Many cat owners can become quite shocked when their always friendly and loving cat, turns into a very aggressive cat seemingly instantly.  Do not worry; it is not uncommon for cat owners to report occasional aggressiveness with their cats.

The first time that you see your cat become aggressive, you might become fearful of your cat. Many cat owners have questions when they witness their cats attack.  Many owners want to know if something is wrong with their cat or if it is a danger to those around him or her. Before deciding if you should contact your veterinarian, there are a number of important points you will first want to take into consideration.

Firstly, you should realize that all cats are considered predators and this is neither a trait nor a characteristic that disappears.  Your cat will also have hunting instincts as well. This is one of the many reasons why cats occasionally display aggressive behavior. 

When it comes to aggressive hunting behavior, many cat owners become concerned, as they feel that they provide their cat with plenty of food and do not understand why their cat feels the need to hunt prey.  However, your cat hunting prey has nothing to do with how much food he is given.  Rather, your cat will sometimes feel the need to hunt.  Oftentimes, a cat will not eat what it has killed. A cat only lives for the hunt.

As for how you can determine whether your pet cat is just exercising his need to hunt, look at the attack in question.  Did your cat try to attack your foot as you walked by?  If so, this is a normal occurrence and not a sign of something serious.

Jumping at your feet as you walk by was cited as an example above.  This can lead to another cause of aggression in cats; overexcitement.  Some popular cat toys on the market are those where balls are attached to a string and your catch chases it.  These toys are nice, but they can also lead to some confusion, as your foot may appear similar in nature to your cat’s favorite toy.  It is also important to know that cats are sensitive and their mood easily changes.  Is this why playtime with your cat can end with you having a scratch or a bite mark.

Cats, as with many other pets, are territorial.  This is another leading cause of aggression in cats.  Is your cat the only pet in your home?  If so, they may react with aggression when another pet enters into their territory.  The same can be said for children.  Do you have children?  If not, when a child visits your home, your cat may be frustrated, fearful, or angry with the change, especially inside their territory.  The quick movements of small children can also cause a cat to act out.  As an important note, cats are typically safe around children.  With that in mind, all small children should be watched carefully when around any kind of pet.