Who is the boss in the house, or how to stop a cat from biting and scratching

The appearance of a cute kitten in the house is a joy for every family member. Fluffballs can be very good-natured in appearance, but with complex personalities and bad behavior. Many owners of adult cats complain that their pet bites and scratches, and he does this not only with a person’s leg, but also with furniture, wallpaper, flowers and everyone around him.

At the very beginning, the kitten's scratches and signs of "play" may not cause discomfort, but over time, this can develop into real problems. In this case, it will be the cat’s owners who are to blame for not wanting to pay due attention to training and raising their pet. It is possible and necessary to wean a cat from biting and scratching, because scratches can easily get infected, which often causes a lot of trouble for the person himself. Not to mention the fact that cats can “play” this way not only with family members, but also with strangers. We’ll look into how to get trained and for what reasons cats bite further.

Causes of aggressive behavior in furry pets

Cats by nature are such that by hissing and growling they protect themselves from unwanted communication. This is a natural reaction of animals to everything that they do not like in one way or another. This may, among other things, be excessive attention from the owner who “loves” his pet. But such cases are rare. Most often, cats equally show spontaneous aggression towards familiar and unfamiliar people.

Cats hiss and growl to protect themselves from unwanted communication.

Studies have been conducted which have found that more than 80% of stray cats, regardless of gender, are aggressive towards each other, but rarely conflict with people. However, when in a state of fright, more than 60% of these animals are capable of scratching and biting a person. For those cats that were raised at home, these figures are much lower: 50% and 40%, respectively. Based on the data obtained, the following conclusions were made:

• the degree of aggressiveness of an animal directly depends on the conditions in which it lived as a child;
• The correct approach to raising a cat helps to form a behavioral stereotype in it that excludes aggression towards humans.

Therefore, it is not the norm for domestic cats. And if hissing, scratching and biting occur, this suggests two reasons for this behavior:

• mistakes in raising a pet;
• naturally evil character.

How to tell if a cat is angry or not

It is not difficult to understand what the character of a furry pet is. As a rule, this becomes clear already in the first year of the animal’s life. An innate character trait manifests itself regularly, regardless of the circumstances, time of year, or environment. If a cat is naturally angry, this will be noticed in the first months of keeping her.

Understanding the character of a furry pet is easy

There are breeds in which anger manifests itself more often, and is often combined with a pronounced desire for independence. These are Siamese cats, jungle cats, Persians and British cats. When keeping these animals, it is important to take into account their excessive love of freedom, to the infringement of which they respond with malicious behavior. This approach to raising cats of these breeds is considered the main one. If the owner takes into account the character traits of his pet, mutual understanding will quickly arise between the owner and the animal.

How to distinguish anger from aggression

True aggression is always a spontaneous reaction, the reasons for which are many. It is not possible for a person to predict what exactly a pet may not like and cause a negative reaction in him. Aggression does not appear all the time and is always justified. Most often it is observed in temperamental animals, intelligent and with developed intuition. This must be taken into account when deciding how to stop a cat from biting.

True aggression is always a spontaneous reaction

If an adult cat is taken into the house, its increased aggressiveness is most often a manifestation of a defensive reaction. In this way, the animal sought to protect itself earlier, being in street conditions. It is more difficult to socialize an animal that has been homeless, but nothing is impossible for a loving owner.

Animals taken from the shelter also do not make contact with humans for a long time and treat them with caution. Many owners of such cats report that their pets began to trust them only after a year or more.

Two types of aggression should be distinguished:

• reaction to an external stimulus;
• abnormal, caused by organic brain damage.

In the first case, there is every chance to independently minimize and eliminate the manifestation of negativity; in the second, the help of a specialist is required.

Classification of forms of aggression according to Moyer

Researcher Moyer classified forms of aggression in cats and dogs, and refuted the common belief that an animal attack is an element of feeding behavior caused by hunger. This was confirmed in the works of other scientists.

According to their research, the most common causes of inappropriate behavior are:

• the instinct of a predator seeking to suppress a rival whom the animal considers obviously weak and perceives as a victim;
• intraspecific aggression between males;
• fear;
• feeling of insecurity from danger;
• physical pain;
• maternal aggression, manifested in the desire to protect their offspring in any way;
• sexual, expressed in the struggle for a mating partner;
• a learned reaction that occurs when someone tries to “pay off” an aggressive animal or appease it with a treat;
• gaming;
• redirection of physiological pain or mental discomfort to surrounding objects, animals and people;
• conscious aggression, which is the result of negative interpersonal relationships between an animal and a person;
• the result of the manifestation of such feelings and character traits as conflict, the desire for self-affirmation and dominance, jealousy.

