As a pet owner with both cats and dogs, aggression between species can be disturbing.
It’s normal for felines to display territorial behavior towards other animals but when cats aggression is extended towards our canine companions, it is not on!
Unprovoked aggression towards dogs is rare in pet cats, but cats attack dogs for various reasons. It could be due to fear, anxiety, or territorial behavior.
If your cat has become elderly and is displaying changing behaviors, this can sometimes translate into aggression towards dogs. This is what happened with our aging cat.
Cats and dogs have different communication styles, which can sometimes lead to misunderstandings and conflict.
The cat and dog dynamic is a timeless pairing, but managing one in the presence of the other can definitely pose some challenges.
If your feline friend has been acting out towards man’s best bud lately, let’s look at why this may be happening.
Table Of Contents
Understanding Cat Aggression
Play aggression
This type of aggression is often seen in kittens and young cats.
They may pounce on the dog, bite, or scratch during playtime.
While it may seem harmless, it can escalate quickly and cause injury to both pets.
Territorial aggression
Cats are known to be territorial animals.
If they feel like their space is being invaded by a dog, they may become aggressive and try to defend their territory.
Fear aggression
If a cat is afraid of a dog, they may become aggressive as a defense mechanism.
They may hiss, growl, or even attack the dog to protect themselves.
Redirected aggression
With its sensitive hearing, a cat can easily become startled or agitated by something as subtle as loud noise.
This could trigger an aggressive response that may unfortunately be redirected to the next closest creature – in many cases, an unsuspecting dog!
Causes of Cat Aggression
Understanding the underlying causes of cat aggression towards dogs is important in order to address the issue. Some common causes of aggression include:
If a cat has never been around dogs before, they may not know how to react and become aggressive out of fear or uncertainty.
If a cat has had a negative experience with a dog in the past, such as being chased or attacked, they may become aggressive towards dogs in the future.
Cats that are in pain or discomfort may become aggressive towards dogs as a way to protect themselves.
Cats that are stressed or anxious may become aggressive towards dogs as a way to cope with their emotions.
Getting the advice of a veterinarian or animal behaviorist may be necessary in some cases.
Recognizing Signs of Cat Aggression
Body Language
Cats can display a variety of body language cues when they are feeling aggressive. This can include:
- Flattened ears
- Dilated pupils
- Arched back
- Puffed up tail
- Stiff legs and body
- Direct eye contact
- Hissing or growling
If you notice your cat displaying any of these behaviors, it is important to give them space and avoid approaching them.
Vocalizations
Cats may also use vocalizations to express aggression. These can include:
Hissing
Growling
Yowling
Spitting
Cats can exhibit a range of signs when they are feeling threatened, from the cat hissing and growling to more subtle cues like hiding or avoiding eye contact.
Exercise caution when your cat displays any type of aggressive behavior, particularly towards other animals such as dogs, in order to avoid potentially serious injuries for either party involved.
Pay attention to both their body language and vocalizations so you can accurately identify when your beloved feline requires space.
Preventing Cat Aggression
Training and Socialization
One of the most effective ways to prevent cat aggression and cat aggressive towards dogs, is through proper training and socialization.
Start by introducing your cat and dog slowly and carefully.
Allow them to sniff each other and get used to each other’s presence. Reward positive behavior with treats and praise.
If your cat shows signs of aggression, such as hissing or growling, redirect their attention with a toy or treat.
It’s also important to socialize your cat and dog early on. Expose them to a variety of people, animals, and environments so that they become comfortable and confident in different situations.
This can help prevent fear aggression and other types of aggressive behavior.
Environmental Modifications
Environmental modifications can also be helpful in preventing cat aggression towards dogs.
Provide separate areas for your cat and dog to eat, sleep, and play.
This can help prevent territorial aggression and reduce stress for both pets.
Make sure your cat has plenty of hiding spots and vertical spaces, such as cat trees or shelves, where they can retreat if they feel threatened.
Consider using pheromone sprays or diffusers, such as Feliway, which can help reduce stress and anxiety in cats and keep cats calm.
Keep in mind that some cats may require medication or professional behavior modification to address their aggression towards dogs.
Consult with your veterinarian or a certified animal behaviorist for guidance.
Managing Cat Aggression
Separating the Dog And Cat
If your cat is displaying aggression towards your dog, it is important to separate them immediately to prevent any injuries.
Provide separate living spaces and feeding areas for both pets to avoid any confrontations.
You can also use baby gates or barriers to keep them apart while still allowing them to see and smell each other.
It is important to supervise any interactions between your dog and cat, especially during the initial introduction period.
