Ref: http://animalcare.my/2012/10/05/petting-aggression-and-play-aggression-in-cats/
Here is a sharing by Chen from her book:
It suggests that we ignore the biting (ie. pay no attention to it) as the biting is attention-seeking.
Must try that on our Cow! Hey, come to think of it, isn’t that Tiger’s way? He ignores Bunny’s war-cries and he never gets hurt. Smart Tiger….!
Just an hour ago, Bunny was intimidating Tiger with his most terrifying war-cries. Tiger didn’t bat an eyelid (I couldn’t see if he closed his eyes, though, as his back was facing me) but he definitely did NOT move an inch. After awhile, the aggressor just walked away, none the wiser or more victorious.
Comments
2 responses to “More on pet aggression”
I adopted two cats from a neighbour who passed away 2009. So these two cats came to live in a household with 10 or more cats. What added more problems was/is, these cats ‘speak’ Dutch, while I generally speak English at home!
Anyway, the two used to demand for attention. Understandable. They lost their beloeved mommy that speaks Dutch, and now with a woman gibbling in other tongues. (when I am mad I shout in Mandarin!) As they get more and more ‘fluent’ with the English language, they became less demanding. Still it was interesting to watch yesterday. A Dutch friend came to visit me and right away the two paid attentions to her and meow-meow-meow away. THEY WERE SO HAPPY to hear the familiar sounds. And this friend had never met them before. But these two REAL-DUTCH-CATS were in high heaven! So wonderful for them.
I think agressions, just the same with human beings, come with communications problems. Cow is looking for attention, but what and why? Give more love to Cow. I know it sounds illogical. But I think Cow feels neglected and confused. First with Bluey and Baggy came to join the family, then they left, then one came back, then left again, then with Bobby leaving. Plus a whole lot of activities in the household that happeneded behind the scene. ME as a reader following the ‘stressful’ events going on in Cow’s life (and other cats and the human as well) and sometime felt so sad and stressed. So would the animals. Others take it easier, but I think Cow is having a tough time to deal with stress and adjustment???
Instead of punishing Cow, I know sometime when we are stressed ourselves it is not easy, pick her up, talk to her and sooth her and let her know she is loved. Perhaps that would make feel SAFE again?
Thanks, Cindy. Cow gets a lot of attention every day! He actually takes centre stage and is the closest to me. Bunny is the aggressor, and he also gets a lot of attention, in fact, from everyone!