Symptoms And Treatment Of Predatory Aggression In Cats

Predatory aggression in cats as a behavioral issue generally causes concern to owners in two cases. The first is when predatory behaviors are being exhibited and fine tuned during kittenhood and the other is during adulthood when actual predatory behavior is exhibited towards smaller creatures. Predatory play is among the several characteristics shown by young kittens. Although the main function of this behavior is to rehearse and hone predatory skills for later use, often owners wrongly interpret such behavior as predatory aggression.

Symptoms Of Predatory Aggression

For a kitten which has playmates, predatory aggression is rarely seen as a problem. In case of lack of such littermates, kittens are bound to direct this playfulness towards their owners. Kittens with this behavior generally hide behind walls and stalk and pounce on approaching people. This may inflict minor wounds and scratches on feet and ankles. Predatory play behavior generally starts manifesting itself when your kitten is five weeks old and normally decreases as your cat grows older. In some case, though, mainly in cats that have been neutered early, such behavior may continue into adulthood.

Older cats which have passed this stage have already perfected their hunting skills and, will if given the opportunity, capture and kill small birds and rodents. A cat may gently switch its tail and chatter his teeth on looking at birds through a window. Some cats may even get into a crouch, waiting to pounce. Even though some owners may dislike such behavior, it is a natural instinct and the only way to avoid it is to keep the prey away from these cats. Once you do so, you will need to provide some opportunities for your cat to release their predatory aggression by providing mobile toys or other objects.

Treatment Of Predatory Aggression

Since predatory aggression is a natural instinct, any attempts to turn it off will be futile. The ideal way to manage such behavior is by trying to divert or redirect such behavior onto more acceptable substitutes. Mobile toys, though a poor substitute for natural prey, should be brought into the indoor cats environment to provide an outlet for its predatory inclinations. These toys should be frequently reactivated by the owner as cats will quickly tire of stationary objects and lose interest in the game. The best way for a cat to release its predatory drive is to allow access to the outdoors. However, while taking this decision, also consider the high risks of disease and trauma that could occur while outdoors.

If predatory attacks still continue with all these preventive measures, then steps should be taken to redirect or avoid such behavior when it happens. Situations which could lead to predatory aggression like moving the sheets while making the bed should be avoided when your cat is around. Dangle a piece of string while going down the stairs if your cat is waiting at the bottom. This helps to divert him. Water can be sprayed on your cat within seconds of an aggressive assault to dissuade further attacks. After successfully diverting your cats attention, provide a toy or game for him to release his energy.