Aggressive cat

[Onebabyandamadcat]

I'm looking for some advice. We rehomed my DCat four years ago from the SSPCA. They reckoned he was about six months old at that point. He's very much part of our family and I love him to bits.

However, for the past three years, he's been attacking me for no apparent reason. He will stalk me and lash out. I can't have bare feet or legs without him attacking. The bites can be really hard and I've got scars from some of the deeper ones.

He leaves my DH alone and is generally very tolerant of DD (2) though I don't leave them alone as she is quite rough with him. That said, the most he's ever done to my DD is a soft warning bite after she has tried to hug him or chased him (obviously I stop this as soon as I see it)

I've had him at the vet numerous times but they can't find anything wrong with him and to be fair I don't think it's physical as why would it only be directed to me?

I've resorted to having to walk around with a spray bottle to try to keep him away but even this isn't working anymore. I love our cat and the last thing I want to do is re-home him but I also can't spend the next decade of my life being stalked around my home. Any suggestions?

I think it’s play, my departed boy would stalk me in the garden & leap out.

He definitely sees you as a playmate doesn’t he?. Do you play with him a lot?.

I do play with him but I've been really strict since we got him that we don't play using hands etc.if biting started the play stopped. My husband plays with him much more than me and he doesn't do this to him.

The attacks can come out of nowhere too, not just during play. Do you think that's him trying to initiate play?

Probably, it’s what they do to each other to initiate play & it’s quite rough but when your both covered in fur it’s not painful. Unfortunately your bald all over & claws really hurt. I reckon if you keep a fishing rod toy around you can distract him with it or chuck a cat nip mouse at him to bunny kick.

If you dab neat tea tree oil on cat scratches it takes the pain right down. That’s my top tip as an ex Bengal owner.

Don't use a spray bottle, it will put him more on edge and make him more reactive.

I would opt for distraction, so every time you encounter him throw a treat or a toy (whatever his preference is). Mine is a biter and fishing rods/lasers are a no go as she just goes straight for hands and they are mega stimulating for her.

Does he have toys that satisfy his need to bite? Kong do a great range of dental cat toys and mine loves the caterpillar.

Thanks for the advice @viper I'll look into the Kong toys!

This is the one, it took a while for my cat to take to it but she loves it now (and has 2!).

My cat had that Kong toy but destroyed it pretty quickly!

Have you tried a stern ‘no’? It’s going to be tough now it’s such an established pattern of behaviour.

Or perhaps a body cream with citrus in it?

My cat sees me as more of a playmate than my partner, even though my partner plays with him more. I take it as a compliment but my cat isn’t aggressive (except with Kong toys and the like).