Half wild cat attacked me.

[rainbowvalley17]

There’s a cat that’s been sleeping in my outbuilding. He seemed hungry so I’ve been taking food out every day for him. I think he’s feral because he hisses every time he sees me, not really used to humans I don’t think.

However yesterday after I’d fed him he pounced on the back of my leg and scratched me quite hard. It was scary because it was so unexpected. Luckily I had joggers on but even so he still managed to make my leg bleed. Now I’m frightened to go in there. My dh says stop feeding him and he’ll go away, but I feel sorry for him. Would I be unreasonable to stop feeding him, or carry on and risk being attacked again? What would you all do?

I’ll phone cats protection then, hopefully there’ll be a good outcome for the poor little thing. In the meantime thick jeans and wellies.

I know this sounds strange, but he may have done it because he actually trusts you. Some people are silly with cats and will think it’s funny to encourage them to attack, until the cat grows up and it becomes painful. A neighbour’s cat used to demand attention from me and was extremely affectionate, but as soon as I’d go to walk away the wee shit would launch itself towards my back of my legs and cling on, while biting. I do agree that he might also be in bad health and needs help. Can you borrow a cat carrier and start putting his food and treats into it? Eventually put his bedding inside and you should be able to trap him to take him to rescue or the vets. Some if the local animal rescue places might also lend you a cat trap.

Munch, what a lovely thing to do, he looks so happy and was so lucky to find you. OP, I agree that he may be perhaps hurt? Or maybe he just got scared because you were too close? It would be great if you could get him neutered, but good on you for trying to help the poor boy and feeding him

My pet cat does this to me for no apparent reason.
I will be walking across the garden and he’ll just launch himself claws out at my legs. It bloody hurts.
No idea why, but he is a twat

What the others say, keep feeding and contact cats protection. Poor thing must be frozen solid in this weather.

My friend watched over lots of feral cats over the years, they worked near farms and small businesses. One of the cats would pounce and attack, it was like she was testing the human, if they didn't hurt her back then she would calm down and now will let my friend stroke her.

One approach it to talk to the cat announce I'm coming in or leaving now etc in case the cat hasn't heard you coming or leaving. The cat might have been focused on eating, suddenly heard a noise ie you leaving and went for leg.
Bless you for feeding it.

@WombleishOfTheThighs thanks, he is very handsome he's got us wrapped round his little paws and has slotted into our family perfectly!

The cat would be much happier being rehomed with a forever family and that can’t happen unless he goes to a rehoming centre.

If he’s a feral cat, this is the last think he would want!

Unless cats are socialised at an early age (before 10 weeks max), they will be feral and can’t be “rehomed”. Doing so would stress them out and make them deeply unhappy, and / or even ill.

You can’t tame a feral cat, and an animal
charity will not move them unless there is an immediate risk to their health.

As someone mentioned, what they will do is neuter the cat and return them to where they were trapped.

Source - I am a TNR (trap, neuter, return) volunteer with the Cats Protection.

My pet cat does this too. He has access to a lovely warm house, regular food and is given titbits.

Yet without warning, indoors and out, but particularly in our front yard, he will viciously attack and keep attacking.

He’s not in pain or injured; he’s just a dick.

He also makes himself nests in hedge trimmings, or more recently, the skip.

I see you're going to contact CP which is great. He may be a terrified stray rather than a feral but they can assess and will ensure he is rehomed to a suitable environment for him. Lots of cats are rehomed as "pest controllers" each year if he is feral.

@19lottie82 I agree, but he could be an injured pet that nobody’s bothered about for a while rather than a feral cat. CPL will be able to examine him and treat him and as you say neuter and return if he is not able to be a pet. My pals have six neutered ferals from CPL which they took on in pairs over the years on their farm. All happy and mousing to their hearts content

Get a tetanus injection!

I wonder if he’s hurt?

Although my very domesticated cat loved to play with my legs she grabs each leg around my ankles as I walk up the stairs. Never with the claws out, but she does give a playful nibble (she is still young and we are are working on the biting).

She did recently draw blood when she was injured and my dad lifted her to take her to the vets. She was hurt and scared,

My DS has 6 feral cats in his street.

CPL have neutered/spayed/vaccinated and chipped them.

They said the main reason for returning them (apart from the fact they couldn't re-home feral cats) was because it'd become 'their street' and would therefore stop other feral cats moving in and breeding even more.

You might need a tetanus jab for that OP

If he did it whilst you were walking away he was probably trying to get you to stop walking away. I've known abandoned cats to do this to me when i used to rescue them. I'd walk away and they'd run to catch a leg to get me to stay.

Cats Protection are your best bet here as others have said.

@Wildthyme that’s so sad.

Definately agree he could be trying an attempt at play in a cack handed way. Yes to the wellies and see how he goes on.

If he's feral and has made your outhouse a home, he may have been acting territorial over you being on his patch!
Very lovely of you to take him food.
Have you considered calling cats protection? They will be able to trap him, take him to the vets, get any necessary treatment and possibly find him a home on a yard/farm to live out his feral cat dreams of chasing mice!

Hopefully the @catneuterer (hope that's right) will be able to advise. I now she traps and checks/rehomed feral cats.

Please keep feeding, as PP suggested perhaps away from the building.

My feral cat ended up (eventually) moving in.

Cost me a bloody fortune in vet fees, but, one she trusted me I was hers.

It's @thecatneuterer

Any advice I had to give has already been given, and more, by previous posters but I just wanted to add to those thanking you for doing a kind thing.

I would get this moved to The Litter Tray, lots of good advice on there (as well as here) but some cat servants, from The Cat Litter wont look on AIBU.

Call cats protection

I would guess it's either a misguided attempt at affection, or he's in pain. Possibly fear. Either way he sounds nervous. I'd contact a local rescue or cats protection. Not the rspca.

Agree it's unlikely to be feral unless it's so weak and in so much pain it no longer cares. You can tame true ferals, but not by feeding them for such a short time. Although I do agree with lottie that it isn't a kindness to rehome one with the average person/ family. Taming happens on their terms and timescale, and meantime they need to feel safe.

However as someone that has known many ferals and owned my share, being feral makes them far less likely to attack people than a domestic cat, not more. They're far more fearful of humans, not man eating tigers.

I've had ferals, rescues and ex strays, but the one cat that's never experienced anything but a loving home is the one that's given me the most scars.

Ditto Trainspottingwelsh, my ferals (that incidentally are now tame - it isn't impossible!) would avoid humans at all costs.

Caring for cats Yorkshire and Humber is a charity that specialises in ferals and would, I'm sure, be happy to advise; their motto is that there is no such thing as a feral cat, only a frightenend cat, and that has been true in the ones I've dealt with. They've all come round to be happy in a home, if not lap cats.