My newly adopted cat is aggressive and scary. What should I do?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Cats, like people, have different personalities; some are very sociable and always want to cuddle, while others can be more reserved and independent. It may be partly personality contributing to his behavior, as well as adjusting to his new environment. A pheromone collar (they can be found on amazon, such as nurturecalm) may be a good option instead of feliway spray, as it is a continuous release for a full month. While the response is variable among cats, it is definitely something I would recommend giving a try. Additionally, if there is a type of treat that Vin really enjoys, I would recommend putting some down by you when you are sitting on the couch watching TV, etc. When he comes to eat them, don't force an interaction, but allow him to nibble on them and then decide where he wants to go. Over time, they can be moved closer and closer to you to encourage him to be more comfortable in close proximity. When he seems playful, play with him with a toy, etc and then allow him to leave when he is done. If he is on a feeding schedule, get his attention by opening a can or shaking food into his bowl, allow him to stand next to you and have a short interaction before you set it down. If he still seems uncomfortable after these suggestions, I would recommend either setting up a consult or reaching out to your regular veterinarian for further advice. Good luck!

That actually sounds like very normal behavior for a cat who is adjusting to a major change. It sounds like Arlo is working on getting comfortable in his new environment but isn't so sure about the humans there yet. I would recommend giving him lots of space, not taking the growling personally, and giving him time (probably a week or two, maybe even months) to warm up. Let him be the one who chooses to interact with you, not the other way around. you can definitely use food and offerings of toys to try to entice him to come interact with you, but it should still be his choice. Congratulations on the new addition, I hope he settles in soon!

If only Taro could talk! With an unknown background, it's hard to know but it could be related to abuse, rough play or not socializing properly. Give him time to adjust. Keep his environmental calm and happy. Make sure to keep your movements calm and slow until he bonds and becomes comfortable. A few other therapies could also help. Here is a great article about cat's instinctual needs: https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-every-cat-needs-a-place-to-climb/ Use a Feliway diffuser, set aside 30 minutes a day for vigorous play and/or switch the food to Royal Canin Calm. Most cats response best to combination therapy. The veterinarian can also prescribe medications which can help with anxiety. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hi there, Sorry to hear about Lenny's aggression problem. I would recommend a few different things. First, a consult with your veterinarian. It sounds like you have done a lot to enrich his environment without much reward, and Lenny may need medication to help his serotonin levels. Your vet can help you determine if Lenny is a good candidate for medical therapy. Fluoxetine (Prozac) and gabapentin are commonly used behavioral drugs in cats. I'm not sure which calming spray you used, but I am a big fan of Feliway if you have not tried that yet. Lenny would also likely benefit from additional forms of mental and physical stimulation. Eating from treat toys to utilize his prey and hunting drive for food is great mental and physical exercise. Learning to walk on a harness and experiencing new environments may also be good for Lenny. Dr. Karen Pryor also has a great website with articles on companion animal behavior. Reading it will hopefully give you more insight as well. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

This is a tough situation. Regarding the allergies, you need to speak with your regular human doctor. Sometimes medications may help. Don't feel bad putting him in a room when you have tasks that need to get done. He won't be mad if he is put in the bath room for an hour. This behavior may calm down as well as he continues to adjust to his new home. If you don't want to give him back to the shelter, you may ask friends/family about adopting him. I hope this helps.

Hello, poor Tater. I think a behaviorist specialist may be the best suit for your friends family. However, they may start by ensuring he has adequate amounts of toys and scratch pads to reduce his stress behavior. Also make sure he has places to climb and be up high (cats like to look down on the world) and also places where he can comfortable hide. Feline aggression is a complex issue. Ruling out a medical cause for your cat’s aggressive behavior should always be your first step. What if your best friend has a painful mass in his stomach? That could be why your belly rubs make him defend himself and bite your hand. Aggression due to medical causes can be related to pain, neurological disorders, anxiety, or medications. A trip to the vet will rule out medical causes for aggression. Once a behavioral diagnosis of aggression has been made, sometimes simple techniques will improve or stop the behavior. In other situations it may be only the first step in treatment. In addition to designing a treatment plan, your veterinarian can help you with your conditioning goals and assist in realistic expectations of your pet. There are several categories of aggressive feline behavior: play aggression, fear- based aggression, redirected aggression, petting-induced aggression. Hope this helps!

It is wonderful you adopted a new cat. New environments can be very scary for certain cats. I would recommend making sure that MIllie has easy access to a litter box and food. I also would make sure she has a safe place to high and get up to a high place (like cat tree). It also can take type for her to adapt to her new space and feel more comfortable. She is still very young so I would just recommend moving slowly with her. I hope that helps