 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
| HomeDiscussion GroupsGeneral TopicsCat AnecdotesHealth and BehaviorRescue CatKB.com Contact UsLink To UsSearch & Site Map |
Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / September 2003aggressive cat [long]
I have a 2 year old overweight neutered male cat. When we first got him at 12 weeks of age, I thought he was the best cat I could ever have. He would sleep with me every night, follow me around the house looking for attention or just to lie next to me. He was just a very sweet little boy. This past January, out of seemingly nowhere, he would attack me, scratching clawing, hissing, biting...everything. I just took it in stride and figured that the holidays had been too much for him, with Christmas come and gone and things in the house changing once again as decorations came down. Well, his aggression since then has continued and become more intense. His attacks do not seem to be provoked by anything specific. Some times he will attack me after he has climbed up in my lap for some loving. He seems to really be enjoying it, the next thing I know, my or arm is stuck in his grip. I've had to yell for someone else to come and get him off of me before. Other times when he will let go himself, he just lays there on me growling at me. I'm not even touching him at the time except that he's laying on me! He has growled and gone after my mom before too because she told him to move so she could open the fridge door, or to go outside. These bites he gives aren't in any way inhibited, he has broken the skin several times and I've had to deal with a couple of infected bites. I took him to the vet and they couldn't find anything wrong with him. I told the vet about my husband and I having a baby soon. She told me what I already knew, that I absolutely should not have him around a baby at all! She also told me that I couldnt' give him away because he was aggressive. The vet suggested that I could have him tested for a brain tumor, but he doesn't have any of the other signs for that, or that I could try an animal behavoirist. I don't have the money for anything this expensive, to find an animal behaviorist I'd have to travel a couple hundred miles. She suggested then that I might have to put him to sleep. I love my kitty! If he was aggressive all the time it would be easier to go with the vets advice to put him to sleep, but he's so sweet and loving at other times, that it just makes it too hard to know what to do. If anyone has any suggestions or just something to cheer me up, it would be much appreciated. Fork spaketh... > I have a 2 year old overweight neutered male cat. When we first got > him at 12 weeks of age, I thought he was the best cat I could ever > have. ... This past January, out of seemingly nowhere, he > would attack me, scratching clawing, hissing, biting...everything. > his aggression since then has continued and become more intense. > His attacks do not seem to be provoked by anything specific. I have known a few cats like this and they usually live with single women (I don't know why). They are nice one second and mean the next. One cat would use the nic-nac shelves around the top of the wall to ambush unsuspecting visitors. > Some times he will attack me after he > has climbed up in my lap for some loving. He seems to really be > enjoying it, the next thing I know, my or arm is stuck in his grip. How do you think another cat would react? > Other times... he just lays there... growling at me. You really cannot allow this behavior. It is probably too late because you are intimidated by him now. > ...my husband and I having a baby soon. She told me what I already > knew, that I absolutely should not have him around a baby at all! His behavior would be unpredictable, he could scratch the baby's eye out or bite the baby's face. I suggest that you contact a local rescue organization and see if they are interested in him. Possibly one of the volunteers could take him in and attempt to change his behavior. One way or the other, you will have to get rid of him.  SignatureMcQualude My mom said that she would take care of him for me, after she caught me crying because I didn't want to get rid of him or put him down like the vet said may have to happen. The problem with that is my mom is intimidated by him. I don't want to leave him with her and have him end up hurting her. I love my cat, but my mom is more important to me. I guess I just don't feel like I will be able to find a good solution to this. >My mom said that she would take care of him for me, after she caught me >crying because I didn't want to get rid of him or put him down like the vet >said may have to happen. The problem with that is my mom is intimidated by >him. I don't want to leave him with her and have him end up hurting her. I >love my cat, but my mom is more important to me. I guess I just don't feel >like I will be able to find a good solution to this. I'm really glad to hear your mom has offered to take him. I always hate it when a cat has to be re-homed but the next best thing is a close familyy member. Maybe you can help your mom by keeping his claws trimmed (hence *you'd* be the "bad guy" and not your mom).. Also, have you discussed Buspar with your vet? If you haven't, please do. I'm NOT a fan of drugging cats, but if this cat is so aggressive you're afraid he'll actually hurt someone, maybe it's time to think about it. But try Feliway first. Good luck. I hope everything turns out well for the poor kitty and you too. Sherry >have you discussed Buspar with your >vet? If you haven't, please do. I'm NOT a >fan of drugging cats, but if this cat is so >aggressive you're afraid he'll actually hurt >someone, maybe it's time to think about it. Buspar is *not* a drug that should be given an aggressive cat. It is for anxiety and often makes a cat