Most view cats as docile, peaceful and quiet creatures. It is an assumption by many that as long as a cat has a good place to rest, has clean drinking water, and food that it is all that is needed to create a docile, loving, yet independent cat.
But not all cats have the laid back couch potato meditative zen type of style. Some cats are constantly going at 160 mph. Fast, agile, interested, investigating, and bouncing off the walls, keeping their owners awake at night by leaping across the bed or attacking toes under the blanket. Cats are as different to each others as humans are. As long as the personality style is acceptable by the owner there is no problem.
The one personality trait that does not go over very well is when the cat has aggressive tendencies. With dogs it can be more acceptable since dogs have the reputation of protection, but an aggressive cat is not something most people are looking for.
Cats that are aggressive can cause quite a bit if damage. While they are small and can’t inflict the type of bite a large dog can, their speed and agility can cause damage very quickly.
Some cats are aggressive by nature, but other cats become aggressive after dealing with abusive owners or other unfortunate situations. It’s no wonder that a cat dealing with a sadistic owner would become aggressive, no matter what its natural demeanor once was. Some people refer to aggressive cats as “feral,” but this isn’t entirely accurate because an aggressive cat might be quite domesticated in terms of using a litter box and eating from a bowl. By the same token, not every undomesticated cat is aggressive.
So what should you do if your cat is aggressive? You may be able to work out some of the issues with your cat by demonstrating tenderness and making the cat feel as comfortable around you as possible. You should also make sure that your cat has ample opportunity for getting plenty of exercise, because if your cat is starved for some activity it may culminate into aggressive behavior.
You’ll have to accept the fact that some cats are just aggressive by nature, and that it isn’t something they can necessarily be trained away from doing. If your cat endangers the residents within your home – such as young children or babies – then you’ll have to make the decision of whether to keep the cat or find it another home. If you surrender the cat to a local shelter you need to inform them of the cat’s aggressive tendencies so that it doesn’t wind up in another home with young children.