~~was it normal for my loving big boy to be SOOO aggressive ?~~

Mr. Fleas is one'a the best, most lovingest cats I've ever known, much
less owned, but you'd never'a known it when we got him.  He was
intensively aggressive.  So bad, in fact, that even our vet recommended
he be put down as 'too damaged' to save, and this is a vet with a 100%
cat practice and top honours from Michigan State University, one of the
nations leading agricultural Universities.  It wasn't a case of bad
kitty; it was more a case of abused psycho kitty taking his anger out
on people's hands, legs, faces, anything he could get a hold of.  He's
proof that ANY cat can be an aggressor given the proper circumstances.
(Now days Mr. Fleas only gets agressive when one'a the neighbourhood
cats taunts him or when there's a dog about.)

I'm not saying that your cat is or has ever been abused, mind you; but
it's my personal observation that most cats keep one foot in the wild
at all times, preparing for the day when we no longer need them.  Even
a cat as awesome and wonderful as Flea can be aggressive given the
right situation.

Azy!

"Unfortunately, I once roomed with a cocker spaniel, and she left a
terrible impression of dogs with whomever she met. Her breath was
terrible, she reeked of sebaceous oils, she chewed her haunches
fanatically, and she was a pathological liar. I learnt quite a few
lessons living with her. Firstly, never lay behind a dog who's just
dined heavily from the rubbish bin. Secondly, never leave kibble for
later if there's a dog about. And, most importantly, never, never trust
a cocker spaniel in a balaclava no matter what they tell you." ~~W.C.
Humphries II( http://housecatwisdom.blogspot.com/ )