Why does my cat ambush me

Keep kids away from it and consult your vet for further advice. The instinctive thing to do may feel like shouting or physically handling the cat, but this rarely works. And, could even make matters worse. When I say matters worse, this could include your cat getting more aggressive and out of control. To tell if your cat is just playing or is being aggressive you need to look at their body language. For example, look at their ears, stance, and even their fur.

Is its ears pinned back? Or fur puffed up? Or crawling low? These are signs of aggression. But, it is nuanced, because sometimes these signs are misleading. But, with experience, you will easily see the difference.

But, trust me, the ears are always a giveaway. And, when you study their movement you will see what I mean. It is not a good idea to play rough with your cat. This is because it encourages rough play for all people, and some cannot tolerate it.

Also, you can easily get scratched or bitten badly, which can lead to infection in some cases. Once cats get used to ambushing and scratching you in this way, and you condone it, they may just keep upping the ante.

Meaning, a small nip today, then a massive bite tomorrow, are you with me? If your cat is playing too rough for you stop the game immediately. In some situations a cat may pounce on the owner when she becomes agitated, and the underlying reason for this is generally related to other people or animals in her environment that may have triggered the pouncing behavior. For example, some cats may see a neighbor cat walking through the yard and become upset.

Since the cat cannot go out and chase after the neighbor cat, it may redirect its aggressive behavior toward the nearest living thing, which in a household is often her owner. When the owner is still, the cat appears calm, but when the owner is moving around, whether cleaning or making dinner, the cat may become agitated and pounce. Bartonella is a type bacteria that can be transmitted to cats, dogs and humans from exposure to infected fleas and….

Want to give your pup yummy, low-calorie treats? Not sure about food puzzles? Our veterinarian reveals why the payoff for your pet is well worth any extra work.

The friendly and inquisitive LaPerm has an easy-care coat that comes in a variety of colors and patterns. Check out our collection of more than videos about pet training, animal behavior, dog and cat breeds and more.

A cat can show territorial aggression toward some family members and not others and toward some cats but not others. Cats mark their turf by patrolling, chin rubbing and urine spraying. They may stalk, chase and ambush a targeted intruder while displaying offensive body postures, including hissing, swatting and growling.

Some cats take a slow and steady approach in their stalking, while others immediately and aggressively give chase. Some of the most common situations that trigger territoriality are:. Rough play is common and natural among kittens and young cats less than two years of age.

Despite the playful intentions of a cat, however, when such play is directed toward people or becomes overly rambunctious, it can cause injury to people or damage household items. Play aggression is the most common type of aggressive behavior that cats direct toward their owners. It involves typical predatory and play behaviors, including stalking, chasing, attacking, running, ambushing, pouncing, leaping, batting, swatting, grasping, fighting and biting.

The degree to which individual cats learn to inhibit their rough play varies, and those who were orphaned or weaned early might never have learned to temper their play behavior. Redirected aggression is probably the most dangerous type of cat aggression because the bites are uninhibited and the attacks can be frightening and damaging. Unable to get to the trigger of his agitation, he turns and lashes out at someone—person, dog or cat—who is nearby or who approaches him.

There can be considerable delay between the initial arousal and the redirected aggression, as long as hours. Some common triggers for redirected aggression are:. Some cats enjoy being petted, held, carried and even hugged. Some merely tolerate these activities with their owners, or they like being petted but not carried. Petting-induced aggression occurs when a cat suddenly feels irritated by being petted, nips or lightly bites the person petting him, and then jumps up and runs off. Imagine if someone rubbed your back but, instead of moving his hand all over your back, he rubbed in just one spot, over and over.

That could quickly become unpleasant. Your cat might feel the same way: what started out feeling good is now irritating, and he wants you to stop. This type of aggression is more common in males than females. When your cat signals you to stop petting, the best response is simply to stop. Pain-induced and irritable aggression are triggered by pain, frustration or deprivation, and they can be directed toward people, animals and objects.

Any change in behavior may be an early indication of a medical problem. Spay or neuter any intact pets in your home. The behavior of one intact animal can affect all of your pets. Slowly re-introduce the cats again following this slow introduction process. You may need professional help from an animal behavior specialist to successfully implement these techniques.

Your veterinarian is the only person who is licensed and qualified to prescribe any medication for your cats. The more often cats fight, the worse the problem is likely to become.

To stop a fight in progress, make a loud noise, such as blowing a whistle, squirting the cats with water, or throwing something soft at them. Prevent future fights.

Punishment is likely to elicit further aggression and fearful responses, which will only make the problem worse. Share This. Adopting a Cat Please enjoy this video from Jackson Galaxy, a well-known cat behaviorist and host of