Cat attacks guests

[sweetrevenge0]

Sorry in advance, this will probably be long.

My cat (I’ll call him B) is 1 and a half, we’ve had him since he was around 12 weeks old. B only really likes the people who he’s closest to, (me, partner, and 2 step kids altho he loves me the most, I always say it’s cos I’m his mother) He is neutered and an indoor cat. When we first got B we lived in a small flat, and he seemed okay with guests, I had my sister to stay a lot, my dad and mum would visit, he’d be absolutely fine. When B was around 6 months old, we moved into a house, it’s here when I started noticing B was acting off. (He wasn’t neutered at the time) when anyone aside from the kids, me and my partner would be in the house, he’d hiss and attack, and even if I’d try and go near him and calm him down he would attack me, and I mean wrap around my leg holes in trousers attack, I’d never seen anything like it before (although he only every did this once) said guest would leave the house, and he would be the most loving boy to me again. We got him neutered not long after this in hopes to calm him down (which it did a bit!!) and we also recently got a kitten who I’ll call W who is now 5 months old, and they’re best friends, I thought he would hate her but they’re best friends, so I thought maybe he was lonely. Anyway I’ve had guest come over - same thing, attacks, hisses, really goes scary!! I’ve started putting him in the spare room if I have someone over cos he’s drawn blood a few times now! Is there anything I can do to help this? When guests come over I tell them to just ignore him which they do and Sometimes he will ignore them too but other times he will come up to them and try to attack (he did this to my midwife once!!) does he just hate anyone that isn’t his immediate family? What’s weird is the only person except us who he loves is my dad, he’s the only person except us he will willingly go up to and demands pets and scratches & my dad doesn’t even visit often. Do you think this is something I can fix or is it just the way my boy is? He is such a sweet loving boy, who’s very loved and spoilt, but I don’t really have guests over anymore as I don’t like stressing B out and I also don’t want to stress guests out with a vicious cat, (I hate saying that cos right now he’s lying on me purring and cuddling me) just not sure if there’s something I can help him with!

*he is not in pain, has had vet checks, and I can not let him or W out due to where we live

Sorry for weird font, I typed this in my notes then copied it here

Just to add, I'm currently pregnant, and very worried he will be like this with a new baby which is why I'm desperate to try and help him/fix the situation if I can

Hissing and aggression in cats is generally fear based - he's scared.

I would just keep him away from guests if he's drawing blood.

Maybe because he's an indoor cat he is very protective over his territory. I have three cats similar age, mine go outdoors, they have an enormous amount of energy and curiosity. Is he getting enough stimulation?

@andrainwillmaketheflowersgrow I know he's scared I just wish I could help him and show him he doesn't need to be, I do keep him away and I have done for months now, I just feel so bad for him!

@TickingOfAClock that's what my partner says, he's very protective. Yes he gets lots of stimulation, either me or the kids are constantly playing with him, or he's always running around with W / lots of toys / cat trees etc

My parents cat was supposed to be indoors. He could turn very aggressive with no warning. They let him out and it it solved the problem. He's now back to being indoors again due to a house move and has been absolutely fine.

Maybe he's over-stimulated? Does he properly calm down at all? Does he have lots of places to escape to? Can he get away from the kitten at all?

The easiest way to deal with fearful cats is to just leave them alone.

He's honestly not missing out by having to be kept away from guests - in fact, he's probably much happier and much more relaxed in his own space with everything he needs.

We have three cats and one is terrified of guests - he's not aggressive but he will hide and won't come out until they're gone. We just leave him to it and he's very slowly getting more confident and will now come and sit in the same space and watch - but we never force it and always give him plenty of space.

@Toddlerteaplease I won't let him out due to where he live, he shows no interest in going out anyway as leave back door open and he hates it out there lol

@Scampuss he calms down if he's in a room without guests, if they're downstairs and he is upstairs. He is perfectly fine with me then. Yes has lots of places to go to, but tbh it's the kitten that needs to escape from him not the other way as he's always chasing her but they are little besties

@andrainwillmaketheflowersgrow yeah I usually just put him away now as it's less stressful for everyone involved, but he rips up the carpet by the door in the room he's in sometimes if I lock him in there. Sometimes he goes to sleep, sometimes he rips up the carpet. It really depends on who is in the house

If he's always chasing the kitten they may not actually be besties. Cats might rub along and make the most of it (they don't exactly have a choice as indoor cats) but it doesn't mean they are actually happy about it.

@Scampuss they cuddle together, sleep together. Trust me, I know my cats and I know they're friends lol

Let him out fgs. He can work off some of his excessive energy and extend his territory

Oh - that's a bit different if he's not actually happy to be confined.

Personally I think it sounds like he needs to go out but I appreciate you say it's not an option.

Yeah, upthread OP says he's happy and not-stressed when locked away.

He's clearly not a happy cat.

We have a cat that will sometimes go hissy to my dh . It's weird because he is the cat feeder and litter tray cleaner, and the cat will also happily lick a treat off his finger also.
Last night we were watching t.v. as normal , cat was laid down ( on the floor ) dh Reached to coffee table to get his cup of tea ( not reaching over cat etc) the cat suddenly leapt up and went for his hand drawing blood , yet 20 minutes later perfectly fine in the kitchen with him as his food was put down for him ( by dh ).
I've had cats before but never had one that can turn as quick as that. We've had dcat for over 10 years from a kitten , neutered . Dcat was a rescue and her mum was found pregnant and living under a bush , although the kittens were born in a house I often wonder if mum was feral / semi feral and has passed on traits.

I love cats and have three myself. Personally, I would be very concerned about that cat around your baby. Having an animal that attacks people is just not acceptable. My aunt and uncle had a cat like this and he was a fucking nightmare. They would try to keep him locked away when guests were over, but he almost always got out, and was even more enraged because he been locked up.

You need to have a big think about what you're going to do.

One option I don't think has been suggested yet- have you tried a feliway plug in? I used one around the time of moving house to calm one of my cats down.