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Original poster

cat just attacked my face like a punch bag

32 replies

marchblues · 01/03/2021 22:46

We inherited a neighbours cat a couple of years ago, he's a neutered male around 10 years old. We always thought he was a miserable street cat when we saw him around but since he's been with us he's the cuddliest cat we've ever met, constantly jumping on our laps to sleep and coming for cuddles etc.

This evening he walked onto my lap and I picked him up to lay him on his back (basically so he's cradled like a baby!) which we always do and he loves. He was moving his tail a bit so I made a comment to DH that it makes me nervous when he does that when cuddling as it seems like he's going to pounce (famous last words). He then put one paw on my chin (again, he does this all the time especially to DH) but I moved my head back a bit and made a bit of a 'mmmmmm' noise to try and get DH's attention as it made me feel a bit worried!

Next thing I know - it's all a bit of a blur - he's hissing and has leapt up in front of me and is attacked both sides of my face with his claws. It was terrifying if I am being honest - literally swiping at my temples with his claws like a punchbag. I have cuts all over my face and hands.

Does anyone know why he would have done this?

DH leapt up and shooed him out the room but he then sat in the other room hissing. We've now put him in the garden and I feel scared about being around him. I'm not naturally a cat person anyway and they have always made me feel a bit nervous, but we took him in and I thought I was overcoming my fears but now just don't want to be around him.

OP posts:
PainterInPeril · 01/03/2021 22:51

Oh my goodness! You poor thing! Have you any idea why he did that? I hope your DH is looking after you?Flowers

wheretonow123 · 01/03/2021 22:54

That's awful. I hope the injuries heal quickly.

I would stop letting him in full stop. I think you should continue to feed him unless you know that the neighbours would feed him but 100% I would never let him in again. he cannot be rusted.

Ostryga · 01/03/2021 22:56

Sudden behaviour changes in cats always result in a vet visit here.

Cats are very good at masking pain/illness, it could be while he was on his back it was too sore and he went for you as a panic reaction. I’d get him see tomorrow.

thefirstmrsrochester · 01/03/2021 23:00

I think the cat needs to go to the vet as uncharacteristic lashing out suggests that the cat is in pain. Please get him back inside, he’s unlikely to launch a further attack. And get him to the vet in the morning. I’m sorry that you were hurt, I hope you are ok as well xxx

calmearth · 01/03/2021 23:02

@wheretonow123

That's awful. I hope the injuries heal quickly.

I would stop letting him in full stop. I think you should continue to feed him unless you know that the neighbours would feed him but 100% I would never let him in again. he cannot be rusted.

Really!? Your solution is the kick him out and abandon him! Lovely.

The cat gave you warning that he didn't like what you were doing. Tail flicking etc. Most cars W oooooh don't appreciate being scooped up and held like a baby.
If he's never shown this type of aggression before then I agree, a vet trip is the best thing. Please don't just kick him out of his home though!

Pieceofpurplesky · 01/03/2021 23:02

Sounds like he is in pin and you touched him where it hurts. Hope you heal well. I have a pouncer - she particularly likes ankles and whatever part is near when she hides on the stairs. She's always been a complete bitch cat - but we love her

calmearth · 01/03/2021 23:03

Oops I have no idea where that W ooooh came from! It should say wouldn't!

PurpleRainDancer · 01/03/2021 23:04

@thefirstmrsrochester

I think the cat needs to go to the vet as uncharacteristic lashing out suggests that the cat is in pain. Please get him back inside, he’s unlikely to launch a further attack. And get him to the vet in the morning. I’m sorry that you were hurt, I hope you are ok as well xxx
This is very good advice.
TaraR2020 · 01/03/2021 23:06

Completely agree with @calmearth.

Op, I know how shocking this was but something was clearly wrong and to react like this he must have felt either very threatened or in pain.

Definitely a vet trip and I won't cradle him as a baby anymore.

