Ragdoll Cats

Aggression is usually a dog owner problem; however, some cats have problems with this type of behavior. While aggression isn’t one of the main reasons an owner will dump a cat off at the shelter, it does play a part in their decision to do so. This is according to a recent survey of animal shelters conducted in the United States. The survey states nearly 14% of owners turning cats in at the shelters said aggressive behavior was the reason for parting ways with their cat.

Agression is a problem becuase cat bites can be more dangerous than a dog bite. Cat’s saliva can transmit dangerous bacteria that can lead to severe infection. Your cat’s nails can also transmit bacteria when scratching you.

The main type of aggression in cats is play aggression; however there are other types including defensive aggression and territorial aggression.

Play Aggression

If your Ragdoll starts biting and scratching you out of the blue, it could acting up due to pain. Pain aggression is the result of a medical condition and is your Ragdoll cat’s way of getting your attention. A trip to your veterinarian could resolve the medical issue and your cat’s behavior.

Most of the time aggression in cats is play aggression. This behavior is a result of the owner’s conditioning. People find it hard to resist a fuzzy Ragdoll kitten and often wrestle and twirl the kitten around. Rolling your kitten around while it scratches and bites you may be great fun, but it encourages aggressive behavior. When your cat grows up and the scratches and biting draws blood, it’s not so fun anymore.

Because of the danger from cat scratches and bites it’s best not to encourage your cat in this manner. If your cat is already exhibiting this behavior stop using your feet and hands as play toys. Try and get your cat to take its aggression out on other toys. Using a feather on a pole and string is an excellent way to separate you from the aggression. Your hands and feet need to be off limits as play toys. You may need to deter the unwanted behavior by using a squirt gun. It also helps to use a firm “No!” when trying to get your point across to your Ragdoll cat.

It will take some patience on your part; however, by reinforcing positive play behaviors you can curb unwanted play aggression in your Ragdoll cat.