Cat Behavior

Plant Eating and Digging

What could be more fun for a little tiger than to have the jungle brought into his home! From Kitty's point of view a potted plant is a snack, an entertainment center, and sometimes a latrine, all-in-one. What could be more perfect! (Unfortunately owners seldom see plants that way). Wise cat owners will check the poisonous plant list before bringing greens into the home. Rubbing moistened black pepper onto the leaves and placing stones on top of the dirt will dissuade Kitty from tasting or digging in the plant. Let's be fair...why not plant a pot of healthy greens just for Kitty?

Fearful or Defensive Aggression

The best way to deal with a defensively aggressive cat is to avoid the cat until it calms down. You should not try to comfort the cat by approaching it or picking it up. The cat should be left alone until it relaxes enough to eat, play, or show affectionate behavior. In some cases, several hours or more are required for the cat to settle down. The person who is injured by the defensively aggressive cat is one who did not heed the cat's warning signals. Children are often the victims and should be taught to recognize the pertinent body language and to respect the directive to "back off!"

Some cats exhibit this type of aggression toward strangers who visit the home. If the cat has grown up with limited experience with people other than the owners, it is more likely to fear visitors. It is also possible for a cat to adopt this attitude toward strangers if it was at one time mistreated or teased and therefore will be distrustful of anyone who is not "family".