April 24, 2012
Posted in Pet Health

Cats are known for being both independent and loving to their families. However, if your kitty has suddenly gone from playful and happy to aggressive and stressed out, something more serious may be going on with its health. In most cases, cats who have recently become aggressive are acting out due to issues like fear, territorial issues, petting induced and predatory aggression or even underlying pain.

Signs of aggression in cats include the feline suddenly stalking, swatting or biting. Its tail may also start to twitch back and forth, while its pupils may start to dilate and its ears may be pinned back close to its head. Some felines might also have changes in their posture.

If you notice any of these symptoms and they occur more than a few times a week, you should bring the cat into the vet's office for a complete physical. The vet will ask you about any changes to your cat's life including a move, bringing a new baby or pet home or any other environmental changes that could be causing the cat stress. If nothing new has been going on in the feline's life, the vet will likely try to figure out if a medical issue is behind the new undesired behavior. 

Diseases such as hyperthyroidism, rabies, dental or gum disease, arthritis and brain disease or tumors are known to cause aggression in cats as a side effect. If the cat is suffering from arthritis, the vet may recommend starting it on a joint enhancing supplement like Dasuquin to ease the pain. Purchasing pet products like Dog Steps with 4 Steps may also be useful as these steps can help the cat get on and off furniture without straining its achey joints. If kitty is suffering from a dental condition, the vet may recommend you start brushing its teeth with products like the C.E.T. Oral Hygiene Kit for Dogs and Cats which comes with a toothbrush, finger brush and pet-friendly toothpaste.

Sometimes, the vet may find the cat is simply bored or in need of more play time to get back to normal. It's recommended that felines get between 30 and 60 minutes of daily play, so try to up your feline's routine using toys like the Crazy Circle Interactive Cat Toy that keeps a cat's mind and body moving. If kitty continues to show signs of aggression, the vet may recommend starting it on pet drugs like Fluoxetine to ease its anger and anxiety.

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