Usually gentle cat has suddenly attacked

[Castiron12]

Hello, not really sure what I’m looking for here just a bit of advice as to how to deal with this / if this has happened to anyone?!

Our usually lovely gentle boy (2 year old tabby - has been neutered) … will sleep in with us, lap cat, really cuddly never once been aggressive has suddenly attacked me tonight for no reason and it’s really upset & worried me!

He usually sleeps in bed with us all night curled up by our feed will sometimes come up & purr for cuddles etc has never been an issue. Earlier on today I briefly had to lock his cat flap manually which I never usually do but he kept trying to jump into the delivery boxes of our shopping delivery so I quickly locked the cat flap then forgot to unlock it again.
He didn’t notice at the time as this was about 9pm and he usually is in at that time and let’s himself out around 4am (we usually don’t even notice he just quietly leaves our room and takes himself outside and comes back for breakfast)

Anyway fast forward to 4am(ish) today and I’m woken to the sound of a loud meow usually meaning he wants something and I quickly realise he’s unable to get out as I forgot to unlock the cat flap.
I follow him downstairs in the dark, and he’s sat calmly by the door patiently waiting. I unlock the latch, turn and head back up to bed expecting him to let himself out.
however as I turned around, he ran after me and pounced onto my leg attacking it - not a playful bite really digging his teeth into my skin to the point where I had to actually physically shake him off me. I ran away and he then chased me up the stairs and then attacks me a further 2 times once on my leg and once on my arm. Again I cry out and shake him off, then he just walked off and took himself outside. I have attached a picture to show you what I mean he’s really dug into me!

This is SO out of character for him. I know it sounds stupid but it’s really upset me! Has this happened to anyone else’s normally really placid cat? Any advice on dealing with it or why this may have happened?!

thnk you in advance x

You've said yourself he was accidentally locked in and his routine disrupted. He may well have been stressed.

Like pp I think he was just probably stressed tbh. If it continues take him to the vet. My 6byear old neutered male has taken to hissing at me at any available opportunity for no reason. Cats are weirdos op. They don't need a reason to be an arsehole !

6 year old*

😂😂 that is very true I don’t think they often need an excuse - was just so unlike him!

If it's really out of character I would possibly schedule a vet check to make sure he's not in pain or something.

One of mine is really placid and if he attacked like that I'd be really worried something was wrong as it's so out of character. The 7yo on the other hand is a feisty little shit so it wouldn't worry me in the slightest if it came from him

Probably desperate for a poo! Bet you won't forget to unlock his cat flap again

On a serious note I would get him checked at the vets if he still isn't himself today. He could be in pain or feeling ill.

That is what I was wondering! I did a bit of online research and saw that it could be a sign of pain. I’m not usually taking him down to the vet for every little thing but he is honestly the calmest friendliest cat I’ve ever had (and I’ve had many!) I’m no stranger to a little cat outburst but not with him! So that does make me wonder, as it is extremely out of character

The only time boy cat ever hisses or swipes at us if if we're stopping him doing something he's not supposed to do 😒

I have a tabby - he's a dickhead if he wants to go out and complete his boundary patrol and we say no. He does act aggressive then. I read somewhere tabby's are the most territorial of cats

Haha you’re absolutely right I’ve certainly learned my lesson about forgetting to unlock the catflap again!😂
thats interesting about Tabbys!!
I think I will keep an eye on him today and his behaviour/whether he’s eating etc and then get him checked out if it carries on. I feel like wearing shin pads today out of fear😂

If he has bitten you deeply enough to draw blood you probably should speak to a Dr OP.

My gentle cat bit me whilst at the vets & when I phoned to check my tetanus status the nurse said I need a strong course of antibiotics due to the certain bacteria's in a cat's mouth being quite dangerous for a really bad deep infection

He really really wanted a wee!

My total softy will attack if something frightens her (which could be something not actually scary), you missing her cues such as getting her overstimulated, changing her vitally important routine such as we sat on the wrong chair and definitely if another cat is about- which we may not be able to hear.

After a few mishaps we are now fairly good at speaking cat and spotting a subtle warning.