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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

My cat attacked me now I'm scared

133 replies

Elfontheshelfs · 19/04/2025 19:42

My cat is 5 he has never even scratched me before viscously attacked me as I went to feed him I ended up needing 9 staples in my head. I love him so much but I'm terrified to even be in the same room as him. I've taken him to the vets nothing is wrong he is a indoor cat and I stupidly didn't get him done as he was such a good boy. He is booked in for next week. I really want to keep him but how can I not be so scared of him even just seeing him sends me into a panic my partner has been looking after him and I've kept him separate from me since and has been about a week now.

OP posts:
MissJeanBrodiesmother · 19/04/2025 19:47

I think you should probably give him up. How can you relax with him after that? My cat once went fir me but it was misplaced aggression when a dog got into our garden. Unprovoked like that is bizarre. Do you think it could be frustrated staying indoors? Were you late feeding it? I was also scratched when I was late getting up to feed my cat.

cryinglaughing · 19/04/2025 19:50

9 staples 😳
That is quite an attack.
Have you not been in the same room with him since?

Original poster
Elfontheshelfs · 19/04/2025 19:55

I was a little late getting up but only by half a hour and he growled at me and I stepped back scared as I've never heard him make that sound before. He then ran up my body biting me all over and ended up on my head. I pulled him off and I think that's how I had such a servere head injury. I have briefly seen him and he has walked towards me and I asked my partner to take him away.

OP posts:
RentalWoesNotFun · 19/04/2025 20:05

Im sorry to hear what happened to you, it’s just awful.

My mums friend had this. The cat had a brain tumour and couldn’t help himself. Started having seizures the following week and that’s how they found out.

So sad.

thistimelastweek · 19/04/2025 20:11

I don't think I could live with a person or animal I was afraid of. In fact, I know I couldn't.
Unless I could fully understand and accept the reason behind the attack, I'm afraid the cat would have to go.
I feel for you OP. It's a tough choice ahead of you. I know what I would choose.

mainecooncatonahottinroof · 19/04/2025 20:13

That's awful!

I'd see how he is after being neutered. Our boy wasn't aggressive at all but he was so chill after he was done, he was like a different cat.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 19/04/2025 20:13

It sounds as though he has something very seriously wrong with him. It might have been picked up had he been seen by a vet regularly (I'm assuming as you never got him neutered that he wasn't taken to them much), might not.

I'm sorry.

Friartruckster · 19/04/2025 20:14

Nine staples- don’t think a dog would be excused that level of attack. Hope you recover soon.

Original poster
Elfontheshelfs · 19/04/2025 20:34

He was seen for his injections and flea treatment when I needed it. I just didn't get him done. Aside from the attack he is honestly a dopey loving cat and followed me everywhere.

OP posts:
coxesorangepippin · 19/04/2025 20:35

9 staples??!

Is it a tiger

coxesorangepippin · 19/04/2025 20:35

Hope you're feeling better soon

mainecooncatonahottinroof · 19/04/2025 20:36

Can you think of anything that might have spooked him?

Did the vet have no suggestions?

Original poster
Elfontheshelfs · 19/04/2025 20:42

They did say it was the worst they have seen from a cat. I think he bit down on my scalp and I pulled him off causing a big gash. The vet said about neutering him and might be redirected agression from something he has seen outside. He does watch the birds from the window. But as I just got up I don't know what he was doing before I got there.

OP posts:
mainecooncatonahottinroof · 19/04/2025 20:47

Elfontheshelfs · 19/04/2025 20:42

They did say it was the worst they have seen from a cat. I think he bit down on my scalp and I pulled him off causing a big gash. The vet said about neutering him and might be redirected agression from something he has seen outside. He does watch the birds from the window. But as I just got up I don't know what he was doing before I got there.

Edited

I just find it hard to understand how an otherwise placid cat would go off on one like that unless something scared him? It will be very hard to trust him again and you must be in a lot of pain.

I don't think you could rehome him in case he did that to someone else? I really hope neutering calms him down. It turned our guy into a soppy lapcat!

helpfulperson · 19/04/2025 20:49

I would ask for a second vet opinion. Was it claws or a bite?

