Tips for Cat Owners
Cat Behavior Problems
Aggression Towards People
If your kitty is annoyed, scared, doesn't want to be touched or feels threatened by you or another animal, he may show signs of aggression. Some visible signs include flattening his ears back or twitching his tail, or growling, hissing, biting or scratching.
The good news is that these are all behaviors that can be addressed if you will take the time to work with your cat. Like with children, showing a little patience and understanding goes a long way.
Here are some effective ways to deal with your crabby kitty:
 If your cat seems annoyed, leave him alone. Don't try to touch or pet him. That will only make things worse. Like humans, sometimes animals just need to be left alone, too. Give him his space.
 Cats can become aggressive if they are afraid. Fear may be prompted by something as simple as a loud noise or the appearance of another animal. Or, your kitty may be experiencing stress if there have been changes in the home - moving, or the addition of new people or other pets. Once again, give the cat time to quiet down. Don't force yourself on him. Let him relax and feel reassured that he's not really threatened by his surroundings.
 Obviously, if your cat is showing signs of aggression, don't offer your hands or feet as play objects! This will teach him a behavior he's likely to repeat again. Instead, play with your cat daily using toys - anything that can be made to look alive by wiggling or dangling. Your local pet store will have safe choices. And be sure you do not reinforce the cat's unwanted behavior by offering a toy after the cat attacks!
 Like humans, cats often have certain places they don't want to be touched, or they might not want to be held. Since they can't tell you to stop, they use the tools available to them - warning signs they're unhappy such as twitching the tail or flattening ears. Ignoring that is almost certain to get you scratched or bitten.
This behavior is best addressed in kittens. Work on touching and petting your kitty for short periods of time, then reward him with food. That will help desensitize the kitten to touch.
Sometimes cats bite or scratch to tell you that they do not want to be petted any more, or that you are too rough. Try petting more gently and for shorter periods of time.
Some cats that behave perfectly well with the family will try to scratch and bite guests. This is a problem that may require the help of an animal behaviorist.
*Like the person who is frustrated at one thing but takes it out on someone else, a cat that is threatened by another animal may show his frustration to his human friends.
The best thing to do is to try to get your kitty alone, so that he can't hurt you or himself. Don't pick him up, just try to maneuver him into a quiet, dark room and let him unwind.
Click on the appropriate category below:
Visit the links below for more tips on cat behavior
www.aspca.org
www.about.com/pets/cats
www.metrokc.gov/lars/animal/
www.ddfl.org/behavior/pica.htm
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