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Aggression but not really?

post #1 of 11
7/2/11 at 8:35am
Thread Starter 
I have a very handsome black cat named Sebastian. He's a wonderful cat but has developed some odd aggression issues.

A year ago we got a dog...after the initial shock, Sebastian was quick to develop a friendship with the dog. They groom and otherwise tolerate each other. I think this is when his "aggression" started.

If you walk within like 3ft of Sebastian, he whines. If he's play fighting with the other cats, he's incredibly noisy. If you touch his back feet or if you pick him up when he doesn't feel like it, he "screams" at you. If you continue to hold onto him, he starts growling (I can't help but laugh, he sounds like a lawn mower). But it's strange...unless he's growling, it's like he's just making noise because he can. He'll turn around and be perfectly sweet. If he's growling, he may turn around and slap you in the face.

He's 100% healthy. His "aggression" is not really a problem but if I can do something about it, I'd like to. Currently I just keep touching his feet, or keep walking near him, etc. I'll grab his foot and give him a treat or whatever. Trying to associate it with something good. It's not working though...is that really the best solution?

Personally I think he needs a therapist!
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post #2 of 11
7/2/11 at 8:44am
This does not sound like aggression to me, if I am reading it right. It just sounds like he has many opinions on everything that happens to him and he is not shy about sharing them.

Some cats are very vocal. Sebastian is one of those!

My Jennie walks around the house growling hissing and swearing at everyone all day long. It's just her way of expressing herself. No one (other cats) pay any attention to her noise. She is perfectly happy and loves the other cats just as much as they love her. It's just her way.

None of my cats like to be picked up, but I do it daily, just so they know it's okay if mommie picks them up. Queen Eva screams like I am murdering her, then growls at me.

Mazy doesn't scream, but she growls her funny chirpy "I'm warning you" growl. It's just their way of expressing their opinions on being picked up. They are not being aggressive.

PS yes, touching his feet then offering a nice treat is a good tactic for getting him used to being handled.
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post #3 of 11
7/3/11 at 3:36am
I think he's being very clear here. "Hey you. Stop picking me up, I don't like it." "Don't touch my feet." So why do you keep on doing it????
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post #4 of 11
7/3/11 at 11:55am
Thread Starter 
Why do I keep on doing it? Because he needs to be trained to be handled, just like dogs. If a small child were to pull his tail, I don't want that child injured. Of course, the obvious answer to that is "well don't let small children play with him." Well, duh. But if I can train him to be nice, I'd like to.

Anyway the main point behind my question is that this is a CHANGE in behavior. He was not always like this. Most cats do not get upset because you walk past them. Many cats do not like being picked up, so that I can handle...but again, if I can make it enjoyable for him, I'd like to. Typically when an animal becomes sensitive about a particular place being touched, it's due to injury. I find it odd that he has not had an injury so am wondering if anyone else has experienced a similar situation.

I want my cat to be happy. That's all. I won't have "don't walk near him, don't touch him, and don't pick him up" as a solution to that...that's not healthy.
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post #5 of 11
7/3/11 at 6:06pm
What for? Unless he needs to go to the vet a lot, there really no reason he ever needs to be picked up. Most cats hate being picked up and most never learn to like it.

Also, unless I'm mistaken, he's being a good boy by hissing and Not attacking when people do things he doesn't like. If a child pulls his tail, he'll hiss and the child will learn an important lessen: be kind to animals.

Him being upset about walking by is another thing (guess I missed it in the first post); did you or someone else step on his tail or spook him by accident? You'll need some sort of other training to fix this; picking him up more won't do anything. I don't know too much about that, but I assume it will involve being aware of how you approach him and treating him when you approach.

Also, laughing at him when you pick him up isn't helping anything. If you want to practice picking him up, at least do it in a comforting manner, cats don't understand what laughter means.

