A cat who exhibits play aggression is under-stimulated and is acting on his
natural need to stalk and pounce, albeit on an inappropriate target (a person or
other cat).
What is play aggression?
Play aggression is not actual aggression because the cat is not trying to
harm another cat or person, nor is the cat fearful or upset. Play aggression is
usually exhibited by a cat who is not getting enough physical stimulation and
is looking for some way to burn off energy. Chasing or pouncing on a person or
another cat and then running away when the other animal/person reacts is a good
way to be active when there are no other options.
Play aggression can be annoying and upsetting for other cats and people in
the home who are the targets of the play aggression. No one wants to be pounced
on or latched onto suddenly, and cats’ claws can cause injury.
What are indications that a cat is displaying play aggression?
The cat
might:
- Be a friendly and social cat who sometimes stalks and pounces on or chases another cat in the home
- Be a friendly and social cat who sometimes stalks and/or pounces on a person walking by, or pounces on a person while they are sitting down or sleeping
- Run away once the targeted cat or person reacts (with a scream or yell)
- Cause superficial scratches but not significant injury
- Exhibit this behavior in the mornings and evenings (when cats have the most energy)
What advice should I give the client?
Identify when during the day the cat is most likely to show play aggression
and engage the cat in a 10–15 minute interactive play session around this time.
The cat should have at least two interactive play sessions a day. Feeding the
cat a meal following each play session will make the cat relaxed and likely to
sleep following the play session and meal.
Provide the cat with other types of environmental enrichment to keep him occupied.
This can include window perches, cardboard boxes or paper bags to explore and a
rotation of solo toys to play with.
If the cat tends to pounce on feet or legs when a person walks by, get the
cat out of this habit by tossing treats or toys when walking by the cat, or
distract the cat with an interactive toy before the cat shows any initial
reaction.
Petting-Induced aggression
This is another common type of aggression. In this case, the cat becomes agitated
or uncomfortable while being pet and swats or bites as a result.
Petting-induced aggression occurs when a cat is pet in an area that makes
the cat feel vulnerable (like the cat’s belly), becomes overstimulated and/or
agitated as a result of the petting or doesn’t like being pet in that location.
Petting-induced aggression can be annoying and even upsetting for the cat’s
owner, who might not understand why the cat is exhibiting this behavior and
could misinterpret the behavior as there being something wrong with the cat.
What are indications that a cat is displaying petting-induced aggression?
The cat
might:
- Be friendly and social, and sometimes like being pet, but sometimes swats or bites at the person’s hands or arms while being pet
- Cause superficial scratches or bites, but typically not any significant injury
What advice should I givethe client?
Pay attention to where the cat likes and does not like to be pet on her
body and only pet her where she is comfortable. Most cats are comfortable with
the tops of their heads, backs of their necks and chins being pet. Some cats
are also comfortable with their backs being pet. Most cats do not like having
their bellies or chests pet.
Pay attention to how the cat likes to be pet and only pet her in ways with
which she is comfortable. Some cats like to be pet with quick, short strokes
and others with slower, longer strokes.
Pay attention to warning signs that the cat is becoming agitated. Warning
signs include: tail swishing, hair on the back rising, skin twitching, the cat
looking back at the person doing the petting, sudden vocalization and shifting
of position. Once you have this information, stop the petting well before the
cat shows these warning signs. For example, if the cat starts swishing her tail
after two minutes of petting on her back, stop the petting at 90 seconds. Over
time, the length of the petting can be gradually increased so the cat slowly
becomes more comfortable to petting for longer periods of time.
Provide the cat with twice-daily interactive play and other types of
environmental enrichment to keep him occupied. Cats who are under-stimulated
are sometimes more likely to show petting-induced aggression.
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