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Cat Forum / General Topics / June 2005advice re: aggressive cat
I'm wondering if anyone here can give me some insight into what I should do about one of my cats. Cricket, my 4 year old DMH calico is aggressive. She has been this way for most of her life, but lately has began attacking people who come near her (other than me), violently fighting with my other cat Jiggs, and pooping outside her litterbox (right next to it), in her carrier, and on my bed once. I added another litter box, which they both use, but she still occassionally poops outside of it. With me, she's a totally different cat. I can carry her around with me, she doesn't act aggressively with me at all (unless I clip her nails) and even nuzzles my head & sleeps right next to me when I'm in bed. She has had a heart murmur all her life, and one vet said she has a 50-70% chance of developing heart disease, while another one doesn't think it's bad at all. After a complete physical exam (6 months ago), the second vet said it appears to be her personality, nothing medical, and prescribed amitryptilene (sorry for the spelling) and all that did was make her sleepy and aggressive. It's gotten to the point where my family, my fiancee's family, and my friends are wary of her, sometimes terrified. I'm bringing her to the vet again this evening for another checkup because all of the symptoms were there before minus the pooping outside the litterbox. I've tried leaving her alone to be as she wants, I've tried making a loud noise every time she fights with Jiggs, I've tried making no noise and squirting her. I've tried slowly introducing her to other people, I've tried bringing their belongings in to the house before she meets them, I've tried separating her from everyone. Nothing seems to work! In fact, it seems like she almost LIKES being aggressive! For example, my fiancee can give her treats but she won't let him pet her either before, after, or during the treat-giving. Rather than hiding when strangers are visiting, she purposely lays across doorways, stairs, etc on her back right next to them , which I believe is a defensive move on her part. As soon as they move, she attacks. The fact of the matter is, I love Cricket, but I'm seriously considering having her euthanized. The safety of my family and friends is being comprimised by me having Cricket around. I am going away for a week, and have a friend coming to feed the two cats, but I'm worried that she will attack her! Opinions? sugarface > The fact of the matter is, I love Cricket, but I'm seriously considering > having her euthanized. The safety of my family and friends is being Really? You love her but you're ok killing her for no good reason? How about finding her another home instead?  SignatureVictor M. Martinez Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM) Send your spam here: uce@ftc.gov Email me here: pistorLITTER@BOXaustin.rr.com >> The fact of the matter is, I love Cricket, but I'm seriously >> considering having her euthanized. The safety of my family and friends >> is being > > Really? You love her but you're ok killing her for no good reason? How > about finding her another home instead? No good reason? Please elaborate. Last night she even lashed out at me (for the second time in a year). The vet could find nothing physically wrong with her. I don't want to lose her; in fact, I've spent a lot of time thinking this over (6 months or so) and a lot of crying, cuddling her, soul searching, crying some more, weighing out pros and cons... etc. Finding her another home would be irresponsible on my part, and the vet doesn't think that is even a possibility at this time. > No good reason? Please elaborate. The only good reason to euthanize an animal is that their quality of life is below some threshold, i.e. the poor thing has a terminal disease and she's in constant pain. A behavioral problem can be addressed. Have you tried giving her Rescue Remedy? Or using Feliway diffusers around your house? Both of these remedies work to relieve anxiety and other behavioral issues (inapropriate urination, etc.) SignatureVictor M. Martinez Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM) Send your spam here: uce@ftc.gov Email me here: pistorLITTER@BOXaustin.rr.com Hi Sugarface Congratulations on your very patient attempts at trying to modify Cricket's behaviour...... not everyone would put up with what you seem to do. It is obvious that you love Cricket very much, and that Cricket loves you (and you exclusively). It sounds like you have a cat on your hands that amongst humans would be considered to be a "bully", and she is getting away with it, which is only encouraging her behaviour. Life is going to become more and more difficult with her behaving in this way, and, in fact, a very aggressive cat in a household can be downright dangerous! I understand you when