To ask if you would have your cat PTS if they showed signs of aggression towards you or your children.

[bumbleymummy]

I've just been thinking about this recently. A lot of people seem to have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to dogs - if they growl/snap/bite that's it - aggressive behaviour - and, in many cases, PTS but people don't usually feel the same way about cats even if they hiss/growl/scratch/bite.

Actually, I would say that my cat became suddenly aggressive at the age of 9. Didn't want to be touched, hissing and spitting at anything that moved nearby, and then suddenly started displaying signs that I thought might point to cystitis (dripping urine, toiletting frequently with only small amounts coming out).

I was right that it was a urinary problem, but it was a blocked bladder, not cystitis, and was life threatening, requiring an immediate operation and an overnight stay at the vets.

He had been in a great deal of pain, which had shown itself as aggression and general misery. Never ignore a sudden change in the behaviour of any animal.

I'd have to say no to the OP because I have an extremely aggressive cat and he's still here, terrorising us all. His name is linked to a warning sign on the vet's computer! He does tend to scratch and bite with no provocation (he's lightning fast and you get no warning) but I have to say that the one time he really went for it and I had to have emergency treatment for eight deep puncture wounds, it did turn out that he had a bad tooth.

My parents had a rather evil cat when I was born, which terrorised my much older brother and sister. When I was born, it went for me a couple of times and so was rehomed to friends who lived on a farm. He ran away and we think he became the beast of Bodmin!

We later got a rescue cat who'd been brought to the shelter to be put down for being aggressive. She was lovely and became a wonderful family pet.

With cats, I would always try rehoming first if the aggression wasn't medical related.

It would depend on the context. If a toddler repeatedly pulled the cat's tail and got scratched I'd say lesson learned, don't pull tails. If the cat was obviously stressed and unhappy around the children, with no obvious solution, I might consider it. After all, it's not really on to rehome the children

As mentioned, I think part of the reaction against dogs is because they're more often and more widely in public spaces. Therefore just rehoming an aggressive dog isn't an option as it's still likely to meet children.

I'd check it's not a medical problem and if not I'd rehome the cat. I have two farm cats who were born feral. I wouldn't let children near either of them, and given the choice they stay away anyway. Cats don't always need to get on with kids and the great thing about my two is that I can live in a home free from rats or mice, which isn't possible without them.

There seems to be a thing on MN at the moment for comparing cats and dogs.

No, but I wouldn't with my dogs either.

In fact my very aged cat was quite aggressive towards ds1 when he was tiny - scratched him across the face really close to his eye, in fact. Could have been bad.

Ds1 had done nothing, he was just sitting next to him giving him a stroke. The cat was really lovely towards him at first but went crazy when his sister died.

I just kept them separate and kept a close eye on him from then on. He was in terminal decline by then anyway, so I didn't have to do it for too long :(

Cats randomly attacking people are rare, normally they attack because people haven't picked up on the body language of the cat which indicates its getting pissed off. So a toddler just stroking a cat calmly might still be annoying the cat which the child hasn't picked up on...ears flattened, shying away, top lip curling up slightly. So the cat bites or scratches and the cat has attacked for no good reason.

I know some cats are just mental but it's very rare. They mainly want to be left alone but will come to a human when they want fuss.

Or food.

I'd re home the cat or make efforts to make cat happier.

Our cats only scratch or do an inhibited bite if the kids are really pudding them off.

I've taught my children to watch fir the signs - lashing tail, raised law, flat ears, snapping, nipping.

They know to leave the cats alone when they show thus behaviour. The cats are very effective at disciplining my children - it only took a couple of scratches for the children to learn respect for the cats.

Dogs - well digs can seriously injure or kill people. Different rules fir them.

Thanks autocorrect - you've excelled yourself.

Autocorrects aside I agree Ubik.

Of course not. Unlike humans, animals are only aggressive when they're provoked or in pain.

My darling tabby Mr Cory can be a bit fangy but only when he's annoyed about something.

Some cats are just plain bad tempered.I have owed quite a few cats and I can think of 2 who were just plain nasty. They would walk up to a human and just take a random swipe.

Have always had cats who were child trained and children who were cat trained. Occasionally a bit quick with a claw but generally only if a child was disrespectful in handling the cat. (or the occasional reminder swipe if the dish is empty)
Would definitely rehome a cat which was aggressive (eg an unprovoked attack on children).
Still remember my beloved childhood cat who was PTS after he peed on the kitchen counter.

no, because unless they've got problems, cats are very good at giving warning signs that the aggression is going to happen.

my 6yo has been scratched by our 1yo cat a few times, and each time its after she's decided to ignore the agitated tail, the warning touch from the paws and carried on poking her.

Our cat is quite play aggressive, so if she's full of bounce, the chances of her trying to bite go up, so i make sure i spend time playing with her and re-direct the energy to more appropriate outlets.

Most aggressive cats are either reacting to 'prey' like behaviour from wary humans, bored and acting out, or have medical problems.

"Still remember my beloved childhood cat who was PTS after he peed on the kitchen counter."

:'(

I've got a cat who tolerates me but isn't really a fan of anyone else in the family and will go for them if she feels like it. I just tell the kids to give her a wide birth and we all rub along quite well.

I wouldn't give any really vicious creature house room though and not would I remove them as I think rehoming problem animals is just passing the buck so yes I suppose if I had to I would put a vicious cat to sleep. It'd have to be really bad though.. Like Pixel described up thread... Hospital treatment would be the absolute last straw for me.

Small children piss animals off. I have a house full of both (children and animals that is) and the cats do get cross with the 15 month old as she pulls tails and ruffles their fur the wrong way.

As worra says no ones been killed by a cat! Although personally I wouldn't rehome the dog either. I do have a very little dog though.

"As worra says no ones been killed by a cat! "

It's unusual but people have died of cat scratch fever. It can also make you seriously ill.

Not really comparable Gabilan.

Of course it's comparable

Sometimes a cat will attack if it feels threatened, this can be as simple as a child (or adult) looking directly into the cats eyes. Eye contact to a cat is a sign of another cat (or other animal) planning to attack and it will trigger a natural response.

It is not the cat's fault, it is natural behaviour. I would not PTS because of it but try to teach the child/adult how to look at the cat, either by the slow blinking method which denotes non aggressive behaviour or by looking away. If the cat is highly strung, then get out of the room as fast as possible and shut the door until it has calmed down. The best way to deal with it is to not look into the cats eyes in the first place.

A cat in pain can be aggressive, as can a cat that has previously been badly treated.

What? No. They can't do much harm and the children should be taught to leave them alone and not corner them.

At worst you should take them to rehome them. But putting them to sleep just straight off the bat? That's sick.

My mother once had a very nasty cockerel. I feared for my face every time it visited. Mum used to leave a broom handy to wave at it. She did PTS it (via the stewpot)