Intercat aggression – general considerations, prevention and treatment

Summary

Although cats are a social species and capable of living together in groups of several cats, intercat aggression is a common behavioral problem. Intercat aggression can be classified as status-related, fearrelated, play-related, redirected and can also be due to the addition of a new cat to an existing group. Socialization of kittens, choice of the right cat for a multicat household, and the gradual introduction of a new cat to the household can help to prevent intercat aggression. Treatment of intercat aggression should combine behavior modification, management and – if necessary – medication.

Zusammenfassung

Katzen zeigen ein ausgeprägtes innerartliches Sozialverhalten und können in Gruppen von mehreren Tieren zusammen leben. Trotzdem ist Aggression zwischen Katzen ein häufiges Problem im Mehrkatzenhaushalt. Aggressives Verhalten zwischen Katzen kann statusbezogen oder aufgrund von Furcht gezeigt werden. Auch Spielverhalten kann als aggressives Verhalten misinterpretiert werden oder in aggressives Verhalten umschlagen. Umgerichtete Aggression ist ebenso wie Aggression als Folge der Einbringung einer unbekannten Katze in einen Mehrkatzenhaushalt verbreitet. Die Behandlung von Aggression zwischen Katzen sollte Verhaltensmodifikation, Management und – wenn notwendig – die Anwendung von Medikamenten beinhalten.

Key words

Cat - aggression - social behavior - behavior therapy

Schlüsselwörter

Katze - Aggression - Sozialverhalten - Verhaltenstherapie

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