How can you help a cat from being very aggressive?

Question

I have this cat, who I bottle fed, and he seems to have play aggresion. He bits and scratches me almost everyday, and now I have a baby. Is there any way to help him get over this w/out putting him down or getting rid of him? And he is neutered.

Answer 1

Don't ever play with your cat with your hands! Always use a cat dancer or feather toy for play.

He is not going to bite or scratch the baby so don't worry about it. Also it's important to trim his nails on a regular basis.

Answer 2

Play aggression can usually be dealt with by preventing him from becoming over-stimulated (keep play sessions brief, use toys that keep your hands at a distance, stop play when you see he is getting aroused) and using a time out if he does bite (walk away or put him in another room for 1 minute).

It is very common for orphaned kittens to have this behavior. Kits learn best to inhibit their bites from their mom and littermates. We can teach them, but not as well as another cat would. He should get better, but this may be something that still rears its ugly head occasionally throughout his life.

Answer 3

Let him play outside more, get him some toys (my kitty loves the round thing with the ball inside that they are supposed to try to get the ball out but it goes around and around...) and something to scratch on. When my kitty was fresh from the pound he was aggressive, but i shouted "Ouch!" when he bit or scratched so now he doesn't put his claws out. They jsut need to know who's boss. A little smack on the head when he bites won't hurt him, and he'll learn.

Answer 4

i had the same problem but when the cat bites or scratches you just hit it (but not to hard) and after a while he`ll learn not to scratch you. my cat did now he only scratches if you rub his stomach. and always let the cat smell you first before you touch him/her

Answer 5

maybe talk to his vet about his behavior...he could probably prescribe something for him, to help calm him down. but i don't think there is any need to put him down...that's pretty extreme..if it doesn't help to take him to the vet, then maybe i'd think about giving him away.

Answer 6

when you play with him and he starts to get to ruff stop and walk away, everytime he bites or scratches stop what your doing with him and walk away...he dosent know he is to ruff, he will learn that his owner wont pet or play with him when he bites...soon he should stop...good luck!

Answer 7

Please do not euthanize a cat who is just...being a cat. If nothing else, keep him away from baby until you can find a good home for him.... but in the meantime, try these tips from the HSUS:
and ASPCA: Play aggression is the most common form of aggression displayed by cats toward people. All kittens and young cats must play. Play is a normal behavior that provides the young animal with opportunities to develop motor and cognitive skills, as well as the chance to socialize with others. All play consists of “mock” aggression—the cat stalks, chases, pounces, swats, kicks, scratches, and bites. Cats display two different types of play: solitary play and social play. Solitary play is directed toward objects, such as toys, skeins of yarn, paper bags, boxes, and rolled-up paper. Social play is directed toward others. Problems arise when play is directed toward people. Despite the playful intentions of the cat, people can be injured, sometimes seriously, because cat scratches and bites are painful and easily become infected.

Sometimes it is difficult to even determine if the cat is playing or if the cat is truly behaving aggressively. Two behaviors that cats show when they are playing are the “play face” (the cat’s mouth is held half open) and the sideways pounce or hop, often with an arched back. Cats tend to be quiet during play, whereas they are likely to growl, hiss, and spit during aggressive encounters. Chances are if your cat is under one year of age and is the only pet (or if no other pets will play with the cat), your cat is displaying play aggression toward you.

WHAT TO DO:
- Provide your cat with a selection of toys so you can determine her preferences. In general, cats enjoy batting small toys—think balls and fake mice. They also like to stalk, chase, and pounce on toys that move like prey, such as kitty teasers and cat dancers.
- Regularly provide novel objects for your cat to investigate, such as paper bags, boxes, etc.
- Spend at least 10 minutes (or longer if your cat wants) twice a day playing with your cat, using a cat dancer or throwing your cat’s favorite toys. Schedule these play sessions to coincide with times when your cat is naturally most active and playful.
- If your cat likes to sit under things and ambush your ankles as you walk by, or grab you as you go up and down the stairs, carry toys with you and toss them ahead of you to encourage your cat to chase the toys—rather than attack you.
- Consider getting another cat as a playmate. Make sure the new cat is as playful as your current cat.
- Consider building an outdoor enclosure for your cat, complete with branches, boxes, shelves and perches for your cat to navigate. This more complex environment with opportunities to hunt insects and chase leaves will redirect your cat’s energy.

WHAT NOT TO DO:
- Do not encourage your cat to play with your hands, feet, or any other body part. While this may be cute when you have a tiny kitten, it will become painful and dangerous as the kitten grows into an adult cat.
- Do not buy toys that teach your cat to play with your hands, such as gloves with balls hanging from the fingers. The cat will not be able to discriminate when you are “wearing” the toy and when you are not.
- Avoid putting your cat in “time out” for playing too roughly. This can frustrate the cat and, as a result, make her even more wild and crazy the next time she tries to play with you.
- Under no circumstances should you run from your cat, hit the cat, or try to block her with your foot, as these maneuvers can incite your pet to intensify her play—or to switch from play to aggression.
- Do not punish your cat for playing too roughly. Punishing a playful cat can backfire. If you hit or slap at the cat, she may perceive this as play and become even rougher. Alternatively, she might become fearful of your hands and keep her distance from you at all times—or she might switch from play to real aggression.

If, despite your best efforts, your cat persists in playing with you, you can discourage her by spraying from a can of compressed air. Try to carry the can around during the times the cat is likely to ambush you, so you will be able to deliver the blast of air at the exact moment the cat runs at you. Other devices such as whistles and water spray can stop the cat at the time, but are unlikely to teach the cat not to ambush you in the future. Loud noises, such as the blast from a small air horn, can work, too—but we do not recommend such powerful punishment. Some cats would be so terrified they might never come out of hiding!