Considering rehoming cat

[ScattySuze]

This is very upsetting as we got him as a kitten 4 years ago
We also have an elderly cat who doesn't go out or socialise much but is very loving and if stroked will sit and purr and so on
The boy cat has always been very dominant, regularly attempting to attack the older cat if she comes downstairs.
Luckily as he likes to spend most of his time during the day outside she is able to roam but of an evening once he is in she goes upstairs only coming out for food which we then place upstairs for her
He had a few cat fights outdoors too with other boy cats although has come off worse in a few of them so I'm not sure who initiated it but I would hazard a guess it's him
In the past month he has also bitten me whilst I've been stroking him, it's almost like he's got a split personality disorder as will come to me to be stroked, purring away happily but then will grab my arm with both paws and bite really hard
It's not playful biting, he pulls the arm in and then attacks
It was a struggle to get him off this evening and now I'm very worried in case he does this to either of the children ( aged 4 and 6 )
We rehomed him last year with a friend with no children ( for 1 month ) after he did this to my husband but he never settled and pined for us and actually got lost trying to find our house
He has never shown any aggression to the kids but equally doesn't tend to go to them to be stroked so I'm panicking it's only a matter of time
I'm at a loss of why he does this

[ScattySuze]

They do have their own areas
She has been forced to take refuge in our bedroom even having her litter tray and food in there as the minute she comes out, even to walk along the upstairs landing he races up to attack her

[TheClaws]

That isn't what you said in the OP - you said he will attack her if she goes downstairs. I know some cats can be challenging. But I really think you are overstating things a bit from your OP, going on PP, because you want people to agree with you. I'm going to say rehome him now as I see you really can't be bothered with him. I'd rather him have a home with people that love cats and understand them actually.

[venetiaswirl]

Very difficult OP - I was hospitalised after being bitten on my hand by my cat and ending up with a serious infection - High Dependency Unit, intravenous antibiotics, the works - it was really unpleasant
If you have children it's a huge risk. I agree that re homing is perhaps the only option - and if it gives your other old cat some peace and quiet that's an added bonus.
Your cat obviously needs to be an alpha cat in a single cat household and hopefully rehoming can achieve that.

[ScattySuze]

Sorry I misworded
The attacks have got a lot less since she stopped trying to come downstairs but he likes to sleep on one of the children's beds in the day time whilst they're out and if this happens at the same time she is on the landing this will be another attack
I'm not exaggerating things and don't mean to drip feed, it's just hard to think clearly when I'm worried in case he attacks one of the children

[Spring2016]

It may not kill, but could seriously maim a child especially. My niece had to get stitches in her eyebrow and has a scar to this day from a cat gash. She could have had a horrible eyeball injury, it was so close. I would prefer to rehome the cat to a farm or to be a mouser at a business that pts, but I would not feel right to keep him after hearing his attack history. You could have him declawed however sounds like he is a biter so would still be a risk. If he attacks another child simply for petting him, you could be responsible for the injuries. I know one thing only, I could not keep him unless he stopped. Would cat Prozac be an option? I have no idea if it works but I have heard of it.

[Spring2016]

*than, not that

[TheClaws]

it's just hard to think clearly when I'm worried in case he attacks one of the children

Which he never has, as per your OP "he has never shown any aggression to the kids". Why be so cruel to an animal based on this? He's behaving like, well, an animal, hasn't done anything to your little kids (really, I would have thought if he was going to be aggressive to your kids, he would have by now) - and you want us to tell you not to worry, just get rid of him, because KIDS!

[MsMims]

He's not 'horrible' FFS!

Although actually long term I think he'd be better off in an experienced home, the fact your op states 'he never settled and pined for us and actually got lost trying to find our house' means you really have to try your damndest to make this work.

He needs to be exhausted with toys to burn all that pent up energy. Toys like Da Bird. Your children can safely play this with him as it's on a long flexible stick.

Observe him in tiny detail. He is almost certainly giving off signs and warnings before he attacks, in his own way, but they are being missed or mistaken. There will be areas on his body that trigger an attack when touched. Limit petting to his head and offer your hand for him to brush against rather than stroke him. Don't leave your hand dangling in mid air. Withdraw it after each stroke and observe if he moves/ looks for more attention. You need to learn what each of his small mannerisms and movements mean e.g. we have a very traumatised rescued girl who wags her tail wildly both when deliriously happy and annoyed. The former isn't typical cat behaviour. Get to know him as an individual. I can guarantee the attacks will either cease completely or become rare, not by changing him that much (bar making the effort to exercise his mind and body), but by you learning who he is and what his triggers are.