A bit of cat psychology

It’s unpleasant to feel like a “punching bag,” especially if an innocent game ends in festering or scars

It doesn’t matter whether you understand it or not, but an adult cat and even a kitten will always warn of an attack. Already at the age of 3 weeks, kittens cling to each other, roll on the floor and learn to attack the enemy while lying on their backs

Afterwards, the baby moves to a new house, there are no brothers and sisters nearby, and he begins to hone his skills on toys or the owner.

An enterprising owner buys a bunch of toys to please the pet, but the problem is that balls and mice are of no interest to the tailed one. It’s much more interesting for a baby to hide around a corner and suddenly jump to his feet or fight with the owner’s deft hand.

A cat that attacks its owner with rage, on purpose, calculatedly - this is the real problem. In this case, you will really have to work hard, but first you need to find out the reason for the incorrect behavior. Did you know that cat aggression towards humans is a mental disorder? Four-legged animals have lived next to people for dozens of centuries; friendliness or restraint is “hardwired” into the DNA of our pets. There are exceptions to every rule. There are breeds of cats that are prone to squabbles with people, but their incorrect behavior is always understandable:

Dominance - perhaps your pet considers you weaker or views you as a competitor.

Defense - cats suffering from pathologies or mental disorders know about their vulnerability and attack so that they do not have to defend themselves.

Cult of the owner - in this case, the four-legged dog is madly in love with one of the family members and can attack others. The most common example is Siamese cats living with small children. The cat loves and protects the little one so much that it can jump on the face of the parents who scolded the prankster for getting a bad grade.

Revenge - no matter how much you love cats, you need to recognize that they are capable of rancor and resentment. Of course, not all breeds have these qualities or take revenge with “physical violence.”

Deprivation of care or attention is punishment, this is also attention. A desperate pet can actively attack a person, even for the sake of a slap in the face

The specificity of the breed is that hybrids with wild cats are more aggressive and obstinate by nature.

The disadvantage of physical activity is that when the cat has nowhere to direct its energy, it misbehaves, thereby entertaining itself. In the understanding of the ward, nothing bad happens. The owner discovers the upholstery of the sofa torn off or wakes up at night from a bite on the leg.

Shortcomings in upbringing - that is, unintentional encouragement of undesirable actions.

Complexes are the most common cause, which is very difficult to identify.

Many points are so obvious that they are not considered as the cause of a pet’s aggression. Age is a very “blurry” indicator; an owner who knows his pet well can perfectly distinguish the line between anger and pampering of the ward. Next, we will analyze the most complex possible scenarios and methods for correcting behavior.

How to stop a cat from scratching, biting and attacking family members

If your cat shows signs of increased aggression, such as biting, scratching or attacking, the first thing to do is take the animal to the vet. This is necessary in order to exclude possible physical pain, the presence of disturbing parasites, and disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system.

If your cat is showing signs of increased aggression, the first thing to do is take the animal to the vet.

If none of the above is found, you need to think about how to wean a cat from biting and scratching using pedagogy and the basics of animal training. Foreign owners of aggressive cats receive significant assistance from veterinary protocols specially developed for this purpose. They include several effective measures:

• correction of animal behavior;
• medicinal support for the cat;
• training the owner in the skills of proper communication with the pet.

A set of measures to eliminate animal aggression is developed individually for each case. Russians do not have the opportunity to take advantage of the support of specialists in this profile. But you can independently assess the situation and find the best way to solve the problem from those proposed.

