Aggression is the second most common feline behavior problem seen by animal behaviorists. Although cats are not often seen as threatening, the can become quite formidable when upset. Aggression comes in various forms, and here we classify a few of the forms so that you can better understand why your cat may begin to act aggressively towards you and/or others.

The most common aggressive cat behavior is that of unneutered male cats towards other male cats. As cats begin to reach adulthood, they become more territorial, challenging each other for access to territory and mates. Though more obvious between stray cats, household cats can often act aggressively towards each other as well. Aggressors often make themselves bigger, while the recipient cats make themselves appear smaller and quickly break away.

Fearful aggression can occur when a cat perceives a threat. His fear escalates if he cannot escape, his reaction to the threat increasing as well. Defensive signals, such as crouching, flattening the ears, tucking the tail, or leaning to the side, often combine with aggressive signals, such as hissing and spitting, growling, biting, pawing, and scratching as a form of protection.

The most common aggression cats can display to their owners is playful aggression. It is usually typical predator and prey play behavior that includes crouching, stalking, chasing, leaping and batting. It is believed that when young cats play with each other, they learn to inhibit their bites and swats to prevent harm, but play aggression can become harmful if not handled properly.

Aggression can be a dangerous problem to take care of. It can sometimes be a symptom of a clinical condition, so it is important to seek the advice of a veterinarian or other professional when dealing with your cat’s aggression.