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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

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

76 replies

retainertrainer · 19/05/2017 10:25

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!

OP posts:

Silencio · 21/05/2017 20:13

little bit brain damaged possibly

winglesspegasus · 21/05/2017 20:22

magnificent beasties

big boy is 1yr old mainecoon manx
tiny(4lb)callie is 11
she was poisoned when a baby, never grew much
but is, after years of recovering a cuddly little monster
the mcm is mommas boy
as for the stealth attacks
if you watch cats play together you will see the same behavior
so like dogs you are part of the "pack"
and yes you are being scolded when petting tooooo much
also remember animals age like us.
they have points on thier bodies that have beeen injured at another time and hurt as they age.
this is very true with rescues/ex..a pulled leg muscle and even after it heals they never want anything to touch it/dont assume you know what all your cat has hurt.
also just because its an indoor cat dont think they dont get into trouble.
my callie(Boudica)had balance problems for years after the poisoning.
she was always falling off things.i got quite good at catching her.
the manx climbed into an engine compartment of a truck,
i think!! found him with his left side "shaved"by the fan
hair off one ear ,side and leg
the left leg is still a bit weaker than the rest.
when hes older it will probably bother him.
DH said that cats were aliens.he adored them
fell in love with the guy when father of current male climbed into his lap(all39lbs) curled up and went to sleep purring like a steam engine.
Dh fell asleep too with cat in the lap...

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

winglesspegasus · 21/05/2017 20:28

get some cheap white vinager and pour on porch when you know cat is most likely to appear
they hate it as a rule
worked great for male constantly spraying our door.
no it wont hurt them they hate the smell.
and it sanitizes your porch.just rinse when drama is over
reapply when necessary
been dealing with cats since i was born
mum raised lilac siamese long before me

Peanutbutterfingers · 21/05/2017 22:42

As soon as ds starts getting ready for bed, bastardcat scoots under the bed and waits for him to try and get in so he can attack... In our house you never let your hand or foot drop off side of bed because of the bastardcat underneath.

But when I read in bed he comes and sits on my chest and gently but insistently headbutts my kindle out of the way so he can get a fuss. He wakes me up in the morning by pushing his head into my hand to get a stroke.

But then yes viciously attacks if I pet too long without getting up and providing breakfast

Polyethyl · 21/05/2017 22:49

Surely this is part of the joy of having a cat.
Judging the perfect amount of stroking.... seeing the tail begin to flick..... judging whether you dare risk one more stroke. Going for it because they're just SO strokeable. Then extracting your hand before you start to bleed.
It's part of the game.

LineysRun · 21/05/2017 22:53

I have a catbastard and getting flea treatment on her is a three person job. With gauntlets and aprons.

GertyTheGert · 21/05/2017 22:55

Another little tip is to have one of those wands handy - with feathers/a toy attached - so that you can wave it about a bit to use up her excess energy (swipes!) then she will prob LUV your cuddles!

tireddotcom72 · 21/05/2017 23:04

Our new kitten does this she loves cuddles and purrs and ours but then decides to kill our hands as soon as she starts we swap hand for one of her toys let her beat that up in her crazy moment then when she is all calm back on knee for cuddles. She would quite happily spend all day sat on your knee despite rescue lady saying she was nervy and didn't like people!

LisaMed1 · 21/05/2017 23:47

Evil cat was like this. I remember a visitor living dangerously and giving her a cuddle. She had adorable, thick, soft fur.

"She'll go for you any second." I said.
"No, she's fine, she's loving... ow!!!!"

This was the cat that once needed three vetinary nurses to get a blood sample.

I miss the psychopathic monster

iloveeverykindofcat · 22/05/2017 07:07

I have two. One, though not the brightest tool in the shed, has never scratched or bitten me in her life. Once she trusts you, you can stroke her forever. Her mother was a prizewinning Abyssinian queen, so her genetics are for looks and temperemant, not brains or cat functionality. She couldn't hunt or look after herself to save her life. The other is a clever, feisty ex-stray who loves a fuss but will flip to YES! FIGHTING TIME! without warning for those who don't know how to read her body language. It's playful not aggressive but her play is very rough.

SleightOfHand · 22/05/2017 08:46

I put the spot on flea treatment on when he's asleep, quickly!
Not sure where I heard this tip but it was to wrap them in a towel to put ear drops in, all swaddled up so their paws can't get loose. I've not tried it yet, I should imagine you'd have to have the towel quite firmly wrapped, I can just see a rough claw getting out.

Gabilan · 22/05/2017 08:47

My two were feral until they were 8mths old. Despite being litter mates and having always been together one is much more feral than the other. It took her about a year to work out that humans are tactile and can feel if you run up their leg like a tree trunk. * She's gentler now she's worked that out. I'm very gentle and quiet around them but that did make me howl. I still however won't attempt any veterinary treatments. I think she'd be so stressed she'd need a sedative for any contact with someone other than me.

