Aggression in Older Cats

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

07 Dec 2006 02:53 PM

Your sweet, friendly, loving cat may change personality as she moves into her senior years. As cats age, they can become aggressive toward people or other animals in the household.

What causes aggression in older cats? Often, the problem has a medical basis. An older cat with arthritis may object to being touched when her joints are especially achy. A cat with vision or hearing loss may be easily startled by a human or pet's approach.

Stress is another major cause of aggression in older cats. Moving or remodeling can be stressful for a cat of any age, but especially for an older cat. A change in the human family -- a person joining or leaving the household -- or the addition or loss of another pet in the family can be very stressful.

What can you do to help your older cat with her aggression issues?

• Don't force her to have attention if she doesn't want it. That will only make things worse!
• Talk to your veterinarian about possible medical causes for the personality change. Treating the physical problem may help the mental problem!
• Give her positive reinforcement when she behaves appropriately. Giving treats or praise when your cat is being friendly will encourage her to be friendly more often.
• Make sure your cat has a safe place to escape to if she needs a break from the attentions of people and other pets.
• Talk to an animal behaviorist for help and training advice.
• Be patient! Your cat isn't going to change in a day.

Learn your cat's warning signs. She may give certain physical cues to let you know when she's had enough attention. Watch for her ears going back, skin or tail twitching, pupils dilating, growling, or body stiffness. Each cat has different warning signs! If you see one (or more) warning signs coming from your cat, back off and let her be.

Read more about life with a senior cat and animal behavior issues here at Families.com!

Learn more about Aimee Amodio

Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover...

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