Violent monster cat

[B3ckiRainbow]

Hiya,

So I got my 2 year old cat when he was 8 weeks old (I think? That’s what I was told) I never saw a mum and he was the only kitten there. He was a normal cute little kitten but as he has gotten older he has become so aggressive with me. He is neutered.

He loves my husband, will let him do anything all the while purring and rubbing ip against him and stuff and mainly ignores my 5 year old unless she gets in his way, but even then it’s just a little swipe but me he actually goes out of his way to attack.

He is all lovey lovey at feeding time but I feel he definitely comes for me if I don’t feed him on time or don’t give him a flavour he wants.

Sometimes he literally comes into a room and straight for me in attack mode and bites so hard it breaks the skin at the same time as bunny kicks. I either have to scruff him and pull him off or my husband has to click at him and he runs off. Does it daily and I have bruises and scratches all the time.

I am the one that feeds him and I am the one he follows around the house and stares at all the time. He is practically always with me in the room when he isn’t outside.

He plays alot with his toys and does like to settle down for a nice stroke on my lap or on me in bed - sometimes even snugs up right next to me under the covers in bed but my arms are so sore!! Any ideas? Is he a crazy monster cat? Or am I missing something?!

Thanks! And yes I have had cats many times and he is the first that has ever been like this.

[Yarnivore]

You shouldn't be scruffing an adult cat!

Does he go outside? What toys/enrichment does he have? Can someone else feed him or can you use a timed or motion sensitive/microchip feeder to take away the link between you and food?

[Amboo13]

@B3ckiRainbow

Hiya,

So I got my 2 year old cat when he was 8 weeks old (I think? That’s what I was told) I never saw a mum and he was the only kitten there. He was a normal cute little kitten but as he has gotten older he has become so aggressive with me. He is neutered.

He loves my husband, will let him do anything all the while purring and rubbing ip against him and stuff and mainly ignores my 5 year old unless she gets in his way, but even then it’s just a little swipe but me he actually goes out of his way to attack.

He is all lovey lovey at feeding time but I feel he definitely comes for me if I don’t feed him on time or don’t give him a flavour he wants.

Sometimes he literally comes into a room and straight for me in attack mode and bites so hard it breaks the skin at the same time as bunny kicks. I either have to scruff him and pull him off or my husband has to click at him and he runs off. Does it daily and I have bruises and scratches all the time.

I am the one that feeds him and I am the one he follows around the house and stares at all the time. He is practically always with me in the room when he isn’t outside.

He plays alot with his toys and does like to settle down for a nice stroke on my lap or on me in bed - sometimes even snugs up right next to me under the covers in bed but my arms are so sore!! Any ideas? Is he a crazy monster cat? Or am I missing something?!

Thanks! And yes I have had cats many times and he is the first that has ever been like this.

That's really interesting. It sounds to me like he possibly left his mum/siblings too early. I've read that, with cats who do the bunny kick a lot and bite enough to break the skin, it means that they've not learned to play "softly" as opposed to playing rough like it sounds as if he's doing. When they are around their siblings and mum and play a lot in their first few weeks they are supposed to learn to play gently (by playing with other things that are alive and their size) and so don't actually break skin or kick as hard as a result. It sounds like he hasn't quite got the hang of when not to stalk or fight with you. I'm not too sure of the solution, although maybe there are some training exercises you can do with him to ease it. Here's a link that mig be helpful: deziroo.com/blogs/pawsitive-connections/play-aggression

[Fluffycloudland77]

It’s play behaviour. Mine did it and it bloody hurts. I used to hiss at him when I saw it coming.

If he’s around you a lot he likes you. Does he do the kneading action on you when you fuss him?.

[B3ckiRainbow]

I am not sure what else to do when he so violently attacks me that it draws blood and leaves bruising from the bunny kicks! More of a gut reaction to get him off I think!

He does go outside through his cat flap and plays happily with his toys, he has a fair few.

I could think about an auto feeder I guess because there is no chance my husband is going to do it!! Worth a go -

He is such a lovely little cat generally but just SO aggressive when he is in the mood.

[B3ckiRainbow]

Ah thank you - I will check that link out. I think something was a bit off about where he came from - he doesn’t wash himself like all the other cats Ive had in my life - he gets little matts of hair along his back which I have to cut off - he isnt over weight so no reason for him not to wash himself properly other than not being taught to I don’t think.

[TheLovleyChebbyMcGee]

I agree, I'd scruff a cat if he was being that bitey and scratchy wih me just to escape. Have you tried feliway? It can help with behaviour issues.

[B3ckiRainbow]

He does occasionally but not often - he chooses to lie on me - he is in my lap now having a nap while I write this - so I am pretty sure he likes me which is why the behaviour confuses me. I think that as @Amboo13 said he may have been taken from his mum too young so hasn’t learned what is right and wrong so it probably really confuses him when I get so upset when he wants to play!!

[B3ckiRainbow]

I did try feliway when it first started but it didn’t seem to do much - I still have some so Ill plug it back in and leave it and see if it chills him out a bit yeah I would never scruff a cat routinely but in a rush to get them off in a situation like this, I think is probably safest for both involved.

[Fluffycloudland77]

If they knead you they like you, you’re mum to them.

When he does it are his pupils dilated like saucers?.

[B3ckiRainbow]

@Fluffycloudland77 Do you know, I haven’t noticed. Ill check that next time he has a go. What does it mean if they are/are not?

[Fluffycloudland77]

They dilate when their excited and become narrow when calm.

If he’s stalking up to you with eyes dilated he’s probably thinking “the mighty but stealthy hunter tracks the prey with his hunting skills honed over hundreds of successful kills, slowly he approaches to strike in an epic battle of tiger v mouse” and then he jumps on your arm to wrestle and bunny kick you.

I suspect they genuinely don’t know it’s not fun for us too.

[Kakiweewee]

Misdirected play behaviour probably. Get a really good play routine in with wand toys and knacker them out with play and I bet it reduces the 'aggression'.

[B3ckiRainbow]

@Kakiweewee defo feels like aggression but I understand it most likely isn’t. I will play with him more and hope that helps tucker him out a bit.

[JorisBonson]

My boy has been a biter since the day we got him. DH, aka The Cat Whisperer, hissed at him whenever he was biting badly, and he eventually calmed down.

He still loves to chew on your fingers. It's gentle and he purrs while he's doing it. Sometimes he gets too amorous, as you can see