10 Signs to Watch out for in an Abusive Cat

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The very idea that an animal could potentially be abused is not only heartbreaking, but also stomach-turning. In addition, cats that have a tendency to act aggressively toward human beings might often be that way because they themselves have been abused in the past. In reality, there are some basic indicators that you can look for which suggest that your cat is aggressive toward you because he or she has also been abused. Below are 10 signs that you should watch out for.

1. Biting

Cats that don’t trust people very well have a tendency to be on the defensive almost all the time. As a result, they also tend to be prepared to bite at practically any moment. Some cats will not bite unless they are provoked while others will practically chase you down just so they can bite you. If your cat is being this aggressive, it’s probably because someone was once aggressive with your cat. That said, it doesn’t make it any easier when you’re simply trying to go about your everyday chores and your cat is sinking his teeth into you every chance he gets.

2. Clawing

In addition to biting, some cats also have a tendency to claw just about everything and everybody. If you’ve never been clawed by a cat, you don’t know what pain really is. Their claws have a tendency to be razor sharp, so much so that getting clawed by one feels like Freddy Krueger decided to make you his number one target. Worse yet, they don’t always stop clawing just because you try to put some distance between you and them. You may be trying to get away, but your cat might be holding on for dear life, sinking his claws deeper into your skin with every passing second.

3. Food Dominance

Cats that have been in an abusive household have a tendency to hoard their food, largely because they are afraid that there won’t be enough food for them to eat when they get hungry later on. This can result in the cat abusing every other animal in the house because of a tendency to be dominant around food.

If you have two or three cats and one of them is food dominant, you might very well be putting out enough food for all three cats, but there is every chance that the other two are getting hardly a morsel to eat because the one that’s food dominant is probably keeping all of it for himself. Cats that have this issue have a tendency not to allow other cats or any other animals to eat, even when they’re not hungry themselves. Instead, they will hover over the food and attack anything that even thinks about going near it as a means of making sure that they have enough to eat when they do want it.

4. Refusing Contact

Cats that have been abused have a tendency to refuse contact. They don’t trust easily, for obvious reasons. When a cat has been treated badly by the previous owner, it has essentially learned that it cannot trust people in general. As a result, they tend to refuse to allow anyone else to touch them, even lashing out if someone does manage to get a hold of them.

5. Tearing Up Surroundings

Cats that have behavioral issues that stem from being abused themselves also have a tendency to tear up their surroundings. Make no mistake about it, cats that haven’t been abused might have this problem, too. However, it happens more often with animals that have been abused themselves because they typically start tearing things up as a means of trying to relieve excessive amounts of stress that they’re feeling as a direct result of previous abuse. That can cause them to be exceptionally destructive, even under the best of circumstances.

6. Unprovoked Attacking

One of the worst things that can happen when you have an abusive cat is that the cat can start attacking you even though it’s completely unprovoked. For example, you might come home from work and the cat may pounce on you the moment you come in the door, scratching and biting. This isn’t just bad news for your work attire, as it’s probably going to be shredded by the end of the night, but also for both your physical and mental well-being.

7. Shying/Running Away

Cats that have been abused have a tendency to shy away from just about anything. A cat that is afraid of people and uncomfortable in his or her environment will often run away from the situation in an attempt to keep itself safe. The problem is, anyone that tries to spend time with that cat may end up being bitten or scratched. If you have a child that’s chasing after it because they want to pet it or another animal that wants to play with it, it can result in serious injuries.

8. Going After Other Animals

Speaking of other animals, abusive cats have a tendency to go after other animals. They’ll go after other cats and even dogs that are several times larger than they are. Essentially, they act like they have no fear, but in many cases, fear is all they are feeling and that’s precisely why they’re acting the way that they do.

9. Attacking Visitors

Just as your abusive cat might attack you or another animal in your home, they also have a propensity to attack visitors. Imagine what it would be like to have company and have your cat jump on someone unexpectedly. It definitely doesn’t make for a relaxing night of entertainment. In fact, it just might mean that your guest decides not to come back for some time.

10. Hissing

Cats that don’t get along very well with other people also have a tendency to hiss at them. Again, this is a behavior that you typically see with cats that have been abused in the past and are now aggressive toward other people. They may lay their ears back and hiss in an attempt to tell you to back away. If you don’t, you’re probably going to pay the price in the form of being bitten and scratched repeatedly.

You can also read:

• Five Signs Your Cat Has OCD
• Five Signs That Your Cat is Overstimulated
• What Are The Signs of Rabies in Cats?
• Warning Signs When Introducing Cats: What to Know
• Signs to Tell if Your Cats are Friends or Enemies