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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / July 2007How can my cat be so extreme?
I have always had cats and been passionate about them. I adopted my current cat from a vet where she was being given away free from a litter that came unexpectedly to an old couple. She was only 3 months old, and timid from lack of interaction. I was concerned that she might always be skittish, but she enjoyed being petted and warmed up to me with effort and patience. This cat has been an ideal cat for a small apartment because she is proportionately small, doesn't chew things or knock things down or lunge for/break into food left on the counter. Best of all, she's content with one room and doesn't even try to make an escape when the door's left open. In short, she's exceptionally mild mannered. I'm accustomed to most cats natural vehemence toward other cats when they haven't been around them much. And I've heard many a raucous cat fight. But I have never seen the like of this normally timid cat when she goes berserk. I first met this side of her when she caught sight of an outdoor cat for the first time, but thankfully she has become more accustomed to it and toned down. Today, however, I fraternized with one of the outdoor cats. When I came in, I petted her with my foot until I had washed my hands thoroughly, but when I reached out for her she detected something and reacted toward me exactly as if I were a vicious predator who'd just taken a bite out of her. Hissing, snarling, and growling like I've never heard and can't adequately describe. It was like she was rabid. She lashed repeatedly and drew blood. I actually had to fear her; I thought she'd claw my eyes out if I came to close. I had to put on some gloves to pick her up by the scruff and put her in the bathroom (which is punishment for bad behavior). She didn't remotely calm down while she was scruffed. She was so upset to have my hands on her that she peed and defecated while growling. I left her alone for a while but when I went back she got worked up again. I feel like I'll have to take a shower before she treats me like the person who has cared for her for most of her life. This behavior seems seriously excessive. It feels terrible to be treated like an enemy by an animal I've done nothing but love. Has anyone else experienced the like? I don't know if I can keep this up, when she's like this. Seriously, my cat is psycho. After leaving her in the bathroom for a while, I went and washed my hands and arms and changed clothes and then tried petting her. She reluctantly endured it for a minute and meowed in a calm tone. She sniffed me extensively, and then apparently suddenly sensed something she still disapproved of and went back into hysterics. I was so disgusted I decided to set her up with a box in the back yard (it's fenced) to give her some experience with alien smells. After about 30 min I went to check on her. She was laying with her head and paws outside the box. She meowed familiarly when she saw me, then about ten seconds later put her ears down and backed away from me, hissing and growling. I hadn't even moved. This is crazy! > After about 30 min I went to check on her. She was laying with her head > and paws outside the box. She meowed familiarly when she saw me, then > about ten seconds later put her ears down and backed away from me, > hissing and growling. I hadn't even moved. This is crazy! I would leave her alone and stay away from her for a couple of days. Charlie > Seriously, my cat is psycho. After leaving her in the bathroom for a > while, I went and washed my hands and arms and changed clothes and [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > then about ten seconds later put her ears down and backed away from > me, hissing and growling. I hadn't even moved. This is crazy! Your cat is not "psycho." This is known as redirected (or misdirected) aggression. You can read about it here: http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/aggression3.html Try to avoid the event that "triggers" this reaction in your cat -- that is, the sight of other cats. If you see a cat outside, move your cat to another room. And above all, *do not* reach down to pet another cat, especially when your own may look out a window and see it. MaryL >> Seriously, my cat is psycho. After leaving her in the bathroom for a >> while, I went and washed my hands and arms and changed clothes and [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > MaryL One additional suggestion: Get a couple of Feliway diffusers and plug them in areas where you cat is most likely to look out a window and see other cats. Feliway is used for behavior modification and can be very useful in reducing stress. It is available both in plug-in diffusers (with refills available) and as a spray. The spray is excellent for an occasional use, such as spraying the carrier about 20 minutes before you take your cat to the vet, but the plug-in diffuser is better for long-term use because it releases premeasured doses. Refills can be purchased for the dispenser. One bottle lasts a little more than a month. Here is some information from an Ohio State University study on this type of product: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2000/11/001129074611.htm MaryL Your cat is very upset and now confused, but she is just being a cat. Punishing her probably upset her more than the original problem. She smelled the "enemy" cat on you and took out her aggression on you, and then you turned into the bad guy by locking her up. Now you've put her in the back yard, reinforcing that you are mean to her and maybe shouldn't be trusted. She does not know who she can trust now. I would get her back into her normal routine and be kind to her while she calms down. Don't push yourself on her, don't get in her face, let her hide or do what she needs to do. Talk soothingly to her even if she hisses. If you yell or do something aggressive to her while she's hissing or acting strange, the situation will quickly spiral out of control again. It sounds like this was the first time she directed her anger at you. I know she drew blood, but don't blame her personally. Be the bigger person and try to understand her and not take it personally. You were not who she was upset with, but now you've confused the issue. My bf once tried to grab one of our cats who was climbing a screen to try to get at and attack an outdoor cat. The cat wheeled around and sunk her teeth into his palm, which caused an infection that had to be treated by a doctor. We did NOT blame the cat, we let her run and hide and calm down on her own. She was over it in an hour or two. Good luck to both of you. Rhonda > Seriously, my cat is psycho. After leaving her in the bathroom for a > while, I went and washed my hands and arms and changed clothes and [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > then about ten seconds later put her ears down and backed away from > me, hissing and growling. I hadn't even moved. This is crazy! On Jul 3, 1:21 am, "jib...