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I learned the hard way about aggressive behavior between cats. Having got one beautiful bundle I decided without much forethought (years ago) that Sam needed a friend. When sam was six months old I went to a rescue center and got another kitten (Ben). Until Ben's arrival Sam had been a loving and affectionate cat, following Ben's arrival Sam turned into the cat from hell and even though we were patient and continued to try to lavish him with love and affection he held a grudge - for 12 years! This harsh lesson taught me that cats are not naturally social animals - Sam didn't need Ben, he only wanted us. My advice to anyone who would like more than one cat is to get them at the same time so that they grow together and are used to each other from day one - getting them from the same litter would be even better!

Prior to being domesticated, cats lived solitary lives and so they do not really have the inbuilt instincts necessary to deal with strange humans or other animals. How aggressive a cat becomes is largely dependent on how well socialised they were as kittens. It also depends on their earlier experiences with other animals and, of course, mankind.

If you ever watch two unrelated cats you will see that there is often a lot of posturing. They will circle each other, often with one appearing larger than the other. There may be some tentative touching (with or without claws) and usually after a short period one or the other will break the state and exit before fur flies. Exchanges such as these occur usually as a result of a dispute over territory and are easy rectified. However, if a cat feels severely threatened by an interloper, then a rapid more vocal exchange usually takes place and it is not unusual for biting and scratching to occur before one of the participants decides to withdraw to fight another day.

Cats, when aggressive are usually trying to convey a message:

- I LIVE HERE
- STAY AWAY FROM ME
- THIS IS MY TERRITORY
- I DON'T LIKE THIS
- I'M SCARED

When threatened, for any of the above reasons (and a whole lot more) cats display aggression as a form of defense - its all they have.

The type of behavior exhibited can range from:

- Hissing and showing teeth
- Crouching tightly - tail underneath
- The above, plus fluffing up of the body so as to appear bigger

With cats most aggressive behavior is displayed in the hope of avoiding fighting rather than initiating it. They are basically sending out a signal that all is not right - its scary to watch, but the appearance of attack is their best form of defense!

If you would like further information on cats, see other articles by this author.

Learn more about this author, Laura Lytton.
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