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

Aggressive female adult indoor cat

8 replies

LabelleLabelle · 31/05/2023 07:13

Hi all
I recently sadly lost my dog and we are all grieving (apart from little cat lol).
Cat and dog were not exactly friends, cat tolerated dog, they didn’t fight. Cat had lots of high places to go and dog was not allowed in some of her rooms so she had safe spaces. Cat can go outside if she wants, she doesn’t tend to leave the garden though.

Cat is an adult spayed female age 10 and I’ve had her since a kitten, and she has always lived with us with another animal (cat/dog) who have both since passed away. This is the first time she’s lived with us on her own, and she is more relaxed affectionate and approachable than she used to be it’s nice to see her obviously happier, so we will not be getting another pet for her sake. I want to make her happy

I’ve had her checked by a vet and she is really healthy apart from she has cat acne all over her chin which they said to leave alone for now. She is scared and aggressive at the vets.

The issue I have with Dcat is that she is aggressive often without warning. Earlier she came onto my bed, purring and rubbing on me, making biscuits so I was petting her behind her ears and she very quickly with no warning or time for me to move, latched onto my arm with both paws and violently sank her teeth into me. I stood up which scared her off, she then just tried to come back for more affection but at this point I had been bitten so I didn’t touch her, she went to sleep all night on my bed right next to me. She clearly does want the company, she had been fed, she is just very reactive and quick to aggression.

I’ve had lots of other cats and some grumpy ones who would put their ears back, flick their tails or even growl, my cat does not do this and will pounce on you.

Feliway is on, but what else can I do regarding aggression? She’s always been like this but I think she asked for less affection when the other pets were around before. Now she has us all to herself she’s loving it but also mad at us!

OP posts:
Whyohwhyohwhy123 · 31/05/2023 07:15

Can you safely let her out in a catio or similar?

LabelleLabelle · 31/05/2023 07:23

Whyohwhyohwhy123 · 31/05/2023 07:15

Can you safely let her out in a catio or similar?

I don’t have a catio specially, she likes to sit in the garden though we let her out multiple times a day to sit there. She always comes back when you call her in. Sometimes she has climbed up the fence and then panicked and got stuck but generally she will roll around on the ground or explore or just sit there.

OP posts:
coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 31/05/2023 07:27

Can she get out of your garden to wander?

I have nothing against indoor cats (mine are indoor) as long as there are no behavioural problems being caused by it.

I would say your cat needs to be a "cat" - does she have toys? Do you play with her and hunt with her? What about interactive feeders?

OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 31/05/2023 07:57

I will be honest it just sounds like a cat! Most cats I have had will be all loving and then savage the shit out of an arm or hand. Cats gonna cat!

Distract if you can with wand toys etc..... but to me this os quite normal.

LabelleLabelle · 31/05/2023 07:59

OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 31/05/2023 07:57

I will be honest it just sounds like a cat! Most cats I have had will be all loving and then savage the shit out of an arm or hand. Cats gonna cat!

Distract if you can with wand toys etc..... but to me this os quite normal.

I’ve never had one this aggressive! I think I was lucky before! I worry she’s not happy.

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 31/05/2023 08:12

This is exactly how my parents 'indoor' cat behaved. Thy let him out a few months after adopting him. And he's much happier. He still has the odd moment. But Is much calmer. According the the cattery, he gets aggressive of higher up than you are.

LabelleLabelle · 31/05/2023 08:50

She gets bullied by some local toms so I don’t think she wants to go out very far. She is tiny (but fiesty)
I don’t know how she would feel being in an enclosure

OP posts:
Allergictoironing · 31/05/2023 17:27

It sounds to me like she's just getting over stimulated by all the fuss & cuddles, and is reacting like she would have as a kitten. Usually the mother teaches them how far they can go, but if she was taken away a bit young then she may never have learned when to stop.

As you suggest, you're probably just noticing it more now because she's getting fuss more often, plus maybe each session is lasting a bit longer so more chance of over stimulation. I would probably try doing as you did - every time she bites or claws stop the fussing & move away, then go back when she's had the chance to calm down. Hopefully with time she will settle when she gets a bit more used to not having to share you!

You may also want to watch some Jackson Galaxy on YouTube; he is the God of cat behaviourists!

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