Expert advice

1. It is necessary to learn to recognize an attack of aggression in the initial stages. Careful observation of the animal and studying its body language will help with this. Before an attack, some changes inevitably occur: the hair on the back of the neck rises, the look changes, the back bends, etc.
2. At this point, using trial and error, you need to choose the most effective technique that can stop the attack of aggression. Physical influence such as clicking the nose and slapping various parts of the body is unacceptable: this will cause even greater anger. The animal will retreat, but will hold a grudge. The consequences can be unpredictable.
3. Correct behavior of the owner during pet aggression: do not make sudden movements, do not raise your voice, speak calmly and confidently, look closely at the animal.
4. It is recommended to properly organize the living space for active cats: allow them to move not only in horizontal directions, but also vertically. For this purpose, you can build a system of hanging ladders, and during aggression, try to interest the animal in game moments and redirect its attention. Being at heights can calm your pet, as cats naturally associate this with a sense of security and privacy.
5. Good behavior should be rewarded with treats. After displaying aggression, do not feed the animal for some time, and it will gradually understand that such behavior is fraught with hunger strike. But you should not allow breaks in food for more than a few hours (skip one meal), as the cat will remember this and may respond with even greater aggression and take revenge.
6. During inappropriate behavior, you can sprinkle water on the cat. In most cases, this stops the pet and helps him “come to his senses.”

Medication support is provided using over-the-counter drugs:

• "Stop-Stress";
• "Cat Baiyun";
• "VetTranquil."

If this is not enough, the veterinarian can always advise or prescribe more effective remedies.

Methods of influencing aggressive kittens

The younger the animal is, the easier it is to socialize it. Therefore, there is always less hassle with a kitten than with adults of either sex. If possible, you should try to find out if the pet’s parents have similar character traits. Hereditary ones are more difficult to correct, but with proper upbringing you can achieve a lot.

The younger the animal is, the easier it is to socialize it.

The main principle of interaction with a kitten is conflict-free communication. It is necessary to take into account the desires of the animal and, if it wants, for example, to sleep or be alone, there is no need to force affection and games on it. This will not achieve mutual understanding. On the contrary, the kitten will begin to distrust and fear the owner. The consequences will only be negative.

It is necessary to find out what causes the kitten’s aggression and eliminate this factor. Methods of influencing an animal that shows aggression during games:

• lightly slap the bridge of the nose;
• take it by the scruff of the neck and lift it, looking at it closely, and hold it in this state for 30–40 seconds.

If a kitten attacks a person’s feet and legs, there is no need to try to escape or push the animal away. The cat is a predator, and perceives this behavior as resistance to prey. Therefore, in response, it will attack again and with more serious consequences for the owner.

You need to confidently move towards a small predator, and not move away from it, provoking the animal to catch up with its prey. There is another way to stop an attack of this kind: stand quietly for a while without resistance. This will reduce the cat's interest in this game.

Don't be surprised if your kitten reacts negatively to kisses. In most cases, the approach of a stranger's head to the cat's head is regarded by the cat as an attempt to attack. The reaction in this case can be different, from fear to aggression.

As kittens grow up, they develop a behavioral stereotype. This requires an extremely attentive and affectionate attitude towards the pet. Children should not be allowed to turn an animal into a living toy. Having matured, a cat can take revenge for an unacceptable attitude. And this will be the main reason for aggressive behavior towards owners.

We are taking action

If gentle educational measures don't work and you don't know how to stop your kitten from biting your hands, try the following:

• beanbag;
• sharp bang;
• bottle with water and spray bottle.

You can use an empty plastic bottle filled with coins or buttons as a rattle jar. Every time you see that the kitten is about to attack (or has already grabbed you with its teeth), you need to create a noise that frightens the animal. If you don’t have a rattle at hand, clap your hands loudly and sharply, or with a slipper (palm) on the floor. The "squirter" will force the bandit to take care of his own toilet. Not all cats are afraid of water, but they are surprisingly clean, and using a “squirter” not only does not cause harm to your pet, but also encourages its useful natural instincts. When the kitten runs away, don’t forget to reproachfully say: “you can’t”, “bad boy/girl”, “aren’t you ashamed?” etc.

An important point: the kitten has grabbed your hand with its teeth, purrs and digs its claws in more and more, and you don’t know how to free yourself. You need to do the opposite action of the “prey” - move your hand a little into the mouth of the “predator”. The kitten does not expect such a turn of events and will loosen its grip.

Many kittens love to grab their owner's legs. This can be a real disaster, and there is not always time or opportunity to use rattles and sprinklers. How to stop a kitten from biting its legs? We offer a rather unpleasant for both of you, but quite effective method:

• take a wide patch;
• stick stripes on your legs;
• spread the strips with mustard.

The kitten must learn a lesson: attack - mustard - reprimand. Do not forget to reproachfully reprimand your ward everything that you think about him.

