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Cat Forum / General Topics / July 2005How to calm a vicious cat
Okay, I am a relatively new cat person, and this is my first time posting to this group, but I am desperatly in need of advice, and possibly a helping hand. Here is my situation. It's kind of a long story, so bear with me: A year ago I was living with two roommates at which time we adopted this cat one of our co-workers had found in his backyard. The cat was just a kitten at the time, only a matter of weeks old. Now being a partly feral cat, she has always been kind of aggressive, and I don't think it helped that we may have played too aggressivly with her as a kitten, which was a mistake. Anyways her attitude didn't get noticably bad until around the time she started to mature and we got her neutered. At that point, she was just fine with my roommates or myself, but she would be aggressive with and even hiss at guests visiting our apartment. Now recently, I've been forced to move back home with my parents which is where the dilemma begins. The reason I had to move was because our apartment was robbed, and as a result, my roommates got a dog, a pitbull to help guard the apartment (plus they just wanted one anyways). They tried having the dog and the cat co-exist but it was not possible; the cat was just too aggressive to live with the dog. So, naturally they handed to cat off to me, so now I have this cat, which I took home one night, and my parents hate her. This is mainly because this cat is so aggressive. She will hiss at and attack my parents, and as soon as they leave the room she's back to normal being a sweet little cat. Despite my parents' loathing for her, they have agreed to let me keep her until I leave for college mid-August. The most convinent thing would be for them to keep her, but there is no way that is going to happen until the cat calms down. Is there SOME way of calming down a cat that reacts so aggrssivly around people that aren't me or my ex-roommates? Then comes the second part of this question. Granted that I cannot convince my parents to keep the cat, what is the best way to find a home for a cat that needs a very patient owner and can't really be around other pets? Ideally, this would be a temporary home for my cat, as I'm rather attached to her, and would like to keep her after I'm finished with college. Is there even anyone in this group, living in the Rockford, IL/Chicago, IL area that would be willing to apopt my cat for the next two years? I'm willing to pay whomever takes her $30/month to cover expenses and a convince charge since the cat can be such a nuisance. TIA > Okay, I am a relatively new cat person, and this is my first time posting to > this group, but I am desperatly in need of advice, and possibly a helping [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] > > TIA We have lots of vays of calming de vicious cat! Are you sure u vant to here them? Hmm, maybe rephrase the question: How can I calm my cat without surgically removing portions of her brain, Dr. Frankenstein? ; D > Hmm, maybe rephrase the question: How can I calm my cat without surgically > removing portions of her brain, Dr. Frankenstein? > ; D I believe I'd go with them feline nerve pills that PipeDown suggested. Thats probably a lot safer than my idea. If thats too expensive maybe a little brandy mixed in with her milk would do the trick. If not maybe if you drink it you won't care how shes acting. I know I give crappy cat advice. They all tell me that. I do know one thing though. You had said you had her neutered. You can't neuter no girl cat cause she ain't got no balls. You got to spay her. Thats when they remove the girlie stuff. Neuterin is removin of the balls. I do know that much that I can help you with so maybe this wasn't a total loss for you. Good Luck with the Cat. Sounds like the kitty was insufficiently socialized to people when it was at the critical age. Best thing you can do is make it a mostly outdoor cat and supply the human interaction yourself. Just watch him for infected wounds cause it sounds like he will pick fights, and keep all vaccinations current. Mom and Dad only need to feed him, many outdoor cats can learn not to have a litterbox (we don't need to hear your misinformed comments again Chris Troll, we know how you feel about cat sh.t). He will need to come in during winter though, its darn cold in Chicago. On the other hand. Many people have had success with Feliway (my vet has it in all the exam rooms). Something about hormones and calming effect. I have not used it myself since my kitty is very friendly to strangers and has many cat and dog friends. It is dispensed like an air freshener. When I was in college, I (we) kept cats in our apartment. We had this foul tempered (huge) maine coon cat - Jethro who mostly hung out in this makeshift cat tree and would reach down and swat at people as they went by (especially at keg parties). Only 2-3 people could handle him as well. He seemed to like being around people, just not touched by them. > Okay, I am a relatively new cat person, and this is my first time posting > to [quoted text clipped - 51 lines] > > TIA Hmm, I'm a little nervous about having her as an outdoor cat, but it may be an option. The reason I'm nervous is that there is really no barrier in my parents' yard to keep her constrained to our property, and I'd be heartbroken if she ran off, or worse yet got hurt. My parents live in one of these cutsey subdivisions in a wooded area, so she wouldnt just have other strays to battle, but racoons, coyote, and neighboors' loose dogs, as well, which could be fatal. What sort of precautions can be taken to make her as safe as possible for outdoor use? Also, does that Feliway *really* work, because its kind of expensive? I already have some cat repellent, but that's just to keep her from clawing furniture. Don't worry. Cats thrive outdoors. They don't mess with those animals anyway. Pretty much limited to territorial battles with other cats. Only animal I have heard of killing cats is bobcat or mountain lion and that is pretty rare at that. Coyote could be a threat but I don't know how likly they are to come across each other. Take the cat out yourself a few times and hang out. She will stay close for a few days but curiosity will have him leaving the yard in no time. Very few cats will stay in their own yard but most stay within a block maybe a little further if it is woodsey. My cat follows me sometimes when I walk the dog but only for a short distance then he just sits down and watches me walk away. Feliway is not a repellant which might just aggrivate your cat. It is supposed to make them feel calm. Worth a try since you already offered $30 a month to board her > Hmm, I'm a little nervous about having her as an outdoor cat, but it may > be [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > already have some cat repellent, but that's just to keep her from clawing > furniture. I don't have a "standard" answer to your problem..but I have seen this behavior before. Since she is tame to you and certain others I would say she is not "vivious" so much as "anti-social" perhaps,or even scared? Perhaps she was mistreated by some roommates or visitor's without