Causes of Aggressive Cat Behavior Between Cats

Aggression towards other cats and aggression towards people are the two primary kinds of aggressive cat behavior. Aggression towards other cats is primarily within a family grouping, having more than one cat in your family is prone to aggressive cat behavior. Aggressive cat behavior such as biting and scratching can be handled easily if you know the reason behind it, aggressive behavior between cats have several causes.

Territorial Aggression is very common among cats, because cats are very territorial (even more than dogs, surprisingly) and don't like intruders into places they feel is theirs, trespassing is prohibited. This is very common in a household where an older cat is expected to welcome the intrusion of a new cat or kitten. It also happens outside, when a neighbor cat dares to trespass into your cat's yard. This aggressive cat behavior will be noticed by chasing and ambushing the other cat, and a lot of hissing and swatting if there is contact between the two.

Inter-male Aggression happens because of the hierarchy that is natural among animals. It can be part of a sexual challenge for a female or to raise one's status in the cat hierarchy. While neutered males are less apt to fight this way, they, too, can have inter-male aggression, particularly if neutered later in life. The behavior seen with this type of aggressive cat behavior is body posturing, staring, howling, yowling, and stalking each other. They two can fight, trying to bite each other's neck or scratch their underbelly. It can all of a sudden stop - the two will separate and move away a bit - and then happen again right away - or they will just walk away.

Defensive Aggression is typical of a situation where the cat is trying to protect itself, like they are saying “don't hurt me or even look like you will or I'll hurt you". For example, if you've ever tried to catch a feral cat, once it feels trapped it will attack in self-defense. The behavior seen with defensive aggressive cat behavior prior to an attack has the cat crouching with the legs under the body, tail tucked in, and ears pulled back. If the threat does not go away, the cat will usually attack with nails and teeth.

Redirected Aggression is like the cat is saying “I'm mad at him, so ill hit you". This is an aggressive cat behavior that is directed to a different breed of cat, for example, if your cat will see another cat out of the front window, he will usually attack the other family cat who was just sitting there.