Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/aggressive behaviour

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 1/12/2009


Question
My boyfrineds cat Rolex is 5 years old and has become very aggressive as time goes by. I will say this he is home alone alot and sees his owner on a daily basis and myself a few times a week he is not neglected by either one of us and is shown lots of attention and love by us (he sits on his owners lap for hours and grooms me every chance he gets but when a visitor comes to the house he turns into a very mean cat hissing and spitting batting I can,t say he has tryed actually biting yet! how do resocialize a cat with other humans (we don't get company often)

Answer
Paula,

There is probably some jealousy, some territorial issues involving 'protecting' you and/or your boyfriend from 'strangers', and some attitude thrown in.

At that age (he is approximately 36 years old in human years) and "set in his ways" and routines and it will be difficult to turn him into a lovebug to others.

Don't try to force him be friendly. Have your company ignore him and not try to pet him or hold him. If he's curious or wants to be friendly let him come to them. If not, let him hide. That is his personality. If he becomes aggressive with company on his own, then I would put him in another room until they leave.

Tabbi

Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)

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Dear Tabbi

Expertise

My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.

Experience

Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).

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