A cat's most vulnerable part of its body is it's tummy, I suspect his paw on your face has always been a warning/ a way to keep distance between you and when you moved your head and went 'mmm' he felt threatened and freaked out.

R0llonspring · 01/03/2021 23:10

Oh no, I'm so sorry your cat has done this to you.
We have had our beautiful 10 year old (very long haired, low allergy) Siberian Forest cat since she was 4 months old from her Mum, and apart from being a bit nippy when she was younger and a bit nippy when we are grooming her inevitable knots, she's a peach. Totally loving and a really sociable, friendly cat.

However she sometimes gets eyes like the sharks in 'Finding Nemo' when they smell blood and we know to be very careful handling her. I have always had cats and have had to teach my family when she's 'had enough'

However that said, she attacked me during early lockdown when I found her yowling and distressed that a neighbour's cat was near our back door. I banged the glass to shoo it away, and she attacked me, launched herself round my lower leg and bit and clawed me. It was over before I knew what was going on! I think she thought I was the other cat?! My leg swelled up like a balloon and was hot and throbbing for a week and I had to take 2 courses of antibiotics. The deep wound took months to heal. So I'm sorry your cat behaved so badly, but mine did too and I've known her since she was a kitten. I think it was primal.

Perhaps most importantly - I've since learned that cat's teeth carry a large amount of germs, so my advice to you is bathe your face in salt water and keep a close eye on it. You might need antibiotics.

Thanks

Original poster
marchblues · 01/03/2021 23:11

Thank you all so much

Now that you have said about pain - he scratched his eye tonight and we noticed it looked sore. Do you think he might have lashed out because of pain from that?

And just to confirm he really does like being held like that! He sleeps on our laps in that position, this is the first time he's ever made any sign to make us think otherwise

OP posts:
gamerchick · 01/03/2021 23:11

Cats done generally like to be cradled like a baby OP. He may have tolerated it in the past but stop doing it.

Ignore the advice to abandon him Hmm

He should be going to the vets twice a year for checkups, one of those boosters. When was his last checkup? A check up would be my first call.

Also, watch a bit of my cats from hell on YouTube so you can learn how to look after them properly and how not to treat him.

dementedpixie · 01/03/2021 23:11

Cat tail swooshing is never a happy sign and most cats don't like to be placed on their back with their tummy exposed. Maybe need to learn cat body language and not put you or him in that position again

imalmostthere · 01/03/2021 23:12

I think he reacted as he didn't like what you're doing. The tail flicking is a warning, as is the paw on the chin. When you tilted your head and made a noise he felt threatened like you'd attack. Definitely don't cradle him anymore. I doubt he ever liked it tbh. Pop him up the vets in the morning to make sure he isn't in obvious pain. Hope you feel better and aren't too shaken x

Original poster
marchblues · 01/03/2021 23:13

@R0llonspring

Oh no, I'm so sorry your cat has done this to you. We have had our beautiful 10 year old (very long haired, low allergy) Siberian Forest cat since she was 4 months old from her Mum, and apart from being a bit nippy when she was younger and a bit nippy when we are grooming her inevitable knots, she's a peach. Totally loving and a really sociable, friendly cat.

However she sometimes gets eyes like the sharks in 'Finding Nemo' when they smell blood and we know to be very careful handling her. I have always had cats and have had to teach my family when she's 'had enough'

However that said, she attacked me during early lockdown when I found her yowling and distressed that a neighbour's cat was near our back door. I banged the glass to shoo it away, and she attacked me, launched herself round my lower leg and bit and clawed me. It was over before I knew what was going on! I think she thought I was the other cat?! My leg swelled up like a balloon and was hot and throbbing for a week and I had to take 2 courses of antibiotics. The deep wound took months to heal. So I'm sorry your cat behaved so badly, but mine did too and I've known her since she was a kitten. I think it was primal.

Perhaps most importantly - I've since learned that cat's teeth carry a large amount of germs, so my advice to you is bathe your face in salt water and keep a close eye on it. You might need antibiotics.

