Food That Makes Cats Docile
One of the most overlooked aspects of a cat's behavior is the food it ingests. Just like human bodies, cat's bodies are a system of complex chemical reactions and the inter-relationship of nutrients, health and behavior. In essence, a cat receiving inadequate nutrition can make it aggressive for a variety of reasons. Therefore, conversely, it is important to know what foods make your cat more docile and contented.
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Francis M. Pottinger's Theory
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A scientist interested in nutrition, Francis M. Pottinger noticed a change in the behavior of some sheltered cats under his care when he altered their diet from cooked cat food to raw food scraps. Dr. Pottinger found that when cats received raw (uncooked) fresh meat scraps from a packing plant, they were less prone to having diseases of the intestinal tract, maintained efficient weight, were less likely to be diabetic and (above all) were more docile and contented, especially in female cats.
Wet Cat Food
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Despite the theories of Dr. Pottinger, many cats are not fed a raw food diet. In lieu of a raw food diet, most veterinarians recommend a "wet" or canned food diet. In addition to having more protein, it is closer to the kinds of foods the cat would consume in the wild, resulting in less urinary tract problems (especially for males that sometimes suffer from crystal formation in the urinary tract) and less weight gain than on dry foods.
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Dry Cat Food
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Dry cat food, which is the cat food that comes in crunchy bits, is largely composed of fillers based on grains like corn or rice. The lower protein content can, in some cases, cause irritation of the bowels, diabetes and weight gain in cats. Because cats are descended from wild, solitary hunters, they automatically hide any illnesses, masking weakness with aggressive behavior in order to stave off predators. Though your cat certainly doesn't see you as something that will eat it, it nonetheless may act aggressively out of instinct.
Not all dry cat foods, however, are prone to these behavioral changes or the underlying diseases. Cats are picky eaters and will go on hunger strikes to protest new foods introduced, even ones that are better for them such as wet or raw foods. In these cases, it is best to give them a dry food that is veterinarian recommended like Iams or Royal Canin.
Other Methods
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There are other methods of making a cat docile in addition to food. Catnip, also called cat mint, is a stimulant for cats. A cat's initial reaction varies but can include drooling, rubbing the herb on his or her face, and a return of kitten-like behavior complete with frolicking and playfulness. Eventually (after about 10 minutes), the cat becomes disinterested in the nip (because the cat's brain chemistry has ceased releasing dopamine and other emotion-altering hormones) and usually becomes very docile, either sleeping or resting contentedly.
Some cats' activities may include running about or even a jealous guarding of their nip pile or stash while the nip is affecting them, so nip is not a perfect solution in all situations.
Warning
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Sometimes aggressive behavior is the result of a viral infection, such as rabies. If a cat is aggressive, acting oddly or "drunk," and/or is foaming at the mouth, it very likely has contracted rabies. Do not attempt to feed a rabid cat anything and instead call animal control specialists to deal with the cat.
There is no cure for rabies, but there is a preventative immunization regimen that can protect your cat. Your cat should receive an initial injection as a kitten, followed by a second injection a year later and booster shots every two to three years. If you are uncertain about a cat's immunization records, the veterinarian will probably insist on starting over again, just to be safe.
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