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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder why my cat just fully lost his shit?

27 replies

Pettyspaghetti · 20/09/2018 20:23

I know this isn’t an AIBU, but posting for traffic (sorry Blush)

So my 9 year old Tom cat is a bit of a stroppy boy, but generally lovely to me. He doesn’t really like children though, I think he may have been mishandled as a kitten by children.
Anyway, about 20 minutes ago my DD was messing around with the living room door, keeping it wide open when she knows the cat isn’t allowed upstairs. Asked DD to shut the door, she refused so I raised my voice and told her to “shut the door NOW”. I wasn’t screaming, but it was more of a shout than a normal speaking voice. As soon as I did this the boy cat jumped off the chair and scratched/attacked the door (that DD closed just in time) really aggressively. This is the second time he’s done this, in pretty much the exact same circumstances. Was he trying to attack DD? was he trying to protect me because I shouted?
He’s not normally aggressive like that and it was quite scary!
Any cat owners on here who have an inkling of why he’s done this?

OP posts:
GlitterNails · 20/09/2018 20:26

My cat often runs away if I raise my voice and they go often scratch at doors to try and get out. Could you have startled him and then he was trying to leave that way?

Needahairbrush · 20/09/2018 20:27

My car has never tried to attack any of us, he also doesn’t react to any shouting going on around him.
I don’t like the sound of this OP, especially if he’s tried it before. A cat attack would be very hard for a child to fight off ☹️

CSIblonde · 20/09/2018 20:29

Cats have super sensitive hearing so any loud noise scares them. He was probably scared & clawing the door to get away as fast as possible

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 20/09/2018 20:40

"He's not normally aggressive."

Yes but by your own admissions this is not the first time he has done thisand. I fear it won't be the last, either.
How long have you had him. I'd be thinking about rehoming him to be honest.

EgremontRusset · 20/09/2018 20:44

awwlook you’d re home a cat for scratching a door??

Aquamarine1029 · 20/09/2018 20:48

Has he been neutered?

AlevelConfusion · 20/09/2018 20:53

Sounds like he was scared and heading for the door, your dd just happened to be at the door. If he's been treated badly in the past, he's going to be jumpy, poor thing.

Original poster
Pettyspaghetti · 20/09/2018 21:23

Thanks for the replies.
Yes he’s been neutered, and I’ve had him since he was 12 weeks old.
He really isn’t aggressive, it may sound like it in the OP but this is out of character for him. I’ve had him for 9 years, the worst he’s ever done is swat at someone when he’s had enough of being stroked. Something’s obviously triggered him, and he can be quite nervous with certain things (vacuum cleaner and ironing board scare him).

OP posts:
SingingMyOwnSpecialSong · 20/09/2018 21:25

I’d get him checked over by a vet. Perhaps he is in pain somewhere and thus more sensitive and grumpy.

adaline · 20/09/2018 21:28

I'd get any sudden change in behaviour looked at. It often signals illness or pain.

Subtlecheese · 20/09/2018 21:31

Children and pets are a crappy mix. It might be better if the cat had a calmer environment.

skittycat · 20/09/2018 21:37

One of mine has on occasion reacted in a similar manner - perhaps four or five times. It took a while for me to figure out what his trigger is ... turns out he despises high pitched noises like whistles/bells/keys jangling (and also shrieking children)

My guess would be that he’s reacting to the shout - was he close to you at the time?

FattyMcGee · 20/09/2018 21:47

One of my cats is like this, I think he is just more sensitive to a certain tone of voice/noise. I think it's when I have to be stern and have a deeper tone, so if cat is in the house and I have to shout at DC, DCat physically cringes and jumps away to escape. It's not aggressive but more of a shock and scared reaction. He also hates the sounds of hoovers, hair dryers and the shower turning on (it makes a fuzzy sound for a couple of seconds).

Original poster
Pettyspaghetti · 20/09/2018 21:48

Ah that would make sense if a certain tone of voice affects him!

OP posts:
SanFranBear · 20/09/2018 21:58

Don't rehome him... that is utterly shit advice!

It'll be the noise and the scratching was to get away - not hurt anyone. This may be new behaviour for him but perhaps you've just never yelled that close to him before. My cat doesn't like shouting and so slinks out the cat flap if trouble is brewing. But when startled by a sudden noise, he just wants out and scrambles away.

He's just being a cat - who are far more empathetic than they get credit for!

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 20/09/2018 22:01

I didn't "advise op to rehome him.
I said that's what I'd do, big difference.

Mrsharrison · 20/09/2018 22:17

My cat did this once to my 7 year old nephew. Nephew sood in the middle of living room having a tantrum. Cat got on her hind legs and wrapped paws with claws out round nephews legs. She also gently bit him before letting go. Nephew was wearing jeans so he wasn't marked. It gave him a shock though.
This cat was always a grump but never attacked like that before. It never happened again.
I think your cat totally understood the row between you and decided to teach her a lesson.

MarklahMarklah · 20/09/2018 22:23

I used to have a cat who was sensitive to certain noises. He didn't like the hoover and would leave the room quite quickly if I got it out. He also hated the sound of my friend's shimmy belt (coins & bells) and growled at it as he fled in panic.

Ontheboardwalk · 20/09/2018 22:27

My cat Is the biggest grump in the world and was a very abused cat before I got her but attacking someone - no way

If as you say this behaviour was out of character please take him to vet to get checked out

RibbonAurora · 20/09/2018 22:27

Rehome him for doing what's natural to a spooked cat? Bloody hell there are some over-excitable people on MN.

The cat was scared by your raised voice, OP, and headed for the nearest exit which happened to be the living room door. He wasn't trying to attack your child, he was trying to escape.

LEMtheoriginal · 20/09/2018 22:30

You made him jump - thats all

AwkwardPaws27 · 20/09/2018 22:33

It just sounds like he panicked and dashed for an exit. Not like aggression, from how you have described it.

TooManyPaws · 20/09/2018 22:39

Your cat was desperately trying to get himself out of a situation that startled/frightened/terrified him. From what you've said in your posts, he didn't attack your child, just tried to get out of the room from the trigger. I can be triggered by people myself, resulting in emotional flashbacks!

I have also had animals all my life, including both cats and dogs. I've currently got two rescue cats, four rescue dogs and two foster rescue dogs. I know they can be frightened and triggered - some of them have come from abuse you wouldn't believe abroad. Pay no attention to the dipsticks recommending rehoming and allow the poor animal an escape route when necessary. It wouldn't be fair to him to remove him from his home and put him through more just because he was trying to remove himself from the cause of his distress.

Enidthecat · 20/09/2018 22:51

Your cat was frightened because you raised your voice. Cats are extremely sensitive animals

AlevelConfusion · 20/09/2018 23:15

Children and pets are a crappy mix

Really? Hmm
Children that can behave around animals and love and respect them get so much out of having a pet. Likewise for the pet, they can have very special bonds with children.