Thanks

Thank you! DH was on immediate salt water duty, I've never seen him move so fast tbh Grin
OP posts:
imalmostthere · 01/03/2021 23:14

@marchblues

Thank you all so much

Now that you have said about pain - he scratched his eye tonight and we noticed it looked sore. Do you think he might have lashed out because of pain from that?

And just to confirm he really does like being held like that! He sleeps on our laps in that position, this is the first time he's ever made any sign to make us think otherwise

I honestly think it's due to how you held him, didn't recognise the signs he didn't like it, and tilted your head to make the noise. I think he was frightened. But definitely get the vet to check him, and don't continue to hold him that way x
CausingChaos2 · 01/03/2021 23:15

He definitely needs to go to the vet. Are you willing to take him? Very common for them to lash out uncharacteristically like this when in pain.

Original poster
marchblues · 01/03/2021 23:15

Thanks all, this has definitely given us some thought as to how best to interact with him and hold him in future! Will also be looking out for the warning signs from now on. We won't be leaving him outside but I just needed some space from him while we calmed down.

OP posts:
Stickytreacle · 01/03/2021 23:17

Definitely sounds like a pain reaction, at ten he could be developing arthritis or teeth issues etc.and when you saw he wasn't happy re tail flicking it wasn't the best idea to carry on!
A cat with its belly exposed is very vulnerable, if he had just had a bad experience eg encountering another cat it could also have tipped him over the edge. I'm sure that he will be fine with you but I'd avoid cuddling him like a baby for now. Please don't kick him out, he needs help, not abandoning.

Ostryga · 01/03/2021 23:30

You still need to get a vet appointment tomorrow, there could be something very wrong. You need to get it checked out.

TaraR2020 · 01/03/2021 23:56

@marchblues

Thanks all, this has definitely given us some thought as to how best to interact with him and hold him in future! Will also be looking out for the warning signs from now on. We won't be leaving him outside but I just needed some space from him while we calmed down.
Btw op, putting physical space between you and the cat following an incident like this is a good approach, it gives you both the space you need to deal with the stress without the risk of lashing out on either side.
wheretonow123 · 02/03/2021 07:18

@calmearth, I am not saying abandon him. I am saying don't let him into the house again - well at least for a significant amount of time.

I ask saying this as someone with a cat beside me who inherited us about 7 years ago and is fully part of the family.

This cat is now the 5th cat we have adopted / adopted us over the years and different issues arise over the years. Our first one came in a bit but was generally outside. Our second, another neutered male we fed outside and left it a spot in the garage when it needed refuge. It could be a bit scrappy so we did not let it in. Another cat went back to the neighbours - we hadn't realised it was theirs.

If we had a cat as is described here I think I would revert to allowing it base itself through the garage and continue to feed it and keep an eye out for it. If it shows other symptoms then bring to the vet but we were always mindful of bringing a neighbours cat to the vet.

The assault is quite serious and you could have lost an eye, how could you trust it with young children after that?

Roselilly36 · 02/03/2021 07:46

Our last cat, was a grumpy old thing at times, he would not tolerate being held at all. He would bite your feet, he had lost a few teeth over the years, so it didn’t hurt, but definitely an act of warning, tail flicking was a I’m fed up with this sign too. He was never an affectionate cat at all. He was 18 when sadly he was PTS, still miss him.

Sounds painful OP, I hope none of the wound sites become infected, keep bathing them. I hope you feel better soon.

Stickytreacle · 02/03/2021 09:33

The cat is just being a cat, it doesn't need abandoning to the garage, just treat with a bit more respect and vet checked. I find it irresponsible to turn an animal that is potentially in pain into a cold garage when he has lived happily in the house for so long.

gamerchick · 02/03/2021 10:20

So are you going to take him to a vet? It doesn't sound as if he goes for MOTs.

You got your lugs boxed. Learn cat body language ASAP and wholly ignore garage person who also doesn't seem to know cat body language either.