Cats May Become Aggressive to Get What They Want

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Q I think that we are going to have to get rid of our cat because she has become very aggressive toward several family members, biting them on the ankles when they sit and refusing to get out of a chair, hissing, spitting and striking at them. I am the only one she seems to tolerate, probably because I feed her. She is a 3- year-old spayed tortoiseshell who can be very sweet and affectionate when she feels like it. Any ideas on why this Jekyll and Hyde personality?

A There are several types of feline aggression; the type you describe is typical of dominance aggression where cats use threatening behavior to get their way. These cats are usually confident, friendly and social, but become aggressive toward people in order to get what they want.

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Cats May Become Aggressive to Get What They Want

Initially they become mildly aggressive when they want attention, food or your lap. Over time they will start to attack whenever they feel neglected....

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