Cats are usually viewed as relatively peaceful creatures. Most people assume that if a cat is given food, water, and a suitable place to rest then it will remain docile and loving toward its owners while also displaying the usual feline independence.

Not all cats are wired this way. Individual cats have varying personalities, just like people do. While one cat might be cuddly and laid back, another cat might be so high strung that the owners miss out on sleep at night because the cat is constantly bouncing off the walls. As long as the personality quirks of each cat are acceptable to the owners, there isn’t a problem about differing personalities among cats.The one personality trait that does not go over very well is when the cat has aggressive tendencies. With dogs it can be more acceptable since dogs have the reputation of protection, but an aggressive cat is not something most people are looking for.Aggressive cats can be quite dangerous. Although cats don’t have the ability to do as much damage as some other animals can, cats are agile and quick and can inflict great pain in a quick moment and then disappear. An aggressive cat around young children and babies is a highly dangerous situation, because babies don’t know how to defend themselves against an attack from a cat. An attack from an aggressive cat, for example, can permanently scar a child’s face.While there may be some cats that are aggressive by nature, most aggression is man made. Cats who have been abused or tormented have only one way to defend themselves and that is to be aggressive. Another common reason is if the cat has pain. Painful teeth with deep cavities is very common with cats. A cat with excruciating pain in her mouth will act aggressively if someone comes near her face.So what should you do if your cat is aggressive? You may be able to work out some of the issues with your cat by demonstrating tenderness and making the cat feel as comfortable around you as possible. You should also make sure that your cat has ample opportunity for getting plenty of exercise, because if your cat is starved for some activity it may culminate into aggressive behavior.You’ll have to accept the fact that some cats are just aggressive by nature, and that it isn’t something they can necessarily be trained away from doing. If your cat endangers the residents within your home – such as young children or babies – then you’ll have to make the decision of whether to keep the cat or find it another home. If you surrender the cat to a local shelter you need to inform them of the cat’s aggressive tendencies so that it doesn’t wind up in another home with young children.