my cat can be very aggresive how can i stop it?

Question

my cat runs about my flat lot and just pounces on me and my guests with claws out and sometimes he even bites.

no-one does anything to wind him up he just comes out of nowhere and attacks.

some days he is fine but others he is just plain nasty.
he bit me earlier 2day.
he is nearly 2 years old and he has always been like this.
he has been neutered when he was 6moths old.

do you think he needs a playmate?
what could i do to encorage him to stop?

he has lots of toys and two scratching posts

he has never liked to stroked or cuddled.

Answer 1

Just like a child reward good behaviour and punish bad behaviour. A squirt from a small water sprayer is usually enough to discourage bad behaviour ad if you persist with it they will usually calm down. Try not to let him see you with the squirter though - he needs to associate his actions with getting wet.

If he gets too bad you can also use a kind of "time out" idea - when my kitten gets too crazy we put him in a safe room on his own for a little while until he calms down.

These seem to be working for my hyperactive, bitey 5 month old. He is calming down noticeably.

Answer 2

My immediate thought was neutering, but if that's been done, try putting him on a lower protein diet (less meat, more cat cereal). If that doesn't work, you'll just have to accept some cats are more aggressive than others. Incidentally, I assume the scratches and bites are relatively minor? You haven't mentioned anyone being rushed to hospital with a shredded arm, which is within the capabilities of a domestic cat. If so, he's probably just playing, as kittens do with their siblings. If he does it again, a smack (repeated as often as necessary) might also help, but it MUST be pretty well instantaneous, so he can associate the action with the punishment.

Answer 3

I think he needs a playmate and maybe you should play with him more. Does he go outside? He might would like that if you let him hunt some little squirrels.

My male kitty likes to rough house a lot but he was trying to dominate me. I know this sounds like abuse but he did hurt me more...you need to put your hand on the back of his neck and let him calm down if he gets too agressive. If that doesn't work, a good whack(not too hard just harsh enough to let him know that you mean business) on his side will give him something to think about.

Okay, I have 27 cats and some of the males aren't neutured. You have to take action whenever there are cats beating up on each other.

You may not want to listen to me and think I am a cruel person but I am not. I love animals so much and especially cats. But when a cat thinks they are too high and mighty to listen, you have to take action.

I hope this doesn't make me seem like a bad person. I love cats so much. I would not hurt them, ever.

Answer 4

Sounds like you have wild 'feral' cat. You can try things to encourage him to feel safer with you stroking him i.e. buy a very soft baby brush and tape it to a short stick, stroke him with it, and each time give him a treat, he will soon associate being stroked with positive things. You can pretty much use the same approach to change a lot of behaviours.

The biting, I would tell him off, maybe touch his nose gently with the end of your finger (if he doesn't bite it!) and let him know you are not happy.

Its all worth a try, but if it doesn't work I think you will have to consol yourself with accepting him as he is or finding a farm for him to live on. Good Luck!

Answer 5

Hi,

I have 4 cats (we used to foster for a cat rescue) and our 2 year old desexed male is quite 'violent' as well.

Our other cats won't have a bar of him as even since really young he has been very bitey and rough, so he has never had a playmate until now.

We recently got a 9 week old female kitten and wonders of wonders he now is in love with her and plays very gently with her and seems much happier.

Perhaps yours needs a playmate as well. If you do get one introduce them slowly and I have heard it is best to get one of the opposite sex like we did.

I know it sounds like the other cat may be a lamb to the slaughter, but you may be able to trial a kitten and return it if it doesn't work out. Get a very outgoing boisterous and playful one who won't be cowed by him.

Answer 6

I would love to try to help but this is a question for a behavior specialist. We learned about this in my behavior class and there are many different ways to solve this problem but a professional needs to help you. The behavior is fixable but only with desensitizing and reconditioning and possibly meds. I could tell you how to do it but you would be reading for hours. Your best bet is seeking help face to face with someone. Good luck and don't worry with the correct help you will have a happy, harmonious home. It will take time, there is no quick fix but things will get better! Another cat is not the answer, it is possible it would make the issue worst.

Answer 7

My cat is 1 year old, female, and EXACTLY the same. I think it is just their way, and just their personality. Sometimes getting another cat can help, but sometimes it can also make matters worse. I did not get another cat, because I think it would cause alot of jealousy, and make the cat's behaviour even worse. Just love your cat for who they are. They are all unique and all different, and also the older they get, the calmer they get. When my cat bites, and stalks me, I holler NO, and she will stop, but always will test me and keep trying to bite, just be persistent and keep yelling NO. They eventually learn who is boss.

Answer 8

My 6 year old male neutered cat is exactly the same and it is a clear sign of him trying to be dominant. The way I handle him wanting to bite me is by holding him down and saying "No!" firmly - he soon becomes all kitten like again when he realises that he cannot always have things his way.

Answer 9

This is how a cat plays, they are preditoray animals and when playing use us as prey!

Have you tried lots of toys that he can play with?
Also giving him lots of attention when he is calm adn ignoring him after telling him NO in a sterm voice when he is up to his mad antics can work sometimes, but it is just his nature im afraid.
We dont own cats, cats own us, they see it as a privillage them allowing us to keep them, so think they rule the roost. LOL

Answer 10

spend a lot of time stroking him, and stroke his paws, as this will deter him from getting his claws out. Get a scratch post and toys with catnip in. I've had a lot of cats, and they all have different personalities, but the more time you spend with them, the nicer they tend to be.