You need some sort of pen so your girl can either get some fresh air or he can be restricted while she exercises. It would also stop his spates of attacking neighbours cats.

Good luck and I hope you don't give up on him.

[Qwebec]

Yep, normal cat behavior. As nearly everyone has said, cats work out their territory and it has nothing to do with who was there first. Biting is also normal, most cast I had do this they want to be petted to a certain extent and then have enough. It's your job to watch for the warning signs, and pay serious attention if you can't spot them to take your hand away on time. Some cats are soppy things, others are much more independant and need more space.
A cat is not a toy, it is normal to teach a child to respect it's needs and limitation.
I understand it can be frustrating if you are not used to this, but it is completely normal.

[ScattySuze]

I'm not being " cruel " as you put it, but surely most normal parents would worry about an animal POSSIBLY attacking their children when the animal has scratched and bitten the two adults in the house!
I keep saying it but there are NO warning signs, as I said one of the worst attacks was when my husband was bending over putting things in the bin
I think this is just him, he has a high killer instinct, forever catching rodents and attacking the neighbours cats and so on
He is completely fearless - we have 2 huskies to one side of us and he will go into their garden whilst they're out chasing him around barking and not even run away
He stands in the road until cars near enough hit him as he wont get out of the way
For what is worth, you don't have the same reaponsibilty as an owner of cats like you do of dogs if they injure someone, unfortunately we had to look into that after he attacked next doors cat and she was threatening to call the police and sue us
So now she doesn't even look at us which is great living next to someone with her feeling like that

[Okite]

I just want to mention that cats can play fight a lot, and it's not necessarily an aggressive attack. If when he attacks your girl cat it's quiet (ie no hissing or yowling) and they break apart and sort of roll around, that's him trying to play fight. She won't necessarily want to play of course, especially if she's elderly.

[OrangeSquashTallGlass]

Yes we understand there are 'NO warning signs'. Yours is not the only cat ever to have behaved like this. Lots of people have arsehole cats. You have to respect the fact that it is an animal with claws and teeth and treat it as such. Some cats are cuddly little balls of moosh and others aren't - that doesn't mean he's defective.

I wouldn't want to live with a cat that bit either but the fact is that once you have a pet you have a responsibility to do them right.

You sound very determined to rehome him and cross that everyone's not cheering you on.

[RustyBear]

I can't believe someone suggested declawing him - this is horribly cruel and fortunately illegal in many countries.

[ScattySuze]

He can't stay out all night as the neighbour only lets get cat out now once he's in otherwise he attacks them
He generally wants to come in by 8pm anyway so I don't think he is wanting to be outside at night

[TheClaws]

The 'cruel' part, OP, is considering having your cat PTS, which you clearly are. I still don't really see much of anything you've written about his behaviour out of the ordinary for a male cat. He hasn't attacked your children; has shown no interest in doing so; you've been given plenty of advice here on calming any aggressive behaviour there is. But you wanted a different type of advice and will only hear that I think.

[isupposeitsverynice]

Its not just op that's suffering though either it's her neighbours too and their pets and that is really unfair. In these circumstances I think it's right for everyone to rehome the cat, even the cat is likely to be happier elsewhere in the long run with someone who can enjoy him properly

[HermioneJeanGranger]

Does anyone play with him? I found that boy cats tend to get aggressive if they're not given a chance to get out all their energy - mine loves chasing string on a stick or chasing a laser pen. He also will chase things like baubles or pink pong balls around the living roon.

[TheRealPooTroll]

Do you regularly play with him with toys on sticks that he can pounce on so he is given plenty of opportunity to use his hunting instinct?

[Kiroro]

If you make sure your kids know they can't touch him I don't see how they will get attacked.

But anyway, if he really is this vicious and unhappy do the grown up thing and have him PTS rather than foist him into another unhappy situation.

[TheRealPooTroll]

If you were a responsible owner you would be getting professional advice from an animal behaviourist before considering rehousing or euthanising.

[Eatingcheeseontoast]

Our cat attacks whether he's been stroked or not. Unprovoked attack on friend feeding him last week - she had to have a tetanus jab.

[MrsDoylesladder]

I second pp who said look at Jackson Galaxy. Absolutely brilliant advice - google his name .