My cat attacked me now I'm scared

[Elfontheshelfs]

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.

If he's unneutered and stuck in the house you've given him a very frustrating life to live. It's breeding season now and if he got the faintest sniff of a cat in heat it will be driving him mad.

Get it bits off and hopefully in a few months once the hormones are out of his system, he'll be fine.

My cat attacks me everyday but no where near the extent you describe. She just scratches and bites for a second or two then runs away. Only me, never anyone else. I am used to it tbh and can tell when she is getting revved up. My husband will call down, watch out the cat is puffed up, as that means she’s looking for me to attack. The thing is I’m not scared of her and if I spot her before the attack and tell her off and put my arms up she runs away. She has never held on like you described but I have had some pretty deep scratches. If it was me I’d get him done and show him you’re not scared…even if you are. I’d probably just watch him closer and be ready. Eventually you will know if it’s an ongoing problem or not and can relax or make a decision to put him to sleep. I wouldn’t react from one incident especially because he is an un neutered male and probably full of pent up energy being inside. Once done you need to let him out.

I don't agree that an indoor cat needs to be let out.

I’m amazed at the number of people on here saying how they’ve been attacked by their cats but are seemingly fine with it 🤷 OP sorry that happened to you - hopefully the 🥜 removal will do the job, but you really shouldn’t be scared in your own home

I had a cat that used to attack; he was all friendly, got a stroke or tickle, and suddenly would hiss, bite, and scratch. He was an outdoor cat and neutered. I had to take him to a cat shelter as he scared me. I told them what the problem was, and they felt confident they could rehome him. It was such a relief that he was gone. Had a lovely cat before him that never behaved that way.

@mainecooncatonahottinroofi think all cats should be let out. I think keeping cats in all the time is cruel. Cats are natural explorers and keeping them in goes against their natural instincts and behaviour

I've had cats my whole life (early 60s) and I've never been attacked by one. Rescue cat #1 of my current three has scratched me deliberately a few times, but it's been because she's been over-stimulated and I didn't recognise her cues.

I dont agree that any cat should be kept inside.

I don’t…I mean it’s a cat. Can you not just kick it away? Did I read above that some man was cornered by a kitten..?

An entire Tom cat, kept indoors? You were asking for trouble!

I don't. I've had fully indoors before, indoors/outdoors and fully outdoors cats growing up.

I have three rescues now and despite all of them having been used to being fully outdoors in two of their cases, and partly outdoors for the 3rd, they have shown no interest in going out again. One of them in fact runs like hell when the front or back door is opened. She's done her time outdoors as a stray and she has no intention of going back to that again. The other two are part Maine Coon and don't have an ounce of sense!

The other two take off as if they have been scalded if a drip of water falls on them accidentally if I'm washing my hands or something.

One of my indoor/outdoor cats years ago contracted FIV and died of kidney failure when he was just 10. I don't want that for another cat.

I have a microchip catflap from my last cat that was available for them to use if they weren't happy indoors, but they are perfectly content. They're not going to get run over, poisoned, abused, stolen, annoy the neighbours by shitting in their garden, contract diseases, go missing, get fleas, etc etc etc. I'm more than happy and more to the point, so are they.

My previous cat came to us as a stray and gradually moved in. He was neutered in his early teens and became a total lapcat! He moved indoors fully when he lost the sight in one eye and was totally content. He still got out for short periods under supervision but he didn't stay out long until he wanted to come back in. He was at least 20 when he died.

I wholeheartedly disagree with you for all the reasons I have outlined, and I have had cats in my life for 60 years.

How can you kick away a cat that is attacking your head unless you're a black belt in karate?!

You can’t just lift it off and throw it away?

I’ve had cats. I mean it’s not like you’re dealing with an XL bully.

I got 2 Bengal cats boy and girl.....they're not wild and are very loving and gentle.

Sorry to miss the point, and I’m really sorry that happened to you, but haven’t you struggled with the smell of his urine, as he’s not fixed? The smell from an unfixed cat’s pee is really strong!

I do agree that it’s possible there could be brain tumour issues too, seeing as it was so out of blue. Also, I did see a prior poster asked about pregnancy.

Also, there are Facebook pages that have animal psychologists only that are allowed to answer questions, you might consider posting there. I do want to say that whatever you decide to do, after an incident this big, is reasonable.

I agree that it’s probably due to him being intact and smelling females roaming about outside. Getting him neutered will reduce the testosterone and aggression and hopefully you won’t have any more issues, though it will take around 8 weeks after the operation for his hormone levels to drop.

I’m sorry about your poor scalp. At least it’s a good precautionary story about getting your cats neutered and spayed? 😅

I guess it's hard if it's attacking your head?

Also, I hope you’re on some strong antibiotics!

My parents' friend lost a finger after his cat bit him. Un-neutered cat kept indoors in a small apartment.

Cats are carnivorous hunters with big territories and the urge to roam, and the same hormones, instincts and drives as we have.

With all instincts frustrated, cat may have just lost it.

I love them. But I think a cat that can cause that much harm to you could be a danger to others, including children.

There may be a health issue that the vet didn't pick up. See how he is after being neutered then take vet's advice.

Most Bengals absolutely are lovely and I'm very glad yours are. However, they are a highly intelligent, curious and adventurous breed. This means that sometimes they can be prone to acting out, lunging and attacking out of frustration or simply boredom. Or sometimes simply to see how you react. Many love to learn what you dislike and then to do it, just to watch your reaction. And as they are a muscly, compact but heavy cat, they can do damage they really don't mean to.

Of course, many cats have similar traits / are naughty / soft / cuddly / aloof etc. However, Bengals, as a breed, are more akin to dogs or toddlers in their way of thinking and their innate curiosity. An un-neutered, indoor only, 5 year old Bengal would be on another level. But as the OP hasn't stated that her cat is a Bengal it's probably kind of irrelevant. All cats be catting in their own way!

To the OP though, well done for getting him neutered now and not just giving him away. It's quite likely something spooked him just before you came close and he's blindly reacted. As someone mentioned, it's well into the swing of kitten-season just now, so quite likely an in-season female or another tom on the prowl has wound him up. Him being neutered will sort that out once and for all. Sadly, if he continues being aggressive after being usually so calm, then I would second those saying it might be a brain tumour as he's too young for dementia which can also be a contributing factor for unprovoked aggression and I would be taking him for further investigation.

In the meantime. Show no fear... 😉😾😁

Tom cat, stuck indoors will drive him nuts not being able to find female cats. He will calm down a lot once he is done and his hormones settle down after a few weeks

Get rid of the cat.Prioritise your wellbeing

I’ve been bitten/scratched in the past, very minor. What breed is he? He sounds like he needs neutering then outside access, Christ I pity anything he will come into contact with though. Where would a member of the public stand if he attacked them to this degree?!

I hope you heal fast and I hope the cat calms down.

Sorry but if my pet attacked me to the point of hospital treatment being needed, then they’d be gone. Next time it could be much worse. What if he attacked someone else, even a child?