The Bossy Cat And Owner-Directed Aggression

Veterinary Practice News ^ | 2/8/2012 | Nicholas Dodman, BVMS, Dipl. ACVB

[EBH]

Owner-directed aggression in dogs has been written and talked about at length, but feline owner-directed aggression has received less attention. In dogs, “conflict aggression” has replaced “dominance aggression” as a more accurate description of the behavior’s motivation.

The change occurred because pundits no longer accept the premise that the relationship between dogs and their owners is governed by pack mentality, as neither dogs in the wild nor, as it turns out, wolves seem to organize themselves along these lines. With this in mind, it seems ludicrous to discuss dominance or status-related aggression in cats, as they do not organize themselves into packs and should have no biological drive to establish themselves in any kind of order.

But is it so ludicrous to consider that there may sometimes be a particularly bossy cat that calls the shots with others in a household? I think not.

One social arrangement of cats has been described as a “despotic hierarchy,” a system in which one cat assumes control over all others who, barring the odd pariah, live peaceably as subordinates. Another more fluid, social situation between house cats involves a sort of time share arrangement in which one cat may avail himself of a preferred sunny location on a windowsill through lunchtime, subsequently deferring to another in non-peak hours. Because of observations like these, it seems that status must play some role in inter-cat relationships and, if this is so, then owners, too, might find themselves included in the arrangements.

[EBH]

I am not looking for approval of my future decision, just hoping maybe some wise FReeper may have a viable solution too.

This is no easy choice.

[who knows what evil?]

I’ve reached that age where I just can’t trust my memory to be reliable anymore... :-)

[terycarl]

Keep in mind that cats do not have owners....they have wait staff....cats tolerate their caregivers and usually train them quite well....!!!!!!!

[who knows what evil?]

I am not looking for approval of my future decision, just hoping maybe some wise FReeper may have a viable solution too.

Precisely why I 'pinged' the owner of the 'kitty list'...some FReeper will have the soluiton.

[Slings and Arrows]

[terycarl]

.bam she takes a bite of my hand.

Unless she drew blood....that wasn't a bite...it was a friendly gesture...my cat does it all the time, especially during rough play times.

[who knows what evil?]

Thank you for the prompt response...what advice can we offer to save the life of this beautiful Silver Tabby?

[EBH]

She draws blood every time.

[EBH]

She is beautiful and pictures don’t really show how gorgeous she really is. Even the vet says they haven’t has such a beauty through their office in a long time.

The posted article talks about fluoxetine (sp)...

[who knows what evil?]

Agreed...two of my three rescues (Siamese) give my wife and I ‘love nips’ all the time...not unusual at all.

[who knows what evil?]

I hate drugs...vet or human...too many weird ‘side effects’. This is behavioral, and I don’t believe these bites are a hostile reaction. Some cats do this as a sign of affection, and she to be shown that doesn’t work for you.

[dp0622]

my cat will bite my fiance. he will NEVER attempt it with em.

I’m the alpha cat in this house. Perhaps he fears the male voice or my size.

I have NEVER hurt him. He’s my best buddy.

Love and a little fear. Sometimes it works.

if he did bite me, his little cat backside would hurt for a week.

[EinNYC]

No, I did not say yell at her. I said use a voice which conveys displeasure. My Maine Coon used to be very bitey, too. After a couple of years of this conditioning, she is over that. I wish you every bit of luck in trying to get this young lady socialized.

[Slings and Arrows]

I’d try the hissing advice at #11 first - it won’t cost anything, and can’t make matters worse.

IMO, there’s no blanket solution to a cat behavior problem - cats have a much greater personality range than, say, dogs.

[MayflowerMadam]

We’ve brought five ferals indoors over the last four years. Just some random notes:

The most recent came in two years ago and still cannot be picked up or held. Still quite feral, but very sweet. About a year ago, Hubby meowed at her (I’m thinking, “He’s nuts”) but she responded immediately and they had a little meow-fest going for a few minutes. She came over to him and rubbed up against him, and he was able to pet her. Now, we approach her with “Meow”. If she says it back we know it’s OK to pet her, even even when she has her belly exposed.

We got one in 2008 as a baby who was a biter. Her first visit to the vet sent the Vet Tech to the E.R. I tried to give her a pill once and was bitten and I had to get a tetanus shot. Other than the biting she’s a loving, sweet cat. She has learned that biting is bad. When she bit, we’d say “No!”, jump back, and ignore her. She didn’t like to be ignored. Now, sometimes she’ll start to bite, then think, and will lick instead. Has turned into a wonderful pet.

Another feral will do a “soft bite”, which is a love nip.

Check out some of the “My Cat From Hell” episodes on Animal Planet. Jackson is amazing in pinpointing why cats behave badly, and even better at making them turn around to be loving acceptable pets.

Please don’t put her to sleep unless she’s truly ill and unless it’ll be impossible to change her behavior. Really, seeing “My Cat From Hell” may be your answer. (Contact the show; they may make an episode featuring your cat.)

[who knows what evil?]

‘Six weeks’ is way too short a window for the cat to adjust his/her attitude. I have an ‘alpha male’ Siamese that used to ATTACK my leg if he got a whiff of a strange cat around (we fed neighborhood strays outside our garage, and if ‘ol Alpha got a peek thru the door, it was ALL over for me. I mean ‘ATTACK’...he would wrap himself around my lower leg, start biting and clawing, and blood would flow. It took some time, but eventually he got used to the fact that there were other cats in the world, and the attacks tapered off, then stopped. Now he’s a mama’s boy...go figure).

If you don’t have the time or patience, pass her on to a home with the warning that the cat nips/bites...they are going to need to take the time to work with her. As someone who used to work the cat show circuit, I can say with some authority that is a gorgeous cat, and I would have to question a vet’s sanity for even allowing the animal to be executed. (’Put to sleep’? What are we...5 years old?)

[who knows what evil?]

I’d try the hissing advice at #11 first - it won’t cost anything, and can’t make matters worse.

Agreed...I 'hiss' at my boys if they get upon the table when I'm working, or some such. They get the message. :-)

...cats have a much greater personality range than, say, dogs.

...or my former neighbors in soviet Red Hampshire...

[mupcat]

I acquired a new feline 'friend!'

If I may ask, where did you get her? If at a shelter did they have a history on her as far as her background, former owners etc.?

Also if you got her there were you able to spend some time with her before you decided she was the one you wanted? If so I'm assuming there were no warning signs or you wouldn't have taken her.

If she showed no aggressive signs in the beginning I wonder if she might be in physical pain from maybe a tooth?

Lastly, do you have other pets in the house with her that she may be jealous of?

[Slings and Arrows]

> ...or my former neighbors in soviet Red Hampshire...

*snicker*

[PLMerite]

"Flick her nose when she bites? Yell at her? That’s bad ju-ju."

If all else fails...