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

Original poster

Why did my cat suddenly attack me for no apparent reason?

21 replies

Spangles1963 · 19/08/2017 18:20

We took her in as stray when she was about 4 or 5 months old,she is now about 4. She has always been a touch on the feisty side,which I put down to having a bit of a rough start in life. She has NEVER sat on mine,or anyone else's lap,but she is very affectionate in other ways and always greets me with numerous head bonks,drooling and kneading. But last night she attacked my leg quite badly. I was petting her and she gave me a gentle bite on the side of my hand as she frequently does,it doesn't hurt. Then she suddenly whipped round,lunged at my leg and dug her claws in,then sunk her teeth in! She wouldn't let go when I shouted at her and I had to 'scruff' her to get her off me. She then ran and hid,leaving me with a bleeding leg and several claw puntures. She was back half an hour later,all affectionate. Why on earth did she turn on me like this? She has never done this to me before. I would add that she is a mainly indoor cat (I live in a second floor flat on a busy road but with a balcony she has access to) and she has been neutered.

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PestoSwimissimos · 19/08/2017 18:25

I have one rescue cat that does this. I think he does it when he's had enough, so we don't pet him for overly long.

Ollivander84 · 19/08/2017 18:26

Pain somewhere? I touched mine on the shoulder and he yelled at me which he never does. The vet looked bemused when I said "he yelled" but he had a massive abscess on his shoulder. A less tolerant cat would definitely have attacked!

Original poster
Spangles1963 · 19/08/2017 18:33

Pesto I did wonder about that,as she can be a bit stroppy if you overdo the fussing,but I'd only be stroking her for about a minute! Ollivander I must admit that that hadn't occured to me. I will keep a close eye on her and if she does it again,I'll contact the vet.

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PestoSwimissimos · 19/08/2017 18:39

It's difficult, I've had our cat checked at the vets and there's no obvious reason for it. He just does it from time to time. We all know to be wary of him because he can so suddenly 'turn'.

TeaStory · 19/08/2017 18:41

Are you pregnant?

NickMyLipple · 19/08/2017 18:42

Is she a tortie?

paradoxicalInterruption · 19/08/2017 18:47

Google petting aggression. It means they've had enough" it's tricky to deal with and you gave to be very aware of the signs they've had enough.

Worth vet check though just to check he's not got a bite wound that is bothering him .

SleightOfHand · 19/08/2017 18:50

Ours is not to question why cat is cat Grin

Nah, our rescue cat did this, he's stopped it now though, not sure why.
Does your cat have chance to work off excess energy.

Ollivander84 · 19/08/2017 18:50

It's just with her having never done it before which is a bit odd. Stable cat goes from loving you to smacking you around the face with her claws, but that's perfectly normal Hmm behaviour for her. In fact if she was quiet, I would think she was unwell Grin

Original poster
Spangles1963 · 19/08/2017 18:51

No,definitely not pregnant (I'm 54 and post-menopause!). No, she's no not a tortie,she's jet black all over.

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Original poster
Spangles1963 · 19/08/2017 18:54

She's certainly not behaving as if she is unwell in any way. Eating normally and pestering me for food,washing, playing and charging up and down the communal stairs about 15 times every evening as usual.

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Hulder · 19/08/2017 18:55

One of mine would do this. She could suddenly turn into sinking her teeth in when we had been having a lovely petting session. I think it was when she became overwhelmed. After a while I started to know when she was likely to do it and would call a halt before things came too much for her.

Original poster
Spangles1963 · 19/08/2017 19:17

I think she's just trying to show me who's boss. Grin

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Janika · 19/08/2017 19:19

Are you dressed up as a nice juicy mouse?

TentUpFirstBunkUpLater · 19/08/2017 19:22

Its normal, the cat gets fed up with the touching/pawing but cannot say to you 'Please stop, I have had enough' the only way is to react as she did.

She was all touched out.

My cat does it and I now know the look on her boat when she has had enough

mastfest · 19/08/2017 20:12

I read somewhere cats can do this when something else has pissed them off and they take it out on you, e.g. They see a cat in the garden they can't attack so they go for you instead.

Fluffycloudland77 · 20/08/2017 07:51

Is she spayed?

Original poster
Spangles1963 · 20/08/2017 16:48

Fluffycloud - yes,she is spayed,had it done within a week of adopting her.

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Weedsnseeds1 · 20/08/2017 21:50

I think I would view the gentle bite on the side of the hand as a bit of a heavy hint from now on!

Botanicbaby · 20/08/2017 23:51

'I was petting her and she gave me a gentle bite on the side of my hand as she frequently does,it doesn't hurt. '

spangles, this part of your post stood out to me and as PP said to take the gentle bite as a warning.

she must have had enough of being petted and hard as it is for us to resist the urge, we have to think of it from their perspective.

It may be that you have done this before and she didn't go any further other than a gentle bite, they have no other way to express to you they are being petted too much and this is an instinctive reaction that they display, I am not certain they realise how much it hurts us tbh.

As an indoor cat, does she have enough stimulation as that can be a factor too although i definitely think the gentle bite means time to stop.

Original poster
Spangles1963 · 21/08/2017 17:19

Yes,I think I will take the gentle bite on my hand as a warning sign from now on!

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