A Feline’s Guide To Manage Food Aggression

When you eat, you might not always be in the mood to do anything else. Your cats can feel the same way; and when hungry, it might become aggressive or moody for a variety of reasons. You might assume that this could be attributed to personality traits, but this can be the result of other reasons. It is important to not ignore any signs leading to food aggression, as it may be something you can help treat and fix. It is also important to note that you should not just treat food aggression as a whole or assume it is for one reason as there can be many factors that lead to this. 

Here you will find some potential causes for feline food aggression and some tips to help deal with it:

Discomfort and Irritation

If your cat is showing aggression towards you when they are feeding, you don’t need to take this personally by assuming your cat dislikes you or that it is their personality. Cats that may have some sort of infection or illness may also show signs of aggression. This is due to their discomfort and anxiety levels. Like humans, cats that are sick won’t be in the best of moods to interact, cuddle or play.

If you find that your cat has developed habits of aggression and you cannot find the reason behind it, going to a professional will help you out as they will undoubtedly have more experience and knowledge on what situation you might find yourself in. It is very important to involve a doctor or vet as they may need medical attention. Of course, you don’t want to run to appointments for every little thing that can be pricey for you and time consuming for all parties. But sometimes, it can be helpful to get expert advice.

Allergies

Cat food allergies can be one of the reasons your pet may show aggression when it comes to feeding time. Similar to the point above, cats won’t be inclined to activity and interaction with others when they are feeling uncomfortable. Cats have different dietary needs and are more sensitive when it comes to what they eat. Watch out for skin issues like itchy rashes that cause more licking and biting. If your cat has food allergies, you can give them pills and specific food for allergies or for sensitive stomachs. Many foods tailored to sensitive stomachs include ingredients with probiotics, and free of irritable ingredients like egg, dairy or gluten. If they continue to show signs of allergies, you should take them in for veterinary visits to determine exactly the cause of discomfort and how to adjust their habits accordingly.

Feeding habits and shared space

If you leave a food bowl for your cat or don’t have set times for meals, this can cause stress and anxiety for them. If your home has more than one pet, your cats may show aggression as a means of protection for their food and meals. They may believe that they compete for their food.  

If you find that your pet has issues in their feeding habits, you want to start providing your cat with a little more structure and organization. Don’t feed your cat where you eat, make sure you designate a location for their food. If you are in a household with other pets sharing the space, keep their food bowls separate from each other and you may want to consider feeding pets at separate times from each other. You want to designate a mealtime for your pet and try not to stray far from those parameters. This structure can help change your pet’s mindset, giving them an understanding that they are not fighting for food or are in competition. Knowing they will be fed at a certain time and place will give them peace of mind to know their next meal is going to come.  

If you are still having trouble with your cat adjusting to new feeding habits, you don’t want to be rewarding them with snacks and food for good behavior, but instead, use attention in the form of care and playtime. This will reinforce the idea that food will be provided under the guidance of structure.

Aggressiveness in cats can be more than just their personality. If that aggression comes from your pet uncharacteristically, it is important to recognize that and know if it’s something that you can fix or adjust. As with all training, there is a period of adjustment. It is important that you have the patience to see these changes take place because they won’t occur overnight. Take your time to work with your pet to help them alter their feeding behavior and as always, if you need added support or advice, or if the situation is more than you can handle, contact a professional to assist you.