My cat Puss'n, a domestic short-haired cat, attacks everyone and everything. Groceries have to be put away immediately, otherwise she rips them apart. It's as if she's being spiteful and I don't know what to do. The Pet Whisperer says:
Puss'n sounds like a handful! Although animals share many emotions with us, such as fear and pain, spite is not one of them. The reason behind her destructive and aggressive behaviour is more likely a result of instinct. Cats are built for hunting and although they've been domesticated, they still have that instinct. Puss'n is hunting when she rips apart the groceries and attacks people. You need to give Puss'n an outlet to express natural behaviours such as hunting and stalking. Buy some toys for her. Toys that mimic prey, such as fake mice and birds, are best. Make some time each day to have a play session with Puss'n and rotate her toys regularly to stop her getting bored. If you satisfy her desire to hunt you'll find she is less likely to attack people and your groceries! Do you own a cat who has been mean from time to time? Tell other readers what you did. |
