My cat is aggressive towards people. What causes it and how to help?

It would be hard to give a specific answer without more information. If your cat is being aggressive toward other cats, separating them and making sure each cat has access to their own food, water, litter, etc can help reduce tension. If your cat is being aggressive toward you, a good first step is a trip to the vet as pain or illness can sometimes cause behavioral changes in cats. If Chester checks out healthy, speaking with a veterinary behaviorist may be helpful in figuring out what is going on, and working on a combination training/medication plan to help reduce the behavior. https://www.dacvb.org/page/about

Aggression in cats can sometimes be due to an underlying medical cause such as hyperthyroidism that can be treated by your veterinarian. Unusual aggression can also result from increased stress from a change in routine e.g. a move, a new animal or baby in the house etc. If this is the case, your veterinarian can prescribe anti-anxiety medications to get Maria through this stressful time.

Hi there, Sorry to hear about Lenny's aggression problem. I would recommend a few different things. First, a consult with your veterinarian. It sounds like you have done a lot to enrich his environment without much reward, and Lenny may need medication to help his serotonin levels. Your vet can help you determine if Lenny is a good candidate for medical therapy. Fluoxetine (Prozac) and gabapentin are commonly used behavioral drugs in cats. I'm not sure which calming spray you used, but I am a big fan of Feliway if you have not tried that yet. Lenny would also likely benefit from additional forms of mental and physical stimulation. Eating from treat toys to utilize his prey and hunting drive for food is great mental and physical exercise. Learning to walk on a harness and experiencing new environments may also be good for Lenny. Dr. Karen Pryor also has a great website with articles on companion animal behavior. Reading it will hopefully give you more insight as well. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Random aggressive behavior can sometimes indicate pain or an underlying health issue so a good first step would be to schedule a vet visit for Espn. It is also getting to summertime in the US, and if she is unspayed her hormones could be getting her ready to go into heat and thus changing her behavior as well. Spaying can help this. If she checks out healthy, then looking for signs of stress around the house such as other pets, new people, etc can help you pinpoint any triggers setting off her behavior. A calming pheromone collar or plug in can also help reduce stress in addition to making sure she has access to food, water, litter and bedding without being bothered by pets or people. If the behavior continues even with a health check and changes, then seeking out a trainer or veterinary behaviorist in your area is a good next step as they can help formulate a more tailored treatment and training plan.

Kittens are socialized through interaction with the mother cat and their littermates, and kittens who are separated from mom at a young age tend to miss out on this socialization. One explanation for why they may seem more aggressive is that they are treating people like other cats, and being more aggressive with them. I will also say that it is pretty common for cats to be fearful and therefore aggressive at the veterinary clinic - and who could blame them? Unpleasant things they don't understand tend to happen there. If she seems anxious and fearful at the vet you could ask about things to try to reduce her stress level like pheromones or a sedative.

Sudden aggression and behavioral changes in cats can indicate pain or illness, so if you haven't already, a veterinary check up is best. If your cat checks out healthy, it may be there is a lot of stress causing your cat's behavioral issues. Making sure she has her own access to food, water, toys, treats, hiding spots etc from other pets or people is best. She is also still very young, and may just have a lot of energy/is still learning what appropriate behavior is. Ignoring bad behavior, increasing play and activity times, and rewarding calm, quiet behavior is best to teach her the right way to interact and to get out that excess energy. If the behavior continues even with this, speaking with a veterinary behaviorist is the best next step.

Unfortunately the new cat is likely causing stress and this is a common feeling reaction to stress. She may not want to go outside as long as that other cat is around. It may be difficult to keep the other cat out of your area unless you want to purchase or build a fence. There are fences available that have curvature to the top that make it difficult for a cat to climb over. There are some things you can do at home that can help to manage her stress. Set aside 30 minutes a day for a vigorous play. Use a pheromone diffuser. There is a special prescription food made by Royal Canin called calm which may help. Use food puzzles. Give environmental enrichment. Lastly, your veterinarian has medications which can help as well. Many cats require a combination of therapies. Best of luck.