Tabbytudes - Cat Behavior Column (Part 2)
by Amy Shojai
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
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