@gmail.com" <jib...@gmail.com> wrote: > After about 30 min I went to check on her. She was laying with her > head and paws outside the box. She meowed familiarly when she saw me, > then about ten seconds later put her ears down and backed away from > me, hissing and growling. I hadn't even moved. This is crazy! you could have shotgunned a puff of medical marijuana into the box - I have NEVER heard of something this extreme YOU DOG! YOU BROKE HER/HIS HEART!!!!!!!!! YES YOU DID aww, I hope she acclimates. >I had to > put on some gloves to pick her up by the scruff and put her in the > bathroom (which is punishment for bad behavior). ----- From the above statement, it sounds like you routinely put the cat in the bathroom "for punishment for bad behavior." Why are you "punishing" a cat by locking her in the bathroom (for any behavior)?. Would you lock a misbehaving child in a closet? Your cat reacted in accordance with her natural instinct. She doesn't know that she did something "wrong." The purpose of "punishment" is so the miscreant will associate a negative experience (the punishment) with his bad behavior and will be averse to repeating this behavior. If your cat is scratching the furniture, and you spritz her with a water bottle, that's a simple cause and effect. But a cat does not understand the concept of time-out, especially in a situation where she was behaving in accordance with her instincts rather than by conscious decision. Best regards, ---Cindy S. OMG you have completely described my cat this weekend. She is 3. NEVER hissed or growled at me. Saturday she freaked, really freaked. We have a 2 year old and I was fearful for myself and him. We got her into a laundry basket where she deficated on the floor. We put her in the extra bathroom with food and liter. She growled everytime I peeked in for hours. She finally calmed down where my sweet kitty was back. I let her out (baby was in bed) she went to the top of the stairs and growled again! I am beyond upset. Sunday she seemed ok in the morning, we were walking on egg shells trying not to upset her. She started it again for no reason. I coaxed her outside to our fenced in deck. She stayed out there all day because everytime I looked at her she started the growling and hissing again. We let her in at night (baby in bed) and stayed the hell away from her. Today we get up she's fine. We eat and I head off to work. We get home and she's fine, even let the baby put a cell phone to his ear (I was right there). Then 10 min later, it started all over again. I CAN NOT live like this with a baby in the house. That is NOT my cat. For 3 years she was my baby. She's hissed at my husband, even the baby, but NEVER at me. And what's worse is she get more worked up when I'm around.... What could have caused this? She's an indoor cat who's only been loved. Nothing makes sense.... On Jul 9, 9:00 pm, jenniferguimar...@gmail.com wrote: > What could have caused this? She's an indoor cat who's only been > loved. Nothing makes sense.... What does your vet say? You did take her in, right? > On Jul 9, 9:00 pm, jenniferguimar...@gmail.com wrote: > > > What could have caused this? She's an indoor cat who's only been > > loved. Nothing makes sense.... > > What does your vet say? You did take her in, right? yes, they don't think anything is physically wrong, just that she reacted to something. But she's staying there for 10 days when I have to decide what to do, With a 2 yr old it makes things tougher. On Tue 10 Jul 2007 09:51:26p, wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav <news:1184118686.198425.91490@g4g2000hsf.googlegroups.com>: >> What does your vet say? You did take her in, right? > > yes, they don't think anything is physically wrong, just that > she reacted to something. But she's staying there for 10 days > when I have to decide what to do, With a 2 yr old it makes > things tougher. If this behavior is new, something is definitely wrong. I feel for you since you have to also worry about your 2 year old. When cats have issues, they can inflict serious harm. But the key is that she was fine, and then suddenly she wasn't. Either she isn't feeling well, has an injury, or something scared the sh.t out of her. I wonder if the 10 day stay will help if it isn't injury or illness, or if it will make things worse? I hope that she will get a full blood panel done to see if something internal is going wrong. Other than illness or injury, I'd opt for seclusion in the house. If you can, that is. And be sure to visit with her and either play with her, or just sit and talk with her every day. Maybe put up some barriers to keep her from the baby while this is figured out. They don't make baby gates high enough to keep cats from getting over them, but you can cheaply make your own with some wood and screen material. They can be held on the wall with hook-n-eye hardware, which can be patched easily when removed, and re-painted to cover where they were. Good luck. How scary. Been there. Not with a baby, but with my bare legs.  SignatureCheryl On Tue, 10 Jul 2007 18:51:26 -0700, jenniferguimaraes wrote: >> On Jul 9, 9:00 pm, jenniferguimar...@gmail.com wrote: >> [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > reacted to something. But she's staying there for 10 days when I have to > decide what to do, With a 2 yr old it makes things tougher. I have a friend whose cat suddenly changed his stripes, at a ripe old age. It all started when she was in a flood, and the cat went missing for a couple of days, and he has never really gotten over it. He used to be mellow and friendly, but now he will hiss or growl at the slightest provocation. I would say, keep the cat away from your child, and keep your child away from the cat. And don't let the cat sit in your lap or otherwise command your attention. Be polite, but keep your distance and try to eliminate all situations where the cat might hiss at you. I suggest this because of what I have read about animal behavior -- every time you repeat a situation that triggers an aggressive response, you reinforce the animal's aggressive tendency. You might want to seek the advice of an animal behaviorist if it is within your budget. Charlie
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