by Sarah Williams

Created on: May 23, 2009   Last Updated: May 24, 2009

When we think of aggression in terms of pets, most of us will immediately think of our canine companions, but while not as common, our feline friends can exhibit aggressive behavior as well. Cats have an extremely high flight instinct, which is why we see most cats run and hide whenever they are bothered, scared, or even annoyed. Some cats, however, exhibit what has been coined as "fear aggression" when they are introduced to new people, places, animals or stimuli, and they feel cornered or trapped in their surroundings. This can be an extremely dangerous behavior, as an attack from a cat can not only be alarming, but quite formidable, especially when children or other pets are involved.

As with most pet behaviors, the first step in treatment is understanding why your cat is experiencing these symptoms. If this is a new behavior exhibited by a cat that has been otherwise calm, your first call should be to the veterinarian, as certain health problems can cause extreme aggression. If you are dealing with a new cat, or one who has always been fearful, you must understand a little bit about your cat's psychology. Unlike dogs, it is typically ineffective to punish a cat. Even the smallest little tap on the nose during one of these fear aggression episodes will likely make the situation worse, not to mention put you in harms way. Additionally, cats tend to ramp up their behavior over a period of time, so if unchecked, an "episode" can last for hours, or sometimes all day.

The best thing that you, as an owner, can do for your cat if he is suffering from fear aggression is to try and recognize the stimuli that sets him off. Does he become agitated when a particular animal is present, or perhaps when strangers come over? Does he dislike certain sounds, like the garbage truck or the doorbell? All of these things will help you in your quest to modify his behavior. Now that you know a little about his "triggers", start trying to be present when these unavoidable things occur (like the garbage truck or the doorbell). Because it is ineffective to punish your cat during an episode, it is best if you can catch him during the early stages of his exhibition of aggression and startle him, either by slapping a rolled up newspaper on your thigh, or shaking a plastic bottle with rocks inside. This sudden noise will often shock him right out of his behavior. This only works, however, if you do it in the very beginning of an episode, because otherwise your cat may see it as reason

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