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Cattitude

February 15, 2023
Do you have a furry little curmudgeon on your hands? Our feline friends all have their own temperaments. One kitty may be super friendly and lovable, and another may be, well, a bit grumpy. Of course, Fluffy can also move back and forth between the two at any given time … sometimes for no apparent reason. In this article from Westside Animal Hospital, a Savannah, GA veterinarian discusses kitty cattitude.

Rough Play

One confusing thing about cats is the fact that they like to attack their humans for fun. This actually is Fluffy’s way of unleashing her inner lioness. Kitties have very deeply ingrained hunting instincts, and they just can’t resist practicing on their humans. If Fluffy is just playing, she probably won’t bite or scratch hard. She may also start licking you in the middle of her attack. This is one reason it’s best to play with your furry friend using something you control from a distance, like a wand toy or laser pointer. That will teach her to practice her ‘lioning’ on something other than you.

Aggression

If your kitty is actually attacking you, you’ll want to figure out what is setting her off. There are many possibilities. Some cats lash out because they feel scared or threatened. Major changes can also upset our feline pals. Redirected aggression is another potential cause. (This is when Fluffy is actually mad at the cat across the street, but takes it out on you.) Your pet may also be acting up due to pain or nausea. If you aren’t sure why your pet is acting grumpy, and/or if she’s only recently become a grouch, have your vet examine her to rule out medical issues.

Superiority

We can’t really talk about cattitude without touching on some of Fluffy’s brattier episodes. Your furry little diva may smack you in the face to wake you up when she wants breakfast, yell at you for taking an unsafe ‘toy’ away, or look you in the eye while she smugly knocks your glass of water off the table. Most of the time, these types of behavior are generally attention-seeking, if a bit rude. These things are just ‘purr’ for the course with our feline buddies!  Here at Westside Animal Hospital, your Savannah, GA animal clinic, we are dedicated to keeping our feline patients healthy and purring … even the cranky ones. Contact us anytime!  
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