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Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/Cat redirected territorial aggression

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 2/6/2009


Question
My 9 year old neutered male indoor only house cat (that I raised from a baby) attacked me in a redirected aggression territorial incident.  I was holding a friends cat in our home (unneutered male).  My cat came upstairs, sniffed the stranger and attacked me in a nasty episode, climbing my leg biting and scratching.  I had to seek medical attention.  I am an avid animal lover and feel fear for the first time ever.                                                                               I have two children and I would like to know if this cat can be trusted?  If this would have been one of the children, this could have been tragic.  Is this likely to happen again where it has happened once?  Thank you for your help.

Answer
Sherry,

Your cat was protecting you and his family from this 'interloper' that was in his territory...you were just in the way. When a cat gets protective and territorial like that they don't think, they just attack the nearest pet or person in a frenzy.

First thing, NEVER introduce cats face to face. That is a prescription for disaster (as you have seen). They need the correct introduction process which can take 2 weeks to a month.

Second, NEVER introduce a strange tomcat that may have a sexual smell to him to a resident cat face to face.

I wouldn't be too concerned about trusting the cat as long as you don't repeat the incident with a strange cat.

Give your cat attention, love, and kitty treats and make sure he is calmed down and back to normal. He wasn't being 'a bad kitty', it was just instinct. Don't punish him because that will only confuse him.

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.

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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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