Most view cats as docile, peaceful and quiet creatures. It is an assumption by many that as long as a cat has a good place to rest, has clean drinking water, and food that it is all that is needed to create a docile, loving, yet independent cat.
But not all cats have the laid back couch potato meditative zen type of style. Some cats are constantly going at 160 mph. Fast, agile, interested, investigating, and bouncing off the walls, keeping their owners awake at night by leaping across the bed or attacking toes under the blanket. Cats are as different to each others as humans are. As long as the personality style is acceptable by the owner there is no problem.
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 some cats may have natural tendencies to be aggressive, most often cats become aggressive due to some form of abuse. Cats that have been tormented by a sadistic past owner may well become aggressive as a form of self defense.
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.
Now, there may be some cats that are just aggressive by nature, or may be aggressive around children. (No doubt have been hurt by a child in the past) and it may not be something that can be trained away. In the case of your cat being aggressive towards your children or babies, finding your cat a new home without children may be an option to consider.
