Dear Dr. John,

I adopted a beautiful calico four-year-old cat. I was warned that she could be a bid nippy but otherwise she was very sweet. She actually nipped at me a few times.

Last week she laid next to me on the couch. She put one of her front paws across my forearm and I felt her nails digging into my skin. It hurt so I gently blew some air at her face to try and get her to release only to have her viciously bite into my arm. Why would a cat be so aggressive like that?

I had cleaned off the wound and put some antibiotic ointment on it but when my co-workers saw the swelling the next day, I was urged to go to the hospital, which I did. I was started on antibiotics and the bite wound was reported. Does that have to be done because she now faces a quarantine?

Do I keep her not knowing if this will happen again? I fear that she would be put down if I return her to the adoption organization or will they try and rehabilitate her. Should I speak to my veterinarian about training or medication options? — J.M.

Dear J.M.,

One cannot say why some cats tend to nip or bite but suffice it to say that in most cases it is due to the environment from which they came. Some cats are just born a bit aggressive. I suspect that the cat placing her paw against your arm and digging in with her nails was an act of dominance.

Your blowing in her face triggered an even more aggressive behavior. This was not a light nipping behavior. In no way is this acceptable, in my opinion. It is usually advisable to seek medical attention for bite wounds as they can lead to serious consequences. Reporting of bite wounds is usually legally required.

You could consider speaking with your veterinarian about training or medical treatment for aggression, but you need to think about how you would go about doing this. I cannot say what would happen if you returned her. I would probably consider sending her back for them to deal with and adopting a new cat that has no behavioral issues. The choice is yours. Good luck!

Dr. John de Jong is President of the World Veterinary Association. He owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic and can be reached at 781-899-9994