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Do Cats Throw Fits – 6 Signs Of A Pet Temper Tantrum

Do Cats Throw Fits – 6 Signs Of A Pet Temper Tantrum

When you first adopt a new cat, you’re probably not thinking that your cat would go off and start throwing a fit or a temper tantrum. Once you have your cat long enough, you’ll probably see your cat do this at least once, but you have to ask yourself if you’re the only one whose cat acts out. Do cats throw fits?

Yes, cats do throw fits. Cats throw fits when they feel neglected, are hungry, have a changed their environment, or are dealing with sickness. Signs of a cat throwing fits include damaging furniture, not using the litter box, and aggressive behavior.

Cats can act out and throw fits for a variety of reasons. The temper tantrums could last for varying amounts of time too. To learn more about your cat and its temper tantrums, stay with us until the end of this article! 

Reasons Why Cats Throw Temper Tantrums

Sometimes it is difficult to know why a cat does what it does, but if you are trying to understand your cat’s temper tantrums, here are six reasons why it may have happened:

They Do Not Feel Good

When cats do not feel good, they are quick to throw a temper tantrum, just like a toddler. This could be from several things: being too hot, feeling sick, or being in pain. 

Sometimes, you can help your cat feel better, but you have to make sure your cat is getting the best care available for other things happening. 

They Are Upset

A temper tantrum can also come from a cat that is simply upset.

You could have yelled at your cat, or your cat may not have been fed when he wanted to be fed. Any number of things could upset your cat. 

You might not think that cats have expressions, but many of them do! You may be able to see the anger on your cat’s face, which is a dead giveaway about why your cat is throwing a tantrum. 

Their Environment Changed

Most cats do not like change.

If you have changed the layout of your house or apartment, took away your cat’s favorite cat tree, or stopped your cat from going into a particular room, your cat could become upset. 

Your cat may throw a temper tantrum that could reoccur each time he meets the changed environment. Over time, your cat will become accustomed to the new environment, but it may take more than a day or two.  

You Did Something To Upset Them

You could be the culprit behind your cat’s temper tantrum by:

They Are Scared Of Something

Fear can also cause a temper tantrum in a cat.

Not all cats take scary triggers well, which mean that your cat may throw a temper tantrum in response. 

The fear could come from something as simple as getting startled when you walk into a room. Storms, too, may cause your cat to become scared, but this isn’t something you can stop. 

Your Cat Has A Neurological Disorder 

This is one reason to keep in mind, especially if your cat is starting to get up in years.

Cats with neurological disorders can act in numerous strange ways, and throwing a fit or temper tantrum could be one of them.

You mustn’t self-diagnose your cat with any disorder. If you suspect your cat may be suffering from a neurological disorder, you should work with your vet to find out and understand what is wrong with your cat. 

Why Does My Cat Have Tantrums

Cats have tantrums because they get upset just like anyone or anything else.

Tantrums are one of the only ways that your cat can “act out.” After all, your cat is not able to talk about his feelings with you. 

Chances are your cat isn’t throwing a tantrum for no good reason. There will always be a reason that your cat is acting out, even if it is a minor inconvenience. 

It can be frustrating if you have to deal with a cat that throws tantrums, but you need to remember it is your cat’s way of telling you that something is wrong.

Even if your cat’s tantrums make you upset, try to take a deep breath and help your cat through whatever is going on. 

Why Is My Cat Suddenly Misbehaving

Even the most well-behaved cats start to misbehave, and it can begin suddenly.

First, go through the reasons we already discussed above. Do any of those reasons fit the climate of the environment your cat is in?

If not, you’ll have to do a little more digging.

For instance, have you gotten a new cat or kitten in the house? This can be one of the main reasons why cats suddenly start misbehaving.

Nine times out of ten, your cat could be perfectly fine with the new cat or kitten. Then suddenly, without any warning, your cat starts to misbehave or bite the cat. 

You can’t imagine what has gotten into your cat around the new kitten when usually they are so good together! 

Sudden misbehaving can be challenging to deal with. 

If your cat misbehaves suddenly and then stops, it is probably nothing to worry about. On the other hand, if the negative behavior continues, it will be time to continue working with your cat to get his old behavior back.

Ways to Calm Down An Angry Cat

An angry cat could be difficult to calm down – especially with those sharp claws! But never fear: there are ways that you can calm down an angry cat.

  • Give your cat a treat or food to redirect his focus. 
  • If he is upset but not attacking, try petting him.
  • Throw his favorite toy in the opposite direction of something that is making him upset. 
  • Isolate your cat, especially if it is a person or another animal making him upset.
  • Constant aggression issues can also be alleviated with prescription medicine from your vet.

If your cat is getting angry while trying to administer medicine, you can also try putting a blanket or towel on top of him to grab him. He may not stop being angry, but it will calm him down enough for you to grab him. 

Regardless of what you are doing, it would help if you always were careful around an angry cat because you could end up getting hurt by the cat.