Aggression in Cats can take many forms, starting with play aggression in kittens. You must always keep in mind that Cats originated in the wild, and much of their behavior manifests from that genetic memory. You've undoubtedly seen that cute photo of the kitten looking in the mirror with the lion gazing back. That isn't too far from wrong, as inside your Cat beats the heart of a predatory beast, and often his actions reflect that inheritance.

Before attempting to deal with your Cat's combative performance, you need to analyze it to see exactly what is causing his aggression. Here are some of the more common forms of feline aggression:

• Play Aggression
  Normal in all ages. Cats are practicing their predatory skills, along with sharpening their skills in defending their territory.
  Normally no action is needed when Cats in a household fight during play. It may sound as if they are killing each other, but they are establishing their pecking order and eventually one Cat will emerge as the dominant one.
  Exception: If a younger Cat is consistently beating up on a geriatric Cat, the senior Cat should be given a safe harbour where he can be free from the added stress.
  
• Serious Aggression Between Cats
  This commonly occurs when a new Cat is introduced to a household. The aggressor may be the new Cat, but more often the Alpha Cat is the instigator. Some veterinarians have reported success with the use of Feliway, which is a synthetic pheromone intended to closely mimic the hormone in Cats' cheeks, which they use to mark territory. Although manufactured primarily for controlling urine spraying, sometimes spraying Feliway around the house helps calm down the combatants. You may need to separate them in different rooms, and then gradually reintroduce them.

• Redirected Aggression
  This form of aggression might be the hardest to spot. It commonly occurs when a Cat sees a strange Cat outside through a window, and then turns and beats up on his best buddy-- a frustrating situation for both parties, and particularly frightening to the innocent bystander. Sometimes, just separating the two Cats for a couple of days will cause them to forget the incident. In any case, putting a barrier (such as a piece of cardboard) on the window so the aggressive Cat can't see outside, may be a stop-gap solution.
• Fear Aggression
  Crazy as the name sounds, fearful Cats can sometimes manifest their fears through aggression toward other Cats. A common example is when a Cat comes home from the veterinary clinic after having anaesthesia. The other Cat might become frightened because of the unusual odors, and react aggressively toward this "stranger". Separating the Cats for a day or two will probably do the trick, but if not, tranquilizing meds can be prescribed by your veterinarian for the aggressive partner.
• Scratching and Biting Humans
  Except for the second form of aggression listed above, any or all of the forms of aggression shown can be exhibited toward humans. The most common one is Play Aggression. Cats are not dogs, and the kind of roughhouse play you use with your pooch is not recommended with your kitten, or you will spend a lifetime regretting it, and bear the scars of your indiscretion, to boot.

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