Not So Nice To Others

by Linda
(North Haven, CT)

My kitten is an 8 month old female and she will be spayed at the end of this month. My question is when I have company over why is she mean to everyone she starts hissing and trying to claw them when they try to pet her. The only people she doesnt do that to are me and my roomate. It upsets me because everyone thinks shes a mean cat but shes really not. She sleeps with me sometimes and always wants to be petted. When I first got her she did bite and scracth alot but I thought that was because she was only 6 weeks when I got her so maybe she was taken too soon from the mother, and she has gotten alot better since then I just have the problem with other people now who obviously are strangers to her. I have been around cats all my life and Ive never seen this, cats are usually affectionate to everyone. I have seen a few that were mean but not many. Ill take any advice thank you

Answer by Kate
Hi
Aggression is often a sign of fear. Some cats are just more fearful than others and like you say if when they were very young they were nor socialised then it is common that they are more fearful than others.
I have several pages that may be of interest to you in regards to this problem
https://www.our-happy-cat.com/aggressive-cat-behavior.html
https://www.our-happy-cat.com/scared-cat.html
https://www.our-happy-cat.com/cat-social-behavior.html

Hopefully my pages will be able to give some more information which may help you to understand your cats behaviour and perhaps help her to become more social.

Playing will definitely help your cat become more friendly towards people but make sure you never use your hands for them to attack etc.

Also you may notice that after a while after she has been spayed she may also soften in nature too.

best wishes Kate

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