How to stop a cat from lunging at strangers

If the animal has a habit of lunging at strangers, the first thing to do is to put a collar with small bells on it. In this case, the animal will not be able to sneak up unnoticed, and this fact alone can stop it and prevent an attack. In addition, ringing bells will warn people in advance that a pet is approaching.

Cats may not like strangers in the house because they consider it their territory.

If the situation is serious, the animal is isolated or sedated before guests arrive. Often a cat shows aggression not towards everyone who comes into the house, but towards specific people. In this case, you need to try to identify the reason for this behavior. Perhaps this person, secretly from you, once offended an animal. It is impossible to force a cat to love the offender, so there is only one way out: isolation.

Cats may not like strangers in the house because they consider it their territory and thus protect it. In this case, you need to come to an agreement with the guests and ask them to try to gain the trust of the pet. For this purpose, you can give treats and talk affectionately. You must not touch the animal or try to play with it.

If the cat shows signs of fear or dissatisfaction, it should be left alone. Soon curiosity will take over, and she herself will come to get acquainted. Another effective way to calm an animal is to ignore it. If a cat attacks, you will have to isolate and punish it.

Revenge is a dish served cold

An offended kitten who is trying to punish you for a “misdemeanor” looks funny, even a little ridiculous. A grown-up toddler deliberately makes a puddle on your pillow and you don't laugh.

An older cat begins to “pump up” and you look around with caution as you enter the room - this is the boiling point

The good news is that you can always make amends to your pet. Even if you don’t understand why the kitten is offended, accept it as a fact.

Affection and attention will dissolve the offense without leaving a trace. Naturally, there is a “but” - control the ward and make sure that you are not manipulated

Cats are smart, they are able to understand the “get offended and get your way” pattern. The easiest way to calculate the tactics of your behavior is to compare your grown-up kitten with a teenager. You will kindly feel sorry for the child if he has unrequited love, but you will sharply refuse a request to ride a motorcycle without a license.

The nuances of raising a kitten from the first days of life together

In order to raise a kitten to be obedient and affectionate, you need to know the characteristics of the periods of its development. And in each of them apply the most appropriate methods of influence.

They begin raising the baby immediately after the completion of the period of adaptation to the new place of residence.

They begin to raise the baby immediately after the completion of the period of adaptation to the new place of residence. The first and main concern at this time is litter box training. This must be done affectionately, calmly and persistently. Many cats immediately understand what is wanted from them and begin to perceive the litter box as their latrine.

Immediately after a kitten appears in the house, they carefully observe it, trying to find out what kind of character the pet has. Punishment, even with the best intentions, is unacceptable. The kitten is not yet able to understand what exactly caused the owner’s dissatisfaction, and physical pain will only cause fear or resentment.

With systematic punishment, the animal will develop character traits such as aggressiveness and bitterness. Or on the contrary: the animal will become downtrodden and fearful. In the first six months, it is recommended to avoid situations that are stressful for your pet: noisy feasts and parties.

Recommendations for raising kittens

1. Playing with the owner's hands is not allowed. The animal is taught to play with toys.
2. When aggressive behavior occurs, they try to distract the kitten and offer it to play in the most interesting way for it.
3. A friendly attitude towards the owner and conflict-free play are encouraged with the help of treats.
4. Starting from 5–6 months, the kitten is accustomed to the scratching post. In the future, this will avoid dissatisfaction with the fact that the animal sharpens its claws on furniture or other interior items.
5. If you intend to get a second animal, it is better to do this before the pet is six months old. It is easier to accustom a kitten to being around a dog or cat while it is small.
6. If the owner is not satisfied with the behavior of a cat under six months of age, one of the effective punishments is to ignore it.
7. Aggression in any form must be stopped immediately. Choose the most appropriate method for a particular situation. This could be ignoring, a frightening hissing, or lifting by the scruff of the neck.

If there is a dominant person among the owners in the house, the animal will quickly understand this and may begin to obey only this person. They correct the situation through the joint efforts of people. The one whom the cat considers the owner should show as much attention and care as possible to the rest of the family. Soon the animal will understand the message and begin to imitate the owner, without showing aggression towards members of the household that are of secondary importance to her.

