dashes outside. Many professional breeders train their kittens to stay clear of the doorway, and only cross the threshold when riding safely in a carrier. The trick is to make the entryway to the door unattractive, but not necessarily scary. After all, you don't want the cat to be afraid of going through the doorway. If the cat does escape, tossing a large blanket or towel over him often calms the cat enough to be carried back inside, and also inhibits tooth and claw to protect owners from mishaps. If he'll go into a carrier to be returned home, that's even better. To prevent the next escape, try tossing a favorite toy to distract the cat away from the door while you make your exit. Also, home decorating stores sell sheets of "tacky mats" used to keep throw rugs from skidding on slick floors. These can be placed in front of the door, and most cats are reluctant to walk on the tacky surface.
Tacky behavior is another issue. (How's that for a transition?) Dog owners more commonly must deal with amorous pooches mounting a human's leg. Cat owners are often shocked to discover their cats indulge in mock mating behavior with sweaters, stuffed animals, pillows-and occasionally with other cats. This is normal behavior, by the way. Keep targets locked away or toss the favorite pillow in a hidden room if the minister happens to be visiting. Mounting other cats and grasping their neck is also a dominance display. As long as the two cats don't hurt each other or object, there's nothing to worry about. If it's stressing the target kitty, try painting the back of the cat's neck with bitter apple so the fur tastes bad and the other cat leaves him alone.
TabbyTip of the Month:
While most cats ignore their reflection, there are a percentage of felines who see themselves and mistake the image in the mirror for another cat. From the cat's perspective, it probably looks like another cat is peering from the other side of a window. Cats typically either become extremely fearful, or turn aggressive and try to attack the reflection. Of course, since the reflection seems to "attack" them back, the aggression escalates even further.
To diffuse the behavior, mask the mirrors with a piece of cardboard or cloth, or get them out of kitty view. When you notice the cat indulging in mirror gazing, interrupt the behavior with a loud handclap or other distraction. The spray product Feliway -- a cheek pheromone product -- has a calming influence on aggression, so treating areas around the mirrored surfaces may also help.
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