To consider rehoming my cat?

[Extrapepperoni]

Our cat is a rescue, we've had him for two and a half years now. He's friendly, but grew up on the streets and wasn't socialised well. Hates other cats and regularly gets into fights. We had him neutered when we adopted him but he was already fully grown.

He has always been a bit mouthy - so petting aggression, giving you a swipe or nip if he didn't like something (even when he is the one who always initiates petting), usually with minimal warning.

A couple of days ago, he came and lay down on my chest for a pet, as he often does. I was petting him and completely out of the blue he clamped down on my hand and locked on so hard that one of his entire front teeth pieces through my hand. Have had to have antibiotics and a tetanus shot, my whole hand is swollen from it.

DH and I have just had a chat about the cat - this feels like new behaviour though he tells me he's done it once before to a houseguest (coming for petting and then locking on to the hand - a proper vicious bite not just a nip). He's of the opinion that we can't trust the cat given this behaviour, let alone around our 5 year old, her friends, houseguests etc.

What would you do? Is he being unreasonable to consider rehoming?

The cat is loved though I don't know how he feels back - certainly spoiled and enjoys his lifestyle here.

*pierced through my hand.

Little pic from urgent care to illustrate...

A cat that bites is not suitable as a family pet

I know nothing about cats. Is he in pain or unwell? Worth a visit to the vet to rule out physical issues?

But an animal who will aggressively bite out of the blue isn’t a good pet. Think of child’s face etc.

My cat does this and regards it as part of his play. There's a sequence to his behaviour and we warn people to be careful of him.
I'd not re-home him, you're putting a territorial pet into a terrifying and confusing environment.You're also passing the financial responsibility on to people who are kind enough to donate time and money to further animal welfare.

Two of my cats were neutered late, one a rescue the other my mum wanted to let him have kittens so was sone around 1-2 years, rescue probably 2-4 years (adult when found by charity). The vet told me they get a lot of testosterone which makes them bigger and aggressive with skin around the neck to help survive fights etc. In my limited experience they've calmed down as they got older. The non rescue was particularly arsey and bit through my skin between thumb and Di her and bit my shin when I wasn't quick enough feeding him 🙈😳🤬 but he grew into a lovely cat, rescue was adorable as a family cat but certainly sorted the local mogs out
I'd personally give him a chance unless you've kids

My neighbour, also my friend, had a cat who once bit me, when I shooed him out of my house. The result was the same as yours. I felt ridiculous going to A&E, but the nurse there told me that cat bites happen quite a lot. I was terrified of him, as were my own cats. I never told my friend about it. They had that cat for many more years, even when starting their family and he was adored by all of them. As far as I was concerned, he was psychotic.

Watergun every time he goes to bite spray him in the face with one of them tiny water guns. Sounds mean but its self defence after all or try and divert his attention with a lazer pen or something when he's getting too rough with play. My cat bit my toe last night so he was not allowed on the bed all night after this. He is better with you than in a shelter but when he goes to play rough push him away and distract he's not a lion lol he's a cat.

Better just PTS. It's dangerous.

My Tom cat is similar. I have several scars from his bites and have had to seek medical treatment for an infected bite. I got him as a kitten but early as mum rejected him so he wasn't socialised at all. It reached the point that I thought he needed to go. We were living in separate rooms as he was constantly attacking me when he was awake and it hurt! If I wore a dress he would jump up, bite my inner thigh and hang on for dear life. Vet wasn't much help either.
In the end I took a risk and got another cat and it's worked. She has taught him how to behave. She's feisty and big so isn't intimidated by him. They play fight ALL day so he's too tired to attack me. I get the occasional bite still when petting but not as before. I know this is a risk bringing in another cat and as you state he doesn't like other cats so may be the completely wrong action. But, you can't carry on like this, it's not fair on anyone. Have you approached a vet for advice? The cat whisperer is helpful too.

I had a female rescue cat who was like this, so I don't think it's something you can blame on testosterone or late neutering. She was only about 6 months when I got her, but she was definitely a bit wild. She would also lick me when I was petting her, which indicated she was separated from her mother too young.

I didn't have a child at that stage, so I just got on with it. Unfortunately she was run over and died, so was only with me for about a year and a half. But I don't think I'd be happy to keep a pet like that with a young child.

I think you should have lead with the info you had a 5 year old. An animal which has bitten someone this badly should not be around kids

It sounds like your cat does an extreme version of a fairly standard cat behaviour. One of my cats will bite if you pet him, usually preceded by bunny kicks but sometimes it's a surprise. The difference is my cat has a "soft mouth," that is he knows how to bite without breaking skin. It can still hurt tho, and everyone in the house knows that Felix bites but his brother Monty doesn't and is safe to pet. My kids are 4 and 6.