you say that it seems she likes being aggressive!.... cats can be very "knowing" of how their behaviour affects humans and other animals around them..... you just have to sit back and watch them for a while sometimes. They will do amazing things that they know will amuse us, or quite deliberately set out to terrify another pet in the household because they like the feeling of power that they get when the other animal runs and cowers. If Cricket's aggressive and domineering (and sometimes dangerous) behaviour is becoming too much for you to cope with, and if - as it seems you have taken the time and effort to check out - the vet can find no physical reason for her behaviour, you will have to make the decision on what you will do in this case. By re-homing Cricket you may be passing on the problems that you are experiencing to another household - a household where there may be vulnerable members, such a little children, or an elderly person who may suffer severely from being scratched or bitten. I would consider my options very carefully, and make sure that if you re-home her that the new owner is totally aware of her past behaviour. Perhaps, if you are lucky enough to find a single person household, a person who bonds with Cricket and they can be "exclusive" friends, it may work out. Failing that, for the safety of your family and friends, and your other cat Jiggs, the most humane solution to the Cricket problem may be euthanasia. It is never easy making this kind of decision, but the peace and safety of your family, friends and other pet is an important priority here. May I suggest that if you do decide that you cannot continue to cope with Cricket's behaviour, that you get a kitten to replace her from an animal shelter. It will be company for Jiggs and you will feel more comfortable knowing that at least another needy pussycat has been given a loving home. Love, and peace ~Roberta~ > I'm wondering if anyone here can give me some insight into what I should > do about one of my cats. Cricket, my 4 year old DMH calico is aggressive. [quoted text clipped - 40 lines] > > sugarface > Hi Sugarface > [quoted text clipped - 43 lines] > shelter. It will be company for Jiggs and you will feel more comfortable > knowing that at least another needy pussycat has been given a loving home. I agree w/everything you've said, Roberta. The only thing I would add is, if I found the single person home for Cricket, and it still didn't work out, I would make that person promise to contact me before s/he did *anything*. What's worse for an indoor cat is to be booted outdoors w/no food, water or resources to survive. Given time, the cat would learn to kill, but in that time, the cat starves and maybe dies a very horrible death. Whatever Cricket's fate is, please be humane. If you really think euthanasia is the only way, be with Cricket to the end. This is a really tough call... :( Signature·.·´¨ ¨)) -:¦:- ¸.·´ .·´¨¨)) Laurie ((¸¸.·´ ..·´ -:¦:- ((¸¸ ·.· *~*LiveLoveLaugh*~* Aloha!!!!! "There is no remedy for love but to love more"... ~~Henry David Thoreau > Love, and peace > ~Roberta~ [quoted text clipped - 43 lines] > > > > sugarface Could you possibly let her out during the day and bring her in at night? > Could you possibly let her out during the day and bring her in at night? Could possibly quote the correct person and add in some of their post, Terry the Knucklehead?? Signature·.·´¨ ¨)) -:¦:- ¸.·´ .·´¨¨)) Laurie ((¸¸.·´ ..·´ -:¦:- ((¸¸ ·.· *~*LiveLoveLaugh*~* Aloha!!!!! "There is no remedy for love but to love more"... ~~Henry David Thoreau > Could you possibly let her out during the day and bring her in at night? No, there are many dogs and cats in my neighbourhood as well as kids, several schools, and high traffic. The thought of subjecting her to those hazards terrifies me. Hi, I'm not sure where you are located, but perhaps you might also consider talking to an animal behaviorist? I believe some of the humane societies/SPCAs offer animal behavior counseling services, and even if ones in your area don't, they may still be able to offer some suggestions. I'm sure they'd hate to see you having to give up your cat. Also your vet may know someone. I just did a google search with keywords "animal behaviorist" and I see many listings... Here in the SF Bay Area, I know at least Silicon Valley Humane Society offers this "Ask The Behaviorist" page... http://www.hssv.org/BEHAVIOR/ask.htm ... where you can submit your question by email. The "City" info is listed as optional, so I take it that it's "okay" even if you are not in their area. Why not give it a try and see. Also they have a behavior helpline by phone. Probably there are similar services from other Humane-type organizations. Best of luck. -Akira Somone can speak more knowledgable then I--but what about putting her in just one room--go back to step 1 with her--like you would introduce a new cat. Know