Cats Who Bite

What To Do About Aggressive Cat Behaviour

As an animal shelter, we sometimes have cats in our care that act out, either because they’re overstimulated, scared or just not used to human interaction. We’ve seen cats surrendered to us because of biting or scratching, but we feel it’s important to work with a cat to help correct this behaviour before giving up on them.

Toronto-based cat trainer Claudette Nita says it’s important to understand what’s causing the behaviour in order to help correct it. This can sometimes be difficult because we don’t always know the cat’s background and how they’ve been treated or handled in the past. Depending on the severity of the behaviour, and how long it’s been going on, correcting it can be tough. But through positive reinforcement, plus time and a lot of patience, there is hope for improvement.

So why do cats act out? Claudette says it’s typically because of the following reasons:

• They’re being territorial, perhaps because a new cat has been introduced into the household
• They’re “redirecting.” They may have seen another cat in the backyard and they’re feeling frustrated and take it out on someone close to them
• There’s a medical issue. They could be feeling pain located somewhere on the body
• They’ve become overstimulated, which can happen when they’re being pet
• They’re scared. Biting, scratching or hissing can be a sign of fear
• Improper play behaviours. This can happen when a cat is orphaned or is taken away from his/her litter mates too early. Roughhousing with cats using hands/feet by an owner can contribute to this
• Non-recognition. Perhaps one cat has come home from the vet and the other cat doesn't recognize him due to unfamiliar scent

When trying to fix bad behaviour, some owners make the mistake of yelling, smacking, scruffing, spraying their cat with water or locking them away for a long period of time. This does not usually help and can even make the situation worse. Another mistake is moving an arm or leg when a cat is biting. While human instinct is to pull away, this can often make a cat bite even harder.

When Claudette advises clients through her Happy Kitty cat training service, she will often recommend keeping a journal of when biting or scratching happens to help identify what’s causing the cat to react aggressively. Another tip she recommends is to start off play time with lots of cardio or hunting behaviours; this can include playing with an interactive wand toy, throwing toys or playing with a laser pointer (keep in mind the laser pointer is great for cardio but always end your play session with an actual toy your cat can catch). The laser pointer itself is not rewarding and can lead to frustration in the cat). And give your cat some vertical space they can climb such as a cat tree.

It’s also very important to stop roughhousing or overstimulating them during playtime or petting sessions. Watch your cat’s body language carefully and learn their limits. Stop petting or playing if your cat starts to get upset or act out. If your cat is showing signs of aggression, it’s a good idea to consult with your veterinarian. They can determine if there’s a medical issue contributing to biting or scratching. If there are no health issues, it might be time to consult a cat trainer who can assess your cat and provide a personalized strategy to help reduce bad behaviours.