I love my cats and would do anything for them but i dont think you would be unreasonable to have him put to sleep. Something isnt right, whether a medical reason or the environment and it may be best for both of you.

Gettingbysomehow · 19/04/2025 20:55

This is what happens when you don't get males done then think you can keep him indoors!!! It's not the poor cats fault it's yours. You have kept a sexually active, very frustrated cat inside.
My male cat savagely attacked my exH and backed him into a corner at 4 months just before I had planned to get him done. He was too young to be let out then too. Vet said he would have been castrated at 6 weeks.
After he was done and his hormones had settled he was an absolute darling.
Please don't punish your cat because you didnt understand cat behaviour.

HufflebuffsAreOn · 19/04/2025 20:58

That sounds horrific OP, am so sorry this happened to you. How could you ever invite anyone to your house again? Would you not be scared he would attack someone. Never mind yourself or your partner… very sad but I would say that would be it for me.

canthavethatonethen · 19/04/2025 20:59

Possibly he saw another cat through the window, and he took his pent-up aggression out on you.

Forgive me for asking - you're not pregnant by any chance, are you?

mainecooncatonahottinroof · 19/04/2025 21:02

HufflebuffsAreOn · 19/04/2025 20:58

That sounds horrific OP, am so sorry this happened to you. How could you ever invite anyone to your house again? Would you not be scared he would attack someone. Never mind yourself or your partner… very sad but I would say that would be it for me.

I think he should get a second chance seeing as he's not neutered, which he should have been! I'm surprised he hasn't been going mad to get out.

LimeQuoter · 19/04/2025 21:07

And the funny thing is that the more he senses you're afraid, the worse he'll probably get. Basically he's treating you like a parent and letting his emotions out on you. We have a cat like that too. Our male cat used to corner me some nights and bite me if I moved. He used to purposely intimidate our more fearful neighbours too, horrendous. I got around it by, whenever he started to act aggressive or intimidating, I would swiftly pick him up and put him outside or in a room for awhile (5 minutes or so). Cats are smart and learn pretty fast. It sounds like you have a smart cat actually, you could try disciplining him like a toddler before you give him up. He's enjoying the power he has over you at the moment, the fecker. And it's you that will have to discipline him, because otherwise he will be good for your partner and not you. Like a child basically. If you have a back garden, you could give him some time outside too maybe, it could help

nottheplan · 19/04/2025 21:15

Im so sorry OP. That is awful. I have a tip for when a cat has hold of something. If ours had birds or mice in her mouth, I would squeeze her paws until she meowed and she would drop them. Not much use to you now I know but it wouldn't have caused such an awful gash if your cat had let go.

Original poster
Elfontheshelfs · 19/04/2025 21:19

I am not and have not punished the cat my partner come straight home and fed him after I also won't be getting him put to sleep over a one off insident I am at fault for not getting him done.

OP posts:
Original poster
Elfontheshelfs · 19/04/2025 21:36

Thankyou everyone for the advise I think I'm going to ease back into being around him more and then see how he gets on after his operation. My partner Is going to be the one feeding him from now on. I've had him since a kitten and I am not going to just get rid of him without trying first but if all else fails a friend has said he will take him in so he won't just be going to a shelter.

OP posts:
gestruggelt · 19/04/2025 21:46

Is he a particular breed like a bengal?

My bengal boy used to launch himself at me. He never scratched or bit me, but he did jump on me quite aggressively from time to time and we never established what the reason for it was other than that they can be quite wild.

See how he gets on after the operation but a full health check wouldn't be a bad idea because there could be some health reason for this.

Walker1178 · 19/04/2025 23:25

I was bitten quite severely by my big cuddly doofus cat last summer. He savaged my hand, puncturing a vein and caused it to swell so much I couldn’t move any of my fingers.

I completely understand why you’re worried. I was scared of my boy too. I bought a Feliway Optimum diffuser and a calming spray that we use on little kitty collar bandanas. My DP also took over as his primary carer as it took a while for me to trust him again. He hasn’t shown any aggression since and we’re back to being how we were before. I hope it works out for you too