your knowledge? I wish I could be more helpful. The best I can suggest is that the more interaction with your Parents,the better. Perhaps they could be the one's that feed her nightly? Let them bring the food bowl to her and perhaps talk to her as she feeds? They should not try to "force" themselves upon her...let her come to them..in her own good time. I have a Cat that was living in a business establishment and was prone to being kicked out of the way frequently and had the same temprement as yours towards 'customers" coming in the bldg. When this business shut down I adopted her and over time she became such a loving animal. Ray WebElder http://members.tripod.com/~thewebster/catts.html >Okay, I am a relatively new cat person, and this is my first time posting to >this group, but I am desperatly in need of advice, and possibly a helping [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] > >TIA Hmmm....is it true that cats can 'smell' fear and it makes them crazy, like some other animals? Because like my mom cant even look at the cat without flipping out, and the cat totally hates her, but my dad will come down to my room and even play with the cat, and she is less agressive towards him, which is a good sign, but unfortunetly, for the most part my parents are uncooperative in wanting to gain the cat's trust. Like how should I react when the cat is being a bitch? If one of my parents enters the room she'll get really nervous and wants to attack and then no one can touch her. Should I scold her when she starts hissing? Should I comfort her? Something different alltogether? That's the sort of advice I really need, if only to make the next month bearable for my parents' sake. Again, thanks for the advice. <snip attack cat> Do you have any toys that your cat can play with? here is an article for you to read: http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pets_playaggression Feliway is also another option to try. > Is there SOME way of calming down > a cat that reacts so aggrssivly around people that aren't me or my > ex-roommates? None that are immediate. The cat's been through a lot. Abandoned or orphaned, passed around among humans, dealing with a dog, passed around some more. What she needs is time. Granted, you don't have a lot of it. But she needs to get acclimated to her environment. She needs to know she's safe. She needs a spot where she can hide where people won't bother her. Get her a cat tree or make a high closet shelf accessible and comfortable. Let her learn that no one's going to pester her there. If your dad seems more willing and the cat has a particular favorite food, ask him to take it in, set the food where it usually goes, and then have him sit across the room and just read for a little while down on her level. She needs to know that if she wants to come down and eat, she can, and she's not going to be harrassed for it, but she'll have to deal with someone other than you in the room (try it yourself a few times to see how she reacts, and then switch it up with your dad). Keep good treats on hand for those occasions when she's not blatantly aggressive and only reward her when she's in the middle of good behavior. Don't rile her up. Don't let other people rile her up. Scolding or any sort of physical punishment will be a HUGE step backward. Feliway can be highly effective - just try to limit the diffuser to the cat's comfort room, and that should cut down on the cost as you won't have to get the pheromones into so much extra space. A friend of mine has a pair of cats rather like this. Repeatedly passed around to different owners, the male was punished for pooping out of his box by being locked in a shower that was turned on, even hours after the event. His current owner (my friend) has realized that he goes out of the box when he's particularly stressed. The female cat pretty much just hates everyone. As I'm the unofficial house-and-pet-sitter in the event that my friend leaves town for something, our bonding experience has been me feeding her, offering her little treats, and otherwise not pressing my luck. Good luck! ~J First, think of her as your child, not an animal or pet. A child with behavior and emotional problems. You would not put them out side for it nor hand them to someone else. Secondly, the best place for this cat is with you. Not outside or left with other people. Thirdly, the cats behavior is based partially on how she was raised and handled. Lastly if you can not take care of your commitment of her to her then a non kill shelter should take her. Shadow Walker > Okay, I am a relatively new cat person, and this is my first time posting to > this group, but I am desperatly in need of advice, and possibly a helping [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] > > TIA In a Cat, emotional problems can arise because you don't let them outside. Cats are animals not people, don't anthropomorphize too much, they are not real children. The OP mentioned a furniture clawing problem. Classic inactivity response. Give him more to do and he will be happier. My cat claws a log I have for him outside and I think not much else. > First, think of her as your child, not an animal or pet. A child with > behavior and emotional problems. You would not put them out side for it [quoted text clipped - 68 lines] >> >> TIA My cats are perfectly fine for not being outside unsupervised. I let them out by holding them...not running around loose. They play with each other and burn off excess energy that way. When company comes, they behave themselves. > In a Cat, emotional problems can arise because you don't let them outside. > Cats are animals not people, don't anthropomorphize too much, they are not [quoted text clipped - 79 lines] >>> >>> TIA I have three perfectly happy indoor cats. They run and play and run through the house playing tag and play with toys. I would not want any of them out were the bobcats can hurt them we have them here. They regularly kill cats and leave them on the property. No thank you. Not to even cover the neighbor that asks if that's my cat if not he's going to leave out some "goodies" for it. Oh no thank you. Then there are the people that drive over 60mph down the streets around my house. Happy in the knowledge that my fur babies are safe at home and most of all healthy. Shadow Walker > In a Cat, emotional problems can arise because you don't let them outside. > Cats are animals not people, don't anthropomorphize too much, they are not [quoted text clipped - 74 lines] > >> > >> TIA First, think of her as your child, not an animal or pet. A child with behavior and emotional problems. You would not put them out side for it nor hand them to someone else. Secondly, the best place for this cat is with you. Not outside or left with other people. Thirdly, the cats behavior is based partially on how she was raised and handled. Lastly if you can not take care of your commitment of her to her then a non kill shelter should take her. Shadow Walker > Okay, I am a relatively new cat person, and this is my first time posting to > this group, but I am desperatly in need of advice, and possibly a helping [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] > > TIA
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