Cats may attack for various reasons including fear or defensive behavior, territorial instincts, play aggression, redirected aggression (due to frustration), pain or injury, maternal protection, or idiopathic causes. Common scenarios include:
- Fearful or defensive attacks happen when a cat feels threatened or trapped and cannot escape.
- Territorial aggression is directed at perceived intruders, which can be other cats, pets, or even people.
- Play aggression is very common, especially in young or high-energy cats, involving stalking, pouncing, biting, and swatting as part of their play behavior.
- Redirected aggression occurs when a cat is frustrated by something it cannot reach (another animal or stimulus) and redirects its aggression toward a nearby person.
- Pain or illness can cause sudden aggression in cats who are suffering physically.
- Some cats only tolerate limited petting or attention and may attack to signal the desire to stop.
To address these behaviors, it helps to understand the specific trigger, ensure the cat has enough play and stimulation, avoid overly rough play involving hands and feet, and seek veterinary advice if aggression is new or linked to possible pain or illness. Overall, cat attacks are usually linked to natural instincts or unmet needs rather than random hostility.