what I mean? Keep her in that room for a few weeks--with small increments of time out--re- establish her in your home and the boundaries. Can someone please explain this better? Thanks, Jen >Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] >Best of luck. >-Akira Akira at akiraorb@hotmail.com wrote on6/29/05 2:00 AM: > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > give up your cat. Also your vet may know someone. I just did a google > search with keywords "animal behaviorist" and I see many listings... Right on, Akira! Sugarface, your Cricket is jealous, and something new lately is making her frustrated and angry -- at least that's my interpretation of her pooping outside of the box (in the absence of illness or something wrong with the box). Sometimes a cat will respond this way to inappropriate punishment, but in your case that wouldn't seem to apply. Find a person who will come to your house, observe, and interact with Cricket. Make sure the person is well qualified, such as a psychologist or veterinarian who is especially certified to work with animal behavior. He/she will pinpoint the triggers as well as the consequences that are maintaining the behaviors, and will give you a specific plan to follow, including how to calm her, how to avoid her "hot buttons", and how to respond to misbehavior. Be prepared to spend some money, but ask ahead of time what you will get for it (e.g., if Cricket needs more visits, will they be included at no extra charge?). There's information available free on the 'net, of course, but you're not likely to get a useful diagnosis without having someone directly observe her in her own environment. The fact that she behaves in a loving manner with you is very significant, and means she is capable of learning to relate well. Don't give up! SignatureDiana Portal To My Pages http://bellsouthpwp.net/d/r/drdrive/ > Akira at akiraorb@hotmail.com wrote on6/29/05 2:00 AM: > [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > box). Sometimes a cat will respond this way to inappropriate punishment, > but in your case that wouldn't seem to apply. I'm thinking the pooping outside the box may be due to the upstairs neighbours who have a dog that she can see sometimes through the window. This dog used to live downstairs before I moved in. I'm thinking he may have slept in the room where the second litter box is. That's where 90% of her accidents have happened. > Find a person who will come to your house, observe, and interact with > Cricket. Make sure the person is well qualified, such as a psychologist or [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > free on the 'net, of course, but you're not likely to get a useful diagnosis > without having someone directly observe her in her own environment. I'm not aware of any animal behaviourists in this area, or even this province. I'm in Newfoundland, Canada. Vet services are sometimes very limited in this area, so I'm working on a very limited source of info here. > The fact that she behaves in a loving manner with you is very significant, > and means she is capable of learning to relate well. Don't give up! I'm trying not to give up! Sometimes it's so difficult, when I see her trying to hurt the ones I love, yet she's VERY important to me. It hurts to know that she may never be any better with people other than me. I worry about when I will have kids and know that I could never trust her with an infant, toddler, or even older child. It's really frustrating... sugarface Sugarface at sugarface1@gmail.com wrote on6/29/05 9:31 PM: > I'm not aware of any animal behaviourists in this area, or even this > province. I'm in Newfoundland, Canada. Vet services are sometimes very > limited in this area, so I'm working on a very limited source of info here. There must be some in St. John's. Where are you, exactly? SignatureDiana Portal To My Pages http://bellsouthpwp.net/d/r/drdrive/ Update: the vet I brought her to last night (different vet again, same office as the last vet) suggested that I try her on Clopamine for 2 weeks to treat her for separation anxiety, and if I notice no improvement to bring her in again. Basically he agrees with me, that sometimes the safety of my family & friends has to come first, and at the end of the day I'm liable for any injuries she may cause. The vet didn't want me to make any hasty decisions about her just yet, and seemed optimistic about this drug working for her. Then again, he may have been seeing dollar signs dancing above my head when he said that. I will let everyone know what takes place over the next couple weeks. Thanks everyone for all the feedback! sugarface (a.k.a. Jill) > I'm wondering if anyone here can give me some insight into what I should > do about one of my cats. Cricket, my 4 year old DMH calico is [quoted text clipped - 42 lines] > > sugarface
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