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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

Vicious cat

8 replies

StellaNova1 · 31/01/2024 11:31

My 3 year old (neutered - at approx 4 months I think) male cat is becoming increasingly vicious/nasty.

He was born in a house with children so was used to being handled from birth/early on.

He loves to be near us, ie sit next to us, he will literally come & sit & watch DC build lego/sit next to us while we play a boardgame, but isnt keen on being stroked or handled, which is fine, we don’t!

Occasionally he will come to us for affection/get on our knee/rub against us, but this will always end with a bite after a minute or so.

But his unprovoked biting/attacks are getting worse & worse.
99% of the time its me he goes for, so I can hand on heart say I know its unprovoked, DC is petrified of him tbh & doesn’t go near him.
If he wants feeding, he will come & attack our feet - I do mean attack as well, not a nip.
He has bitten my hand badly twice in the last fortnight, both times I was sitting next to him on the floor, hadn't moved at all - both times I was leaning my weight on the hand he bit, so I wasnt moving it around or moving it towards him.

He has been checked by vet all ok, tried plug ins, no change. This isnt new behaviour, its worsening of existing behaviour, he has always been bitey.

If he was a dog, he would have been PTS by now. I live in hope of having another baby & theres no way I could trust him around one.

He has plenty of food/water & cat flap so can come & go as he pleases.

What can I do to stop this behaviour? Vet had no suggestions really.

If I try to pick him up to remove him after the bite, he will really attack even more. Definitely doesn't seem scared at the time, as he doesn't run away or even move, continues sitting/laying where he is!!

Pics of last 2 bites attached for context of the nastiness!

Vicious cat
Vicious cat
Vicious cat
OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 31/01/2024 11:52

Is there a new cat in the area that's upsetting her?

Noseyoldcow · 31/01/2024 11:57

Even if there is a new cat in the area upsetting OPs cat, there's not much she can do about that. Sorry, but if the attacks are getting that bad I'd be looking at rehoming or worse. Cat bites can be very dangerous, and I'd not risk my kids being attacked.

Mumsgirls · 31/01/2024 21:09

My old boy was a bit like that and I had the wounds. One theory I considered that he was trying to dominate me, a female. One habit was attacking me when I chatted on the phone. I used to shout a loud NO if he attacked or looked ready. I used to push him off me with say a. Remote control or a book I then immediately put him out of the room each time. Over time I could tell when he was getting stimulated and was able to avoid attacks by looking at him with a firm no. Over time he stopped, but don’t know if it was just age.
I had to warn visitors not to touch him. My dgc came here from birth and I drummed it into her not to touch. Have to say, he never went near her, but I could never have left them alone in a room even for a minute, so would be full on for you with a new baby.
Mine was the alpha type, who would not tolerate other cats and feared nothing. He was evidently removed from his mother too early, so probably missed her teaching him manners
Good luck, it is so difficult.

lifeispainauchocolat · 31/01/2024 23:09

Would he better suited in a home without children? Lots of cats never get used to little ones, unfortunately.

SammyScrounge · 25/04/2024 02:25

Did the vet check his vision and hearing ?A.cat of mine became.very aggressive and it turned.out that both her hearing and sight.were going. If you bent to touch her she was startled and reacted.. We learned to stamp our feet coming into the room because she could feel the vibrations and knew you were there. It was safe to stroke her then

Anniegetyourgun · 25/04/2024 09:30

Do you have the kind of insurance that would cover consultations with a cat behaviourist?

whirlyhead · 25/04/2024 09:35

I have one like this, sometimes he's fine and other times he just goes for you. I've had some really bad bites, but I'm used to him - he's 10 now and he's my cross in life to bear!! I've learnt to know what triggers him so mostly avoid it, but every now and then he will still go for me or my partner.

I did get a cat behavioural therapist out and worked with her for a while but it didn't really help. He's a pedigree and the result of a bad breeder who didn't socialise him properly, plus he has health issues due to how he was bred, all of which contribute to his grumpiness.

I still love him and I will just tolerate his anger issues, little bastard that he is.

Onacuctustree · 25/04/2024 09:50

Mumsgirls · 31/01/2024 21:09

My old boy was a bit like that and I had the wounds. One theory I considered that he was trying to dominate me, a female. One habit was attacking me when I chatted on the phone. I used to shout a loud NO if he attacked or looked ready. I used to push him off me with say a. Remote control or a book I then immediately put him out of the room each time. Over time I could tell when he was getting stimulated and was able to avoid attacks by looking at him with a firm no. Over time he stopped, but don’t know if it was just age.
I had to warn visitors not to touch him. My dgc came here from birth and I drummed it into her not to touch. Have to say, he never went near her, but I could never have left them alone in a room even for a minute, so would be full on for you with a new baby.
Mine was the alpha type, who would not tolerate other cats and feared nothing. He was evidently removed from his mother too early, so probably missed her teaching him manners
Good luck, it is so difficult.

I echo this.
Shouting at them when they attack.
And I do think boy cats try it on... Even if they have been done.
I have never had girls though.
Some of the most vicious cats I have met were female.
Probably because they are bothered by boy cats...

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