Rescue cat issues

[FouxDuFafa]

Hello, I am wondering if anyone has any words of wisdom or is able to reassure me.

We brought home a sweet male 2.5 yr old cat on Friday. He was neutered a week ago. There is just me and 12 yr old son at home.

He had previously been in a household with two dogs and two young children. They had reported the cat to be biting, but the rescue centre thought he would not bite having been taken out of the situation.

However, we are having a pretty miserable time because he will unpredictably attack our arms and feet. We toned down the petting the day he came home but he will attack even while we are just sitting on the sofa (and not even inadvertently irritating him like dangling fingers etc). I play with him with a dangly toy to encourage him to attack that, not us.

I have started putting him outside the room for 10 minutes if he attacks, but to be honest we're both now very wary of him and I have some very sore bruises/scratches.

My son is upset that he's aggressive - I think we were prepared for him to be aloof - but also now worried that he'll have to go back to the shelter. I have tried to be reassuring and explain that it's not the cat's fault, but I'm feeling very down about it.

I expect that we have to be prepared to give it time. Perhaps the neutering op will help. Would Feliway help in this situation?

We have a vet appointment next week so I can ask then. The shelter also has a behaviourist. I'm prepared to give it my best effort, but actually I have been in tears because I don't know what to do for the best.

[user1490465531]

Having some issues with a rescue cat myself and like you have been in tears as it can be overwhelming dealing with a cat with issues.
Everyone on here has told me to give it more time I guess it's hard as you can't always tell how much there background has affected them.

[Briette]

Feliway might help. I have a slightly grumpy male cat who was neutered relatively late and he can be rather obnoxious too, but he has settled more and realised he isn't actually the boss of the universe over time. Are your arms/feet bare when they're attacked? Sometimes they get strange complexes about the oddest things.

It's so hard when you are trying to settle them and just having to discipline them with no sign it's working, isn't it? Bitey cats do usually come around with time.

[FouxDuFafa]

Thanks user1490465531, I'm sorry that you're feeling overwhelmed too.

I have wondered about taking him back, which seems unthinkable, but equally I didn't expect to sign up for 15+ years of wounds and pain.

[FouxDuFafa]

Thank you too Briette.

Bare or covered, it makes no difference. But that's exactly what I'm hoping, that he'll get better. I expect and don't mind the occasional swipe.

[scoobydoo1971]

Subject to any advice you have received from adoption centre, you may find that when this cat goes outside and has an opportunity to hunt and play then he will calm down a lot. You might consider some sort of behavioural training. When my dog was a puppy and mouthing, I put a stop to him munching on my fingers with a rattle as it distracted him from chewing. Perhaps you could carry something with you that makes a noise for a few weeks while the cat adjusts to the home. It may scare him or distract him and that might deal with his scratching. While cats claws hurt like hell, he is probably just playing with you and establishing who is boss-cat. He just needs to have that power imbalance sorted out.