Keep them on a leash or use a muzzle if necessary to prevent any pent up aggression.
Slowly introduce them to each other in a controlled environment, rewarding positive behavior with treats and praise.
What We Did!
Our cat’s behavior deteriorated as he became older. He had never been a lap cat and had at times lashed out unexpectedly but mostly his behaviour was pretty normal cat behavior.
There were no warning signs of the aggressive manner that he would display when a frequent doggy visitor came to our home.
The dog is extremely placid and a senior dog, so no playful puppy. In this case the blame lay wholly and solely with the cat.
When they were in the same room, the cat attacked, lashing out with serious aggression ready to scratch and do damage.
The dog’s behavior in no way could be blamed for the cat attacking.
To begin with we separated them by putting the dog outside and the cat inside. This was not really successful long term, for two reasons.
Firstly, the weather, if it was too cold, the dog could not stay outside.
Secondly the cat would be waiting for any opportunity for that back door to open so that he could dash out and attack the dog.
The cat was elderly at this stage and had already been prescribed Prozac. He wouldn’t take the Prozac – that’s another story.
He was at this stage untrainable and it was in his best interest to keep calm. Even the vet would get out the asbestos lined gloves when our aggressive cat went for a check up.
Finally, the best solution was to remove the cat from the situation totally and put him in another part of the house. Here he had his own space. The door was closed.
A baby gate could have achieved the same result.
We called it his apartment. He had a bedroom with a comfy bed (the one he already snoozed on during the day), a bathroom and very large walk in robe area. He was not exactly deprived. Their own spaces was the answer for this problem
The cat did also scratch the nose of a dog that was walking past the front of our property.
There were no witnesses other than the dog owner. These days most of us have CCTV and would be able to see what happened exactly.
From then on, we had to make sure the cat was always secure inside the house to prevent the same thing happening to other dogs.
This was difficult as the cat was a serious escapee. We also paid for the vet bill and associated over the counter products, for the poor doggy.
I have heard it mentioned that the cat feels his safety is threatened. The cat’s safety was not threatened however the situation, according to our elderly cat, could have indeed been that the felt threatened.
Seeking Professional Help
In order to protect your pet family, if Fido and Fluffy’s relationship remains tense or worsens, don’t hesitate to contact a vet or animal behaviorist.
These professionals can examine the source of hostility between them and devise an individualized plan for recovery.
To prevent predatory behavior between the two animals, try techniques such as obedience training such as desensitization training or counter-conditioning.
These approaches can be highly effective in transitioning to peaceful coexistence. You need to stay dedicated!
All it takes is patience and effort in the training sessions to maintain a harmonious home for both of these beloved pets.
desensitization training for a cat that attacks dogs
Desensitization training for a cat that attacks dogs is a behavior modification technique that involves gradually exposing the cat to the presence of dogs in a controlled and safe manner.
The goal of this training is to reduce the cat’s fear or aggression towards dogs and to help it learn more positive and appropriate behaviors.
The process of desensitization training involves exposing the cat to a very low level of the stimulus that triggers the cat’s aggressive behavior, such as the sight, smell or sound of a dog.
This exposure is gradually increased over time as the cat becomes more comfortable and less reactive to the presence of dogs.
Positive reinforcement techniques are also used to encourage the cat to behave calmly and positively in the presence of dogs, such as rewarding the cat with treats or praise when it displays calm and good behavior.
It’s important to note that desensitization training should only be done under the guidance of a trained professional, as it can be a complex and potentially dangerous process.
The training should be tailored to the specific needs and behavior of the cat, and it may take weeks or even months to achieve lasting results.
counter conditioning training for a cat that attacks dogs
Counter conditioning is a behavior modification technique used to change an animal’s emotional response to a particular stimulus.
In the case of a cat that attacks dogs, counter conditioning training aims to change the cat’s negative emotional response to dogs into a positive one.
This can be achieved through the use of positive reinforcement, such as treats, praise, and playtime, to associate the presence of dogs with something enjoyable and rewarding.
While desensitization and counter conditioning are often used together in behavior modification programs, they are not the same thing.
Desensitization involves gradually exposing the animal to the stimulus that triggers its negative behavior, whereas counter conditioning involves changing the animal’s emotional response to that stimulus.
In the case of a cat that attacks dogs, a typical counter conditioning program might involve slowly introducing the cat to the sight, smell, or sound of dogs in a controlled environment, while simultaneously rewarding the cat with treats or praise.
Over time, as the cat begins to associate the presence of dogs with positive experiences, it may become less likely to attack them.
