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Even picking up your cat to stroke or
groom her could cause pain as they have very
sensitive skin and they may react to pain that we
do not know that we have caused. I used to have a
cat that only liked being picked up a certain way;
I had the scratches to prove it.
Aggression
Triggered By Petting
We can't win can we? Your cat is laying
by your side, begging for some petting and you
start to gently stroke your cat, the purring
starts, you both feel relaxed. A few minutes later
the purring slowly stops, the tail starts to
twitch and suddenly the cat tries to grab your
hand with its teeth and claws.
This is a
well-known behavior pattern, but it is hard to
explain why some cats are more sensitive than
others to petting.
Behaviorists reckon that it may
be down to early socialization with people or
something in their genetic make up. I can
understand that, I feel more comfortable with
people I have known a long time. Some cats have a
tendency to become over stimulated and may feel
threatened when petted for too long. Exactly how
long depends on the cat, if you have a sensitive
cat, you will usually learn what is considered to
be too long.
Illness
Induced Aggression
Your cat may start to become aggressive
because there may be something medically wrong
with him. In my research I have discovered that tumors,
blocked blood vessels and even rabies have all
been associated with aggressive behavior. It would
be advisable, as a precaution, to consult your vet
if there is a sudden onset of unprovoked violence.
You should know your cat best and any changes in behavior
should be noted and passed onto the vet during
regular health check ups. I must point out that a
cat scratching you is not always about aggression.
A cat can scratch you when it is playing or even
'complimenting' you by a cat 'love bite'. It may
hurt just the same but this is different from
aggressive behavior. It doesn't make it easy for
us, does it?
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