Why Does My Cat Attack Me And No One Else?

Your cat is your primary source of comfort.

You’re here to be its friend, and it trusts you implicitly. However, there are times when it behaves differently.

Maybe it experiences a certain behavior pattern that is challenging to handle. Whatever the reason, you must communicate with it.

So, why does my cat attack me and no one else?

Cats are known for their independence.

People are not cats’ main source of food, warmth, or comfort. So, cats are naturally aggressive toward humans.

This aggression ranges from swatting to biting and even scratching. This aggression usually starts at a young age and gets worse as the cat gets older.

However, it’s usually directed toward one person in the family.

This is because cats form strong bonds with their owners as they grow up.

They know their owners’ faces and smell, and they know their favorite spots to sleep.

So, when a cat attacks a person, it’s usually not because they’re dangerous; it’s because they’re looking for attention.

Why Does My Cat Attack Me And No One Else?

Your Cat Is Trying To Dominate

Wild cats have an innate need to dominate other felines. Domesticated cats have also inherited this trait from their wild ancestors.

Therefore, if your cat is attacking you repeatedly for no apparent reason, it’s probably trying to dominate you as its pack leader.

When a cat wants to assert dominance over its owner, they usually engage in one-on-one interactions.

This means that they attack the owner only when they’re alone and not in the presence of other family members or friends.

The same habit has been passed down to domesticated cats, which is why they tend to target their owners more often when they’re alone.

Your Cat Is Displaying Old Habits

Older cats may bite, hiss, or scratch people they’ve never interacted with before because they’re displaying old habits that have been ingrained in them since birth.

If your kitten was born into an abusive household where it learned aggressive behaviors from its mother, it’s likely to exhibit the same behaviors as an adult cat if it encounters a similar situation again.

Also, if your cat was abused by strangers or other pets in its previous home, it may experience anxiety in new environments and may lash out as a result.

The explanations stated so far in this article may be the reason you’re reading this article in the first place.

Anxiety and Fear

Experts believe that fear and anxiety are the primary causes of aggression in domestic felines.

For example, if you recently moved to a new house, your cat may feel insecure in the new environment and lash out at you and your family members as a result.

Similarly, if your cat’s old owner died and it lost its main source of affection and comfort, it may suffer from anxiety and fear in the future and become aggressive toward its new family because of it.

Cats prefer to flee perceived dangers and threats than fight them head-on.

When a cat attacks you out of self-defense or out of fear or anxiety, it probably feels cornered or trapped.

Your Cat Is Trying to Get Your Attention

Even though cats are not pack animals by nature, several cat breeds prefer to have an owner as their pack leader.

They feel more secure this way because they know exactly where they stand in their owner’s eyes.

So, if your cat is lashing out at you regularly for no apparent reason, it’s probably trying to get your attention because it feels lonely in its new home.

It’s looking to establish a connection with its new family by bonding with you first so it can feel comfortable around you in the future.

If you’ve noticed a change in the behavior of your domestic feline and it seems to be trying to assert its dominance over you, give it some time to get acclimated to its new environment.

Your Cat Is In Pain

Your pet cat may become violent at times if it suffers from an underlying medical condition like arthritis.

Arthritis is a common ailment that affects older cats and can cause them to become irritable and aggressive as they grow older.

Additionally, dental problems can also trigger this behavior in your pet.

Periodontal disease is a common cause of pain in cats and dogs alike because it causes inflammation in the gums and the tissue surrounding the teeth.

As a result, the animal may start biting and scratching at its own body in an attempt to relieve the pain caused by the condition.

A cat suffering from chronic depression or anxiety may also exhibit aggressive behavior, especially if it has been mistreated in the past by previous owners.

In addition, she may be in agony as a feline with inflammatory bowel disease or IBD will suffer from frequent bouts of diarrhea and frequent vomiting, which will cause her to become dehydrated and malnourished.

Your Cat Is Trying to Tell You Something

Cats may be physically incapable of speaking human language but they communicate with us non-verbally all the time.

If your cat is attacking you frequently for no apparent reason, it’s probably trying to tell you something.

It may be in pain or be trying to communicate its need for attention, but whatever it is, you have to listen to its body language to figure out what it wants from you.

Any cat owner will quickly tell you that cats are masters of non-verbal communication.

They are capable of reading our body language like a book and they can even communicate to us without opening their mouths at all.

They do this through a series of gestures, movements, vocalizations, and other behaviors that serve as their form of non-verbal communication.

Your Cat Is Playing

If you believe your cat exclusively attacks you when it wants to play with you, you’re wrong.

Many experts agree that most pet cats play with their humans just as much as they play with other pets.

However, they may not always show us their playful side when they start playfully biting us.

This is because they’re usually more reserved when it comes to interacting with unfamiliar people.

So, if your pet tries to playfully bite you when you greet it for the first time after it’s been separated from its littermates or it’s coming back from the vet’s office, don’t panic.

What Should You Do If Your Cat Attacks You?

Maintain Your Calm and Be Patient

You must understand that your furry companion is trying to tell you something when it bites you.

Even if you’re not sure exactly what it is, try to understand what your kitty is trying to tell you.

For example, if it’s trying to tell you that it’s hungry, you can satisfy its hunger by providing it with food and clean water.

Once it realizes that you are here to take care of it, it will calm down and stop attacking you so often.

If you’ve been bitten by your kitty in the past, you might want to give it a little space at first until you’re certain it won’t attack you again.

This might be frustrating and even depressing, particularly if you have small children or other family members who like to be around your cat.

Keep an Extra Eye Out for Indications and Hints

Understanding and being aware of the potential triggers that prompt a cat to attack will help you prevent such situations from taking place in the future.

Although there is no cure for aggression in cats, you can reduce the frequency and severity of these episodes by taking some proactive steps to keep your feline friend happy and healthy.

Some common signs of a cat who is about to attack include hissing, baring of its teeth, growling, swiping with its claws, jumping on people, and trying to bite someone.

You must be vigilant and protect yourself and your family against your cat’s sudden outbursts of anger or rage.

Consult Your Veterinarian Immediately Away

If your cat attacks you or your family members on a regular basis and you can’t seem to figure out what’s causing this behavior, it’s a good idea to consult a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Your veterinarian has the knowledge to diagnose and treat any underlying medical condition that may be triggering the aggressive behavior in your cat.

Also Read: Older Cat Attacking New Kitten

Conclusion

Because you are your pet cat’s primary caregiver, you must protect yourself and your family against potential hazards associated with owning a cat.

Your easy access to her and your propensity to let her wander freely about your home make it all too tempting for a cat to show aggression toward you or other members of your family.

If your pet attacks you, always remain calm and patient and avoid reacting to her aggressive actions with fear or anger.

Maintain your calm, never punish your kitty for lashing out at you, and avoid getting bitten again by keeping an eye out for hints and indications of a pending attack.