Why is my cat purring one minute then trying to kill me the next?

[retainertrainer]

What goes through her head? She'll come up to me for a fuss,I'll gently stroke her,she purrs-this goes on for a couple of minutes and then she'll suddenly flip out on me,clench my hand in her jaws and do that rabbit kick thing with her back legs. It really hurts! She really means it! I have to get her by the scruff to get her off me.

For background she's a rescue cat,2 years old,found in a log shed as a baby. Her mum was lovely,very placid. I'm guessing this is her feral fathers side!

Does she want to play? Some cats are just mad.

It doesn't feel playful it feels like she's genuinely trying to kill my hand. I think she's a bit unhinged!

My mum used to have a cat very similar to yours, she'd be fine and friendly then turn! When she was nice she was lovely but when not she was scary!! Could it be that she's trying to play but doesn't realise she's hurting?

My last but one rescue at was the same for the first four years we had her. Eventually she settled down and stopped doing it to me as I was her favourite. Anyone else was still fair game though😁
It's not unusual amongst the cats I know, especially females.

Google petting aggression. The theory is they get over stimulated Nd can't tell you to stop any other way. The key is to stop before it happens. There's usually signs likes ears going back or tail swishing.

Keeping petting to the head,, distraction with toys may help.

That's normal. Cats are bastards :o

I've had cats all my life and love them btw.

Because it is an animal and not a human being able to learn the social niceties of human existence.

Thanks for the replies.

Eating-that's really interesting.

I'll try keeping the petting very short,before she gets chance to lose her shit!

Yes definitely watch the ears, once they start going back you're going to get nipped.

We have one like that at the moment, she'll come over for a chat, you get bitten if you're not paying her enough attention and bitten if you're giving her too much attention. It's a hair's breadth between the two states. She's beginning to learn that biting leads to cross humans and no cuddles and she looks pissed off with herself when she does bite, but she can't help herself.

Yes definitely watch the ears, once they start going back you're going to get nipped

And the tail starts to flick as well... and if you are observant you can see the skin start to 'ripple'...

Mind you, I've got it wrong and been bitten because I stopped too early, so you just never know.

Our cat does this. It is one of the reasons he is affectionately known as CatBastard.

He is currently sitting at the front door, waiting to be let in. The back door is open (and even if it weren't, it has a cat flap), but he is just too bloody lazy to walk round.

Google petting aggression - its like the cats wants it, wants it, wants it, wants it TOOOOO MUCH GET OFFF NOW

Can't they just walk off though,no need to draw blood!

She's just the weirdest cat who's ever lived with us.

She suckles on my dressing gown for an hour at a time,padding at it and purring then the next minute she's spitting at you for daring to walk past her. I love her soooo much!

Oh and she can't possibly drink out of her water bowl,she instead knocks over any drinking vesicle left unattended and laps it up.

Well yes. You've definitely adopted a cat and not a puppy.

My cat just tries to kill me permanently apart from 3am when she just NEEDS a 1 minute cuddle

Sounds like my kitten. We're still getting to know her. It's puzzling sometimes. I love her to bits though!

My cat used to skulk under the bed lying in wait for it's prey ( my ankles ) and would pounce and attack she would also lay on my pillow at night and play with my hair all lovingly one minute then be bopping and biting my head the next. I love cats!

That is my 7 year old boy cat. He seems to love doing the bitey, rabbit-kick thing when moments earlier was enjoying a stroke.

He also hisses at me and lunges for my ankles when I don't allow him into DS1's room for a nap.

And don't get me started on the meowing for food when he has a choice of both wet and dry food in his bowls. Annoying little shit (I love him really)

I have a tuxedo like that. He's nearly 20 and a contrary old sod.

Cats are bonkers!

Cats have very subtle body language. You have to really tune in to them. They give little cues that they've had enough petting before they panic and lash out. It took us a while to understand my parents' rescue cat, but now we know she wants about 3 strokes on the head and then for you to withdraw!

Want-he is a beauty! I love his eye brows!

I was speaking to a cat behaviourist at a lecture last week as my cat nips after a bit of fussing. She advised to count how many strokes before she bites then in future only stroke her for say 5 strokes if she bites after 6 or you could try having a toy handy and exchanging hand for toy as soon as you see her turn.

Here's the little horror-butter wouldn't melt!