I know some cats know this and carry on regardless. This was different though. It was as if she thought I was like a chair or a tree and was genuinely puzzled by the leaping and screaming. She just had no experience of humans and hadn't worked out early on what we are and how we function.

Fiona1984 · 22/05/2017 09:03

Want2beme I wonder if it's a tuxedo thing. My tuxedo girl who I sadly lost recently loved laying on my bed and being stroked, but too much and she would hiss and growl at me. She never hurt me though. She was all noise.
I have a little black cat that will bite me affectionately. He just puts his teeth around my wrist, no malice in it at all.

Kokusai · 22/05/2017 09:03

Not sure where I heard this tip but it was to wrap them in a towel to put ear drops in, all swaddled up so their paws can't get loose

Yeah we used to do that with our old fistey cats to get flat treatment or anything on them.

Had to swaddle my kitten to wash paint off his paw.

SleightOfHand · 22/05/2017 09:30

Glad it worked for you.
I dread having to do this though, my car is so big and strong, he's a bit scary

SleightOfHand · 22/05/2017 09:31

*cat

AliceBanned · 22/05/2017 10:25

We have a giant grumpy tom cat. He randomly attacks me for no reason whatsoever. I am quietly sitting at the computer, minding my own business, when a ton weight of teeth and claws suddenly lands on my back! I do think he is trying to 'play' and DH thinks it's hilarious but it really hurts and is not funny. I can only relax now in the same room as him when I can actually see him, so have turned my desk/chair, so he can't creep up on me! We've had him from a kitten and always treated him like he owns the place well, but he's never been keen on anyone picking him up or fussing him. The only time you can really stroke him is when he knows you are about to get his breakfast or tea - then he's all headbutting and winding round your ankles. We do love him but he is a total unpredictable basketcase. I agree with an earlier poster to watch for dilating pupils in normal light levels, it's a real sign and our cat draws his head back as if he's trying to get a better view of you before he strikes - reminds me of a cobra! I have a cobra cat! So I think you are quite lucky to be able to pet your cat at all.

loobylou10 · 22/05/2017 10:34

My cat does exactly the same as this - we affectionately call him ASBO!

LisaMed1 · 22/05/2017 12:41

Evil cat was evil.

Towards the end of her life she was given meds that made a massive difference to her quality of life, was still too frail to travel to the vet and needed a blood sample taken every three months.

This meant every three months a vet came to us. At first they brought a nurse and towels, which were ineffective and two vet practitioners got nailed every time. Eventually our lovely next door neighbour came round wearing welding gloves and so it was just the vet that came and got nailed. Evil cat drew blood every time. I used to buy a box of roses before the visit because I knew the vets were coming into a live war zone and I felt bad for them.

So for those with 'spirited' or 'feisty' pets - I recommend welding gloves and at least two people wearing them.

msrisotto · 22/05/2017 12:43

She's become over stimulated, stop stroking. Cats often like being stroked but not too much.

tabbymog · 22/05/2017 12:55

I'm a mad cat lady, and this is the mad cat, taken this morning. He's my dominant, bully cat, he's taken pieces out of my hand today, and I love him to bits.

He's been a tad sniffly over the weekend but it hasn't stopped him bring in mice. His coat's a bit raggy too, he'll be off to the vet if he's not better by tomorrow. That'll be fun.

Kokusai · 22/05/2017 12:56

@SleightOfHand
Two people are better. One to swaddle and hold firmly the other to administer whatever it is you need to administer.

I remember a visitor living dangerously and giving her a cuddle.

Yeah one of our old boys had the most inviting ginger fluffy tummy. Trouble was he was a vicious bastard and there was no way in hell you could touch his tummy. You couldn't even pick him up without being savaged.

Anyway he was lying on my bed, purring, showing off his tummy.
"aw, how nice" said a visitor as she put he head down to his tummy to kiss him.
"NO, STOP!"

tabbymog · 22/05/2017 12:56

PS. He's enjoying playing in the carboard packing boxes from the move, I can't get rid of it fast enough.

SleightOfHand · 22/05/2017 16:02

Two people are better. One to swaddle and hold firmly the other to administer whatever it is you need to administer. Yes that's it. I usually have to do these things on my own, so I try and lock him in with my knees then my hands are free.

LisaMed1 · 22/05/2017 19:06

Kokusai Psychocat, our old tom, was a complete psycho but not dangerous if you left him alone. Perhaps just as well as he was an extremely large tom, neutered late (not our fault), massive claws and lots of muscle. Some daft bint barrelled into the house and leant over him, shrieking how cute he was and trying to give him a third degree cuddle.

She needed plasters but not bandages, psycho wasn't as bad as evil cat.

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