aggressive. Megan Signature"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke Learn The TRUTH About Declawing http://www.stopdeclaw.com Zuzu's Cats Photo Album: http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22 "Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way." - W.H. Murray >Buspar is *not* a drug that should be given an aggressive cat. It is for >anxiety and often makes a cat aggressive. > >Megan > > Yes, a proportion of cats do. Something's obviously going on with the cat; whether the aggression is caused by anxiety, or pain, or hearing loss, or a hundred other causes. An animal behaviorist for the long-term would really be ideal. Sherry Were you away on vacation and left somebody else looking after the cat? Or has he changed from night to day? > Were you away on vacation and left somebody else looking after the > cat? Or has he changed from night to day? I don't know if I'm understanding what you mean 'from night to day'. I don't really remember the circumstances esactly when this first started occuring, but I had not been out of town for a couple of months. Like I said at first I thought it was just because of the holidays, which I understood because I was feeling quite a bit of stress at the time too!! This may seem ridiculous, but your body odor probably changed when you got pregnant. The cat is possibly reacting to hormonal changes. There are drugs that can be used to calm an aggressive animal--I know, I have one. Talk to your vet, and if he doesn't know then talk to another vet. I'm not encouraged about your vet telling you not to have the cat around a baby or put him to sleep. It really sounds like you need another opinion--there are lots of options. What kind of vet is this? Small practice? Country? Older? Not very current, anyway. Also, there is a spray called Feliway that is a feline pheromone that may help. You can get this at any pet store or online. You certainly will have to watch him around the baby, if he is already reacting like this to you. But I'm sure you can take steps in the meantime to calm him down. > I have a 2 year old overweight neutered male cat. When we first got him at > 12 weeks of age, I thought he was the best cat I could ever have. He would [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > do. If anyone has any suggestions or just something to cheer me up, it > would be much appreciated. > This may seem ridiculous, but your body odor probably changed when you got > pregnant. The cat is possibly reacting to hormonal changes. [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > reacting like this to you. But I'm sure you can take steps in the meantime > to calm him down. How does Feliway work? I've heard the name before, but I've never seen it in the store. Is it something that I would have to use all the time? What about the other animals in the house, how would it affect them? Or would I end up with all happy go lucky pets waiting for a party? :) Feliway can be sprayed on furniture rugs or walls, or disseminated by a plug-in diffuser, like those air fresheners. It has no odor once the spray has settled--the only odor is the carrier in the spray, and it isn't offensive. Some of the packages come with a video on how to use it. > > This may seem ridiculous, but your body odor probably changed when you got > > pregnant. The cat is possibly reacting to hormonal changes. [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > about the other animals in the house, how would it affect them? Or would I > end up with all happy go lucky pets waiting for a party? :) There are so many ways to go with this, it's hard to list them in one post. Couple of things to check: Smells: I have had two cats that will attack when they get a certain scent (in both cases, sweaty clothing after a workout). Has scent changed in any way? The cat is getting old enough to start seeking hierarchy. Cats do not "pack" as dogs do, but they do establish hierarchies with other cats in the area. If you have not needed stitches yet (your article didn't say you did) then the cat wasn't attacking you. I deal with ferals all the time who don't wish to be "rescued" from dangerous situations. A cat that is attacking you will put you in the emergency room quick. Sounds to me that MAYBE the cat has determined you are an inferior "cat" in the status of the neighborhood, and is demonstrating it by "smacking you around." Cats will do this even with other cats they are chums with. IF so, you would need to establish your superior status firmly, or the attacks will continue. Holding cats down by paws would be one way, but you'll have to play it by ear. There are many possibilities, I'm afraid you will need to try by trial and error. Besides using these groups, I'd also run "aggressive cat" through the search engines so see what comes up. There are a lot of good behavioral sites on line. Rich > I have a 2 year old overweight neutered male cat. When we first got him at > 12 weeks of age, I thought he was the best cat I could ever have. He would [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > do. If anyone has any suggestions or just something to cheer me up, it > would be much appreciated. > There are so many ways to go with this, it's hard to list them in one > post. Couple of things to check: [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > > Rich Hmm, smells is something interesting to think about. I'll have to pay attention and see if it could be a trigger such as that. About this cat hierarchy thing, how would I let him know that I'm not a 'lower cat'? I don't smack him around so he shouldn't smack me around...boy I wish I could just sit down and tell him that and he would just say "Okay, I'm sorry I thought we were just playing. I won't do it again!" lol :) In a perfect world, someday! |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.