Hi,

Just wanted to get an opinion and see if anyone else has experience
similar to what I am going through.

I had cats all my life. From early age, my parents being animal lovers
allowed me and my brother have pets. I really like having pets in my
house, cats especially.

After I got married we lived in an apartment and that's when we got
Mia. At the age of only 4 weeks she was the only gray kitten in the
litter of redheads. She was cute playful and very personal. She never
hissed, except for one time when we had a dog visitor and this was very
short.

Shortly we moved to a town house and went through most of the known
routines to make the move for Mia les painful. She adapted fine and
after short few months she was enjoying more space in her new home.

This was almost 2 and half years ago and she was one years old at the
time. We never hit her or physically punish her. She would react
perfectly to the voice. If she bit while playing with us usually a
"no!" would do for her. Same with talking sweet to her would make her
start purring.

Eight month ago when my wife came home and was going through some
presents we purchased for an upcoming short trip, one of the presents (
a toy) suddenly make a noise (a beep or so). Apparently Mia was
sleeping near buy and heard it. Instantly she started attacking my
wife, scratching her hands, jumping on her until her (the cat) cornered
her in her own house. I run downstairs to see my blood dripping down my
wife's hands and Mia circling her and getting closer. I tried to push
the cat away but got a scratch myself. Slowly the animal clamed down to
the degree for us to be able to pick her up and put her in another
room. I had to take my wife to the hospital to get treated from the
scratches. She still has those marks.

Several visits to the vet and some advices from our friends we decided
that it could only be a one time thing and probably was coursed by the
sudden notice and all that stuff. So we gave her another chance but
were very cousins around her. Took a month or so for my wife to be able
to play with her again and not fear so much.

I started clipping her nails regularly and monitor her behavior. She
seemed to be fine, with exception of few stresses she had due to other
people in the house.

Three days ago there was a team meeting in my house. Four people from
my wife's school came over to study. I could tell that Mia was on
guard, so I asked everyone not to approach her (like I always did
before). I came down to the basement from the outside still wearing the
boots and that's when the attack happens again! This is not the
normal hissing and withdraws type of thing. Mia got furious with me.
She was screaming on high notes like someone stepped on her or there
were 10 dog trying to bite her. Fluffy tail, darkened eyes she was
ready to fill. Luckily I had a bottle of water and splashed her to she
ran away. Since then the cat was unpredictable. She would take food
purr and then from my "sudden" move she would go to the same stage
again. I come home from work, thinking she is calm she makes weird
noises and know another attack is coming. It came to keeping her in the
basement so we could walk around the house without the fear of being
attacked.

Please, don't get me wrong I love that animal and she is really good
otherwise. But it came down to the point where a pet is terrorizing our
being instead of making it better, Living in constant fear in my own
house is not healthy and wrong.

She is at the vet known I took her in this morning. They told me that
they are going to run some blood tests for possible diseases. Although
less likely (she is only 3 years old) but if one is found, they would
recommend treatment (Prozac type). If not health abnormalities are
found I have a choice of taking her to the behavior specialist or
leaving her there in the hospital for a possible secession. I feel
really hirable right now, but if I have to make that decision I think I
will. With my parents coming in month or two to stay with me (they are
bringing a dog with them) my house can become a dangerous place to be
for other pets and humans. Not even mentioning our talks about having
children....

Sorry for the long letter just had to get off my chest..

V.