And lastly when it comes to being sensitive about places being touched, I assume you are talking about his back feet. Cats hate being touched there, period. Even my cat who is okay with front feet being touched, pulls back and kicks when his back feet are touched.
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post #6 of 11
7/3/11 at 6:47pm
I didn't realize this was something new. In that case, a trip to the vet is what I recommend. I know I said I thought he was just being chatty, but if all this screaming and hissing is new, then something might be hurting him. Get him to the vet.

I agree with you that cats need to learn to be handled, but that can be done and still respect their boundaries.

From the day my cats walk in the door they learn that there are certain things that I will do, pick them up and hold them, handle their paws...so they can learn to accept things like nail trims, teeth brushing, grooming, medication.

But I do it in a respectful way, honoring certain boundaries and using special treats to help them associate the lesson with something nice. This kind of training should be done in a very gradual way. Kitty doens't need to learn in one day that it is okay to have his paws touched. It may take months for a cat to learn to accept it, or it may take days, depending on the cat.

However, any kid wants to pull a cat's tail, that kid deserves a scratch. Children should be taught how to treat animals, and to learn that if you pull kitty's tail it hurts, so kitty will probably scratch you.
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post #7 of 11
7/5/11 at 8:41am
Thread Starter 
Otto, thank you for the info/opinions.

I guess I wasn't too clear in my original post. I was wondering what the best techniques are for teaching him that people aren't out to get him...not asking whether or not I should bother.

I could go on discussing the why's, but after reading through other posts in this forum I notice a pattern in attitude. Not a fan. I won't bother.

Thanks for being nicer than most, but I still feel like I'm being lectured instead of helped.
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post #8 of 11
7/5/11 at 8:59am
Hi FurryChaos,

I am sorry you are upset by some of the members . I do understand how you feel about some of the members . I work with exotic cats, very high percentage exotic hybrid cats as well as own a F3 Savannah cat and domestic cats. Plus I am a vet tech. So my view is similar to yours in some respects.

My best suggestion to you is simply this: First find a treat the cat REALLY likes. Then when you go to touch his foot give him that treat. He will over time learn to associate something "unpleasant like having a foot touched" with something "pleasant" like being given a very special treat.

Lastly we all LOVE OTTO !
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post #9 of 11
7/5/11 at 9:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by FurryChaos View Post
Otto, thank you for the info/opinions.

I guess I wasn't too clear in my original post. I was wondering what the best techniques are for teaching him that people aren't out to get him...not asking whether or not I should bother.

I could go on discussing the why's, but after reading through other posts in this forum I notice a pattern in attitude. Not a fan. I won't bother.

Thanks for being nicer than most, but I still feel like I'm being lectured instead of helped.
He is who he is.

Maybe you didn't understand what I was saying.

You can't "teach" him that people aren't out to get him. You can teach him to accept certain things from you, such as being held and having his paws touched, in the way I already described. But you can't change his personality. If he doesn't like other people, he doesn't like other people, it's just who he is.

Provide a safe secure place for him to hide out when he feels the need, don't let other people, including and especially children harass him, and let him be who he is.
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post #10 of 11
7/5/11 at 9:20am
PS As I said before, since this is new behavior there is a high possibility that he is ill in some way, and in pain, have you noticed any change in his litter box habits?

Cats are the masters of hiding pain and illness. By the time you start to see symptoms or signs such as unusual crying, growling or aggression, the cat usually has been ill for a long time.

Please get him to the vet for a check up.
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post #11 of 11
7/5/11 at 9:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by FurryChaos View Post

I could go on discussing the why's, but after reading through other posts in this forum I notice a pattern in attitude. Not a fan. I won't bother.

Thanks for being nicer than most, but I still feel like I'm being lectured instead of helped.
I hope you understand that for some people on here who read about many cat tragedies (and deal with them offline, too) sometimes the emotion can be harsh, but it is an emotion for the betterment of cats.

This site is constantly working with it's members and the way they express themselves, trying to remember to keep those emotions in balance.

I am sorry that you were treated in anyway that you found offensive. Being respectful to one another should always be the way it is, but unfortunately, its just not always the case.

I hope you stick around because there is a lot of good and useful info here about kitties.
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