New Approaches to Petting Aggression in Cats

Animal behaviorists recognize and study several different types of aggression in cats.  Even without a classification system, many cat owners know about territorial aggression and predatory aggression from first hand experience.  We know cats are territorial and we aren’t overly surprised when there’s a spat between a new cat and an already established one.  Most cat owners also aren’t shocked when their cat flies out from under the bed and chases and grabs at their feet.

What we don’t understand and what many animal behaviorists still don’t understand is what happens when we’re petting our cat and suddenly we’re attacked.  It can happen so quickly it may seem impossible to predict.  You could be petting your cat in your lap while he purrs away and suddenly you get a bite or a scratch, apparently without cause. Your cat may then run away, or it may stay and challenge you to “do something about it.”

Cat Petting Aggression Theories

Some cats bite or scratch if a sensitive or painful part of their body is touched once or repeatedly during petting.  If your cat has osteoarthritis, he might not like to have his hips or hind legs petted.  If he has an ear infection, head pets might not be tolerated for long.

If there’s no physical reason for the aggression, something else is going on.  But what?  Some animal behaviorists are starting to think it’s more than just the moodiness cats are known for.  It could be that owners are stimulating their cats into sexual arousal by providing pleasurable physical stimulation.  Petting aggression then is just a type of sexual behavior that can take place whether your cat is spayed or neutered or not.

In other instances, biting or scratching could be more about your cat asserting social status than responding to sexual arousal.  How could petting you cat possibly be threatening his social status?  Behaviorists are just learning about the social hierarchy cats recognize and maintain.  One theory is that attempting to control your petting behavior could be a way of establishing or controlling hierarchy roles.  For some cats, excessive petting may place them in a socially dominant position they do not wish to have. Biting or scratching may be a way for them to stop your behavior.  In other cases, it might be a way of trying to make you conform as means of establishing dominance.

Controlling Petting Aggression in Cats

Regardless of the cause, the best way to stop petting aggression is to avoid it.  Look for clues in your cat’s body language that indicate he is tensing up.  One good thing about petting aggression is, the behavior is often consistently forewarned regardless of whether or not we have realized it.

What are some signs an attack may be coming?

• Tail twitching
• Growling
• Ear flicking or flattening ears back
• A sudden break in purring
• Stiffening of the body
• Attempts to control petting through head movements or body positioning

How should you respond to these warning signs?  Place your cat on the floor and leave it alone.

To encourage more positive petting experiences, you can give your cat a treat while it is behaving during petting.  Try timing the length of time between when you start petting and the aggression occurs.  Ideally you will be able to end petting sessions on a positive note before petting aggression incidents occur.