If there is a dominant personality among the owners in the house, the animal will quickly understand this

There is also such a problem as the “cult of the master.” Animals that adore their owner are ready to protect him from all dangers. Even harmless games between family members, guests, and strangers seem like this to them. This problem is difficult to deal with. There are many reviews from cat owners that such “passion” is invincible. There is only one way out: you need to understand what exactly causes the cat’s aggression and try to minimize or eliminate this factor.

Often, with the appearance of a small child in the house, the cat’s behavior changes for the worse. This is a dangerous situation for the baby, caused by the jealousy of the animal. During this period, the pet needs to prove that he is still loved and give him as much love and attention as possible. Soon the animal will understand that it is just as important to its owner as before. And the cause of aggression (jealousy) will be eliminated.

Preventive methods

In order for a small kitten to grow into a kind and affectionate cat, all possible irritating factors should be minimized. To avoid unnecessary reasons for aggression:

1. First of all, you need to provide your cat with personal space. A house or box is a good choice, as cats are particularly attracted to them. This way, the kitten will have its own territory where it can rest.
2. Toys. It is very important to properly direct the animal’s energy. To prevent your cat from biting and sitting alone, you should get toys. A jingling ball, a plush mouse or a pendant with feathers will give your pet the opportunity to have fun and burn off energy.
3. You also need to remember about additional means, such as sprays or liquids that interrupt the smell of others. This will allow the kitten to remain calm and not react aggressively to new smells.

When choosing a kitten for your home, it is important to remember that a cat is an animal with character and will not always behave as its owner likes. But the right training methods and affection will allow you to raise a good and affectionate pet.

Is scratching always a sign of aggression?

Adult cats tend to scratch mainly due to aggression caused by external factors, health or emotional background.

But there are other situations and reasons due to which an animal can scratch a person:

1. The cat is bored and demands more attention from the owner, touching him with her paw and sometimes releasing her claws.
2. Adult cats often display childlike bursts of playfulness. In such cases, they begin, like kittens, to rush around the house, jump, chase rustling or rattling objects, and playfully hunt for the hands and feet of a person.
3. Sometimes an animal instinctively shows sympathy. In nature, cats express their “love” for an object of interest by licking and then lightly biting or scratching. If a pet slightly bites its owner alternately with licking and light gripping with its claws, it is most likely how it expresses its love.

Before scolding a cat or applying educational measures, the owner needs to find out the reason for this behavior - the animal is not always aggressive. This means that weaning methods need to be used more gently.

What to do

If your pet is showing unreasonable aggression, take him to an experienced veterinarian. A detailed examination will help determine whether everything is in order with the baby’s health. He may need urgent treatment.

If the kitten is healthy, then the reason is improper upbringing. The best cure for the remnants of a difficult childhood is love and care. Talk to the kitten in a calm, friendly tone, and do not try to pet him unless he asks. Use as toys something that will bring joy to the baby, but will keep him at a distance: a piece of paper on a string, a fur “mouse”, a pair of woolen socks rolled into a ball.

For your feet

To be fair, it is worth noting that human legs are much less likely to be attacked by pets than arms. Most cats ignore them, even if their tail is accidentally stepped on. Maximum - they will scream heart-rendingly and clap their paws. But there are such irreconcilable enemies of the master’s feet who cannot calmly see them - they immediately go into battle. Why does this happen?

There may be several reasons, but the main ones are boredom or irritation.

If your kitten attacks you because he's bored, get a laser pointer. When you see suspicious movement behind the curtain, point the pointer beam in front of you. The little robber will chase the bright dot and the path will be clear.

Have you noticed that your pet most often bites your leg in the kitchen? This is no accident. You are cooking something, rattling pots, constantly moving, but not paying any attention to him. How can you not get angry? If the kitten is a convinced silent person, then he demands a tasty piece.

An attack on the legs is always a demand for attention to oneself and one’s needs. When they are satisfied, the need to attack will disappear.

Additional measures

Don’t forget about additional measures to combat cat scratches. These measures, in combination with educational measures, will help the owner more comfortably survive the cat’s weaning period.

Manicure

A cat manicure is a very important event for all cats living at home. It is done using a special tool - a nail cutter, which is selected individually in accordance with the breed, characteristics of the claw, the character and behavior of the animal itself.

This procedure is unpleasant and can be traumatic for the cat, so before starting the procedure you should carefully and more deeply familiarize yourself with this topic. If the breeder has any difficulties or concerns, he should contact a groomer or veterinarian.