Cat launches fierced & unprovoked attack on owner - what should we do?

[flobbleflobble]

My dad's cat attacked him in the garden the other day. This was an unprovoked attack and was very aggressive. So much so that it has occured to my dad to consider having her put to sleep - which he would not do lightly.

The cat is normally a softy lap cat indoors, although she will scratch if she has had enough. She is a good hunter and regularly catches big animals like squirrels and rabbits. The cat is a large neutered female, age 2, and my dad has had her from a kitten with no trouble until this week when she viciously attacked both my dad and his brother in the garden on seperate occaisions.

Has anyone heard of a cat attacking a human like this? It seems very ambitious for a cat to attack anything as big as a human and I have never heard of it. The cat was not defending food or kittens (just territory?) and was not cornered or anything.

Can anyone offer any advice/insight? The cat may well have to be put down if these attacks continue as they are very aggresive attacks.

would this be any help?

Thanks lou33 - this behaiour falls into the category "For the Rare Cat Whose Attacks are Unprovoked and Extremely Violent" but it is hard to know what action to take because the attacks were outside & unexpected - and so violent that advice not to move when attacked would be impossible to follow because the victim needs to get the cat off at fast as possible to avoid more injury!

there is this as well

and this (4th question down)

Lou33 you really are so helpful - and fast at replying with links as well!
The 2nd article seems to suggest that dangerous cats are hard to retrain - and my dad is not the type to stick with a behaviour midification programme - and he is 80 so he's not going to change.

I guess we will just have to wait and see if there are any more attacks - but my dad is really upset that the cat who he dotes on has savaged him like this

Has your dad taken the cat to the vet to check that she isn't ill or injured in some way? Pain will cause most animals to become aggressive and may be the reason for her unusual behaviour.

My cat once really went for me, I took him to the vet to find out that he had terrible teeth, and almost all had to be removed. He was much happier after

I did wonder if she was ill/injured - no obvious signs though - I will tell my Dad to keep a close eye on her for this though

For a normally docile cat to suddenly attack and cause real harm is unusual. I doubt that it is a sign of things to come though - probably just a one off.

Firstly, I would wonder if the cat is ill or injured. Secondly, was there another cat around that your dad didn't see? i.e. was the cat wound up and ready to fight another cat and your dad got in the way? Lastly, was the cat play fighting with your dad and it went too far? (this happens with my DH and our cat a lot!)

We had a true violent cat when I was a child - attacked everyone all the time. But he did calm down and improve a lot with a lot of soaking with a water pistol when he was bad.

Also, you might want to check out the Cats Protection and see if they have any advice. www.cats.org.uk They may also be able to rehome the cat if necessary.

Sus, x

ill
bet it has a bite