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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

Cats become violent.

21 replies

Gingerbiscuit22 · 23/03/2016 14:52

Hi all

We adopted a cat back in August, he is an older cat, will be 13 this year, when we got him we ensured that he was okay with children as I was pregnant at the time. We had our baby in January and the cat was okay up until a couple of weeks ago, now he has started to become violent, luckily not towards the baby, just towards me and my partner. Was just wondering if anyone has experienced this or if anyone has any advice on how I can get him to become less violent?
Thanks

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 23/03/2016 14:54

What has changed in that timeframe? And how/when does this 'violence' manifest?

Original poster

Gingerbiscuit22 · 23/03/2016 15:43

Nothing has changed at all, and the attacks are unprovoked and completely out of the blue. You could be sat near him and he will just go for you.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 23/03/2016 15:52

Well something is wrong with his life.

It could be the new baby even though matters seemed to be going fine at first. I'm assuming he's neutered but does he go outside? And when was his last vet check?

lavenderdoilly · 23/03/2016 15:56

Google Jackson Galaxy a US cat behaviourist - from what I can remember, he'd suggest lots of playtime (flying frenzy ) and safe spots in the house where he can get out of the way and observe - like a shelf.

lavenderdoilly · 23/03/2016 15:58

And cozie is right (as always ) he could be sore some where but, like all cats, that's for him to know and you to find out.

Original poster

Gingerbiscuit22 · 23/03/2016 16:16

He is neutered and does go outside. He was last at the vets in December as he was hit by a car and had some leg problems. He has plenty of safe places, and has free reign of the house during the day so he can escape from the baby. It's just started happening out of the blue. He seems well and doesn't seem to be hurt in any way.

OP posts:

lavenderdoilly · 23/03/2016 16:20

Play to tire him out and channel aggression. Kicker toys are good as well as flying frenzy. Watching them go for it kicking with back legs is fab.

Fluffycloudland77 · 23/03/2016 16:33

I'd suspect pain, it's the same in people. Big causes of challenging behaviour in humans are hunger, pain and tiredness.

Panadbois · 23/03/2016 16:56

I had this problem. My cat was my baby. Until we had a foster child stay with us. The jealousy was awful and I couldn't trust the cat in the same room as the FC.
I asked for help from the vet and was advised to use Feliway. (Didn't work)
I tried to rehome but nobody would take the badly behaved cat.
I know that of the cat had been a dog, the vet would have insisted on pts.

Sorry, no help at all, just sharing my sympathy and experience.

(My cat was hit by a car and sadly died I cried buckets full regardless of behaviour)

cozietoesie · 23/03/2016 17:20

I'd at least want to clear possible pain out of the way as a factor. Especially as he was hit by a car and had some leg problems pretty recently. (It might not be a single thing of course but if he's sore and grumpy with it, the added stress of a newcomer to the household might just get too much for him at times.)

I think I'd vet him in the first instance, telling the vet the various circumstances and behaviours.

cozietoesie · 23/03/2016 17:23

PS - cats are past masters at covering up pain or distress. Oftentimes, the only way you can tell something is up with them is through changed behaviour.

lljkk · 23/03/2016 17:34

What do you mean go for you, does he leap on you with claws out hissing?
We have one who used to swipe with claws if you just stopped to talk to him, or put a hand within reach. We have love-bombed him out of that, thank goodness. Still swipes a bit, though. No idea how he was abused previously, poor daft thing.

MadamDeathstare · 23/03/2016 17:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cozietoesie · 23/03/2016 18:02

Strewth!

ChildlessAndOK · 23/03/2016 18:23

My cat does this!!! And I've no kids no nothing. He'll come for a fuss. I'll pet him then he will have his teeth in me and only a flick of water will get him off me!!
Some nights he's woken me up biting me.
No clue why he does it, he only does it to me.
No help, just some empathy!!
X

cozietoesie · 23/03/2016 18:28

Seniorboy used to bite my mother when he lived with her - I suspect it was mainly an attention thing but she was lousy at discipline anyway. No consistency of approach.

Fluffycloudland77 · 23/03/2016 18:31

I bet she was with you though!.

Our cats had an option at dinner. I'd only known eat it or starve.

MadamDeathstare · 23/03/2016 18:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

abbsismyhero · 23/03/2016 18:57

i agree a vet check is the first place to go followed by feliway and catnip

fwiw i had two cats when i first had a child they loved my daughter hated when she was out of the house one would be in the hedge at the front of the house till she came home then he would come in! when she was ill dcat2 would be right next to her when she cried in the night dcat1 would land on me to wake me up dig me out of bed and escort me to her room

Fluffycloudland77 · 23/03/2016 19:16

Just in case you were planning to ignore her?

DramaAlpaca · 23/03/2016 19:21

I agree completely with what cozie and others have said & get him checked over by the vet. There could be some residual pain issues, especially after being hit by a car a few months ago, or given his age maybe a bit of arthritis setting in.

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