I don't think it's necessary to rehome him but you have to accept he's not the sort of cat you can carelessly sit and stroke.

It's a tricky one. Your poor hand. Horrible position to be in with your pet.
I'd be really worried about him attacking my face/someone else.
However, you did take on the responsibility of getting him as a pet, so taking him to a shelter seems a bit unfair- on him and on the shelter.
I know nothing about cats really, but as pp said, is it worth talking to the vet/animal behaviour expert? (Not the experts on here lol) there might be something causing it/something that might help? Do cats get illnesses that can cause this behaviour, like people do?- dementia, urine infections, strokes etc? Or is it just his personality?
I think chucking him out ought to be a very last resort.- but perhaps this is the end of the road for you after your hand injury?
I would say definitely don't water gun him- for obvious reasons of cruelty etc- surely that will piss him off more! And make you feel horrible.
Hope you can find a solution. Let us know how you get on.

I would seek advice on whether there's anything you can do to reduce the likelihood again, but I'm not sure he's suitable for rehoming, and if you do go down that route, you must tell them he bites so potential adopters know he is not suitable for households with children. However it's possible that a different sort of household might suit him, rural farm perhaps

One of my cats is a biter - it's normally her way of saying enough affection even though she's the one who instigated. Hurts like the devil as she doesn't know how to be gentle.

I think first step should be the vet to rule out any health issues and then perhaps look at an animal behaviorist.

Speak to the rescue you got him from , he’s not suitable for a home with children .

First you need to rule out that the cat is in pain. Cats rarely shown pain but do behave differently. My very laid back gentle old neutered male cat started trying to bite me and the kids in the last couple of weeks of his life. He was just in so much pain that the painkillers from the vet couldn't control it anymore so a vet visit is a must.

Secondly if it's not that he isn't socialised so you need to start teaching him what is and isn't acceptable play. Get him toys and play only with toys with him. If he tries to play with your hands or takes a swipe you put the toy down, say no and walk away from him. He needs to know he can't bite or swipe at you. Also does he get out enough? Some cats need to be out a lot and almost get cabin fever if they don't get out enough. One of my cats literally goes out from 9 am to 9pm as she likes it that way. She comes in and cuddles up then goes to sleep after her dinner.

Tricky one. I would maybe get him checked out at the vet to rule out any health issues given its new behaviour.

Maybe try to train him out of it but cat bites can be quite dangerous so if there's any chance he could bite the youngster, then it may not be safe for him to remain. One of my cats bites and does bunny legs but has never broken skin so there's a definite difference between being a bit mouthy and being quite vicious.

I’ve got a biter. Bad start in life and she will accept and enjoy some very specific pats, but will bite, hard, when she’s done. She won’t attack from nowhere, it’s related to being touched. She’s gone through the skin a couple of times but I don’t think that’s the intention.

We don’t have kids but have a lot of them around and they’re told not to touch her (though tbf she wants nothing to do with them so they’re unlikely to get the chance). It would be different if he was aggressively attacking or breaking skin on the regular but if it was me I’d teach yours the same, at least til they’re older. It’s a shame but he’s the cat you have! And they don’t live forever, you can get a sook when he’s gone….

I have one biter (who does it to demand affection - if you’re not making enough of a fuss of her, she will bite you until you stop what you’re doing to tickle her!) and one scratcher; I copped a swipe on the nose just last night. That’s just how they are and I would never dream of rehoming either of them for it.

She would also lick me when I was petting her, which indicated she was separated from her mother too young.

My elderly cat loves to lick my hands, but I adopted her as a kitten with her mum, and they were together until mum died four years ago, so it's not always the case - I think some cats just like licking....

I've always had adult rescue cats. They've all eventually settled in, and become, to varying degrees, pleasant companions.
The present incumbent is a middle-aged tabby thug. He was a tormented stray on a sink estate and, until recently, has had a "Yeah? Want some of this?" Hard stare. Raised front paw. Fluffed-up menace.
Gentle grooming, high-value cat treats and not picking him up unless absolutely necessary seem to be improving his view of the world.
He has free access to the rural area in which we live, has been smarmy enough to ingratiate himself with the neighbours (who have been fully briefed re his social difficulties) and although he will never be a cuddle-bunny, his beauty and character are rewards in themselves.

An animal that assaults a person is not a pet and needs to be pts

😂😂😂😂😂

If this is new behaviour your first port of call should be the vet who can check if he's in any pain.