Aggression
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Boythecat14
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- Joined: Fri Nov 22, 2019 11:56 pm
Aggression
My ginger boy is very aggressive towards other cats in the neighborhood. He is a very loving and affectionate cat but goes berserk when he sees other cats and will chase and ambush them. I found him as a kitten when I was living in Malaysia due to work and bought him back to the UK in 2016. As a kitten he lived in an apartment for the two years I lived in Malaysia and never saw another cat. It was only when I returned to the UK that he realised that he was not the only cat in the world! Has anyone any tips on any good behaviour or training books?
Re: Aggression
Hi! You didn't mention if your boy is neutered?
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Mollycat
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- Location: UK
Re: Aggression
Does he actually get into physial fights or all that wailing and screeching? Ears flat back and hissing and paw raised ready to lash out? Or just chase and ambush?
Chasing, yes, chasing can be to get another cat out of his territory, but can also be playful. Ambush isn't usually aggressive, it's a hunting technique so is usually play behaviour, make believe you're the prey to practice hunting skills.
Aggression is hard chasing, the kind of chase where everything is forgotten and cats are extremely vulnerable to road accidents because they are s focused on the enemy thay have no caution for danger.
Having lived as an indoor cat and not learned the social skills with other cats he may be unsure how to behave with other cats and really just playfully exploring, or be totally confused as to what to do with this outdoor part of his territory that other cats can get into.
So a lot depends on how he is chasing and ambushing and whether it really is aggressive. I don't think there is all that much you can do to modify a cat's aggression. Unlike dogs they are really a fully domesticated human kitten with us and wholly wild animal the moment they step through the door, in terms of their psychological make-up. We can modify indoor behaviour but outdoors is very different.
Chasing, yes, chasing can be to get another cat out of his territory, but can also be playful. Ambush isn't usually aggressive, it's a hunting technique so is usually play behaviour, make believe you're the prey to practice hunting skills.
Aggression is hard chasing, the kind of chase where everything is forgotten and cats are extremely vulnerable to road accidents because they are s focused on the enemy thay have no caution for danger.
Having lived as an indoor cat and not learned the social skills with other cats he may be unsure how to behave with other cats and really just playfully exploring, or be totally confused as to what to do with this outdoor part of his territory that other cats can get into.
So a lot depends on how he is chasing and ambushing and whether it really is aggressive. I don't think there is all that much you can do to modify a cat's aggression. Unlike dogs they are really a fully domesticated human kitten with us and wholly wild animal the moment they step through the door, in terms of their psychological make-up. We can modify indoor behaviour but outdoors is very different.
Re: Aggression
I agree with Mollycat. If he has lived with you in a flat since a small kitten, he isn't socialised with other cats and probably finds them very threatening and also hasn't learnt any manners in how to interact with them. If he's unneutered, he will be ten times worse, so get him fixed!!
My Toby was very cat-friendly in the rescue centre, and gets on well with our other female cat, but despite being absolutely tiny, he would unhesitatingly attack any other cat in the area if he could. I quickly realised what a nutter he is and finally got round to cat-proofing the garden, which is the best thing I ever did. It has saved him getting into countless fights, which he would undoubtedly lose, and it's kept him off the road. If it's feasible for you to do this, I strongly recommend it. (I used Purrfect Fencing, which has kept him in despite him being part cat, part ferret, part spider monkey and part Thompsons gazelle!)
https://purrfectfence.co.uk/
My Toby was very cat-friendly in the rescue centre, and gets on well with our other female cat, but despite being absolutely tiny, he would unhesitatingly attack any other cat in the area if he could. I quickly realised what a nutter he is and finally got round to cat-proofing the garden, which is the best thing I ever did. It has saved him getting into countless fights, which he would undoubtedly lose, and it's kept him off the road. If it's feasible for you to do this, I strongly recommend it. (I used Purrfect Fencing, which has kept him in despite him being part cat, part ferret, part spider monkey and part Thompsons gazelle!)
https://purrfectfence.co.uk/