Ragdoll Cat

　　Cats are timid and avoid trouble; many times they attack humans in self-defense. However, some cats are born with a bad temper, which requires owners' training to make cats more reasonable. So what should we do when facing a bad-tempered cat?

　　1. Cat Temperament

　　Some cats give warnings before anger, such as low growling, tail thrashing, or skin twitching. But some cats will suddenly attack without any warning. In short, you need to know whether the cat you are holding is one prone to aggression.

　　What is confusing is that some cats suddenly attack (bite) while being petted. These cats could be sitting happily on your lap enjoying your touch one minute, then suddenly turn and bite your hand! Unfortunately, there is such a cat named Henry in my clinic. This behavior mostly occurs in male cats, and the reasons remain unclear. There are two theories: 1. The cat is annoyed by being petted but doesn’t know how to tell you, so it bites you. 2. The cat is so comfortable being petted that it falls asleep, then suddenly wakes up startled and feeling restrained, so it bites...

　　Cats attack because of their fear. Speaking softly and moving slowly can help alleviate this emotion.

　　Like humans, some cats may change their attack targets—angry at something else but venting on the owner or other cats. For example, if your cat hears or smells another outdoor cat and feels threatened, it may scratch or bite you. In such cases, owners can remove the source of stress or use a water spray on the angry cat.

　　Aggressive behavior may also be caused by illness or neurological diseases. If your cat suddenly behaves very differently and becomes aggressive, you should take her to the hospital for a check-up.