Why is my cat so angry now?

I have known my cat since he was born, adopted him within months, and had him neutered as soon as the vet would allow it. While he was once rather aloof, he's become a snuggling cat and loves to cuddle with both me and my husband. He's almost six years old now, and we've lived in our current apartment for over two years.

A few months ago, he started becoming aggressive when visitors come over. It doesn't matter if they're completely new or old friends, he reacts the same - hissing, spitting, and even swiping (he's declawed on front paws only). He'll find somewhere to perch that is in the main thoroughfare of the apartment and react nastily whenever anyone gets close.

And when I say anyone, I mean anyone. He hisses and growls at me as if I was a stranger. I can't even get to pick him up and move him as he's so violent. If he calms down at all, he just gets all riled up again the moment someone comes near (within five feet) once more.

Then after the visitor leaves, he's back to his normal, cuddly self. He almost seems offended that I'm distrustful of his intentions at that point.

I don't know what to do. Having friends over is nearly impossible now, since he takes up residence in the high-traffic areas and puts up such a fuss at owner and visitor alike. I'm at my wits' end - what can I do?

He may have pain as a result of his declawing. I know you cannot go back in time and undo that decision now, but I would recommend against it in the future. Has he been to the vet to check and see if he's in pain somehow? That can cause changes in behavior.

I know you love him, how do you react when he misbehaves now? Have you tried spritzing him with water when he does that? Is there any way you could just, for example, shut him in the bedroom when company is coming over? He may just view visitors as stress, and is acting out.

First and foremost, I'd get him checked by the vet, to make certain there's no sudden underlying medical reason for his change in behavior. I know I get cranky when I'm in pain ...

Once you have ruled that out, then you can work on behavior modification.

The declawing happened over five years ago, when he was still a few months old, so I doubt that's the cause. And as for the illness, I did think of that...but then why is he so happy as soon as visitors leave? If he was sick, he'd continue to be upset, wouldn't he?

At first I tried ignoring him when he would get upset, but nothing changed. We stopped spritzing him with water when it stopped working. He even found the spray bottle at one point and chewed it all full of holes so the water would drain out. :(

I can try shutting him away in another room, it will just mean I have to get him into a room and the door closed before I even let the visitor in.

Even though the declawing was done 5 years ago, he could still be in pain from it. Arthritis can set in even at his relatively young age. I think a vet visit is still in order. Good luck and please keep us posted. It's do difficult trying to figure cats out sometimes. :)

Is it at all possible that at one point when you had company over someone may have been mean to him without you noticing, I have one kitty (Mookie) that when he was little a repair man came in and yanked his tail, I went mental and booted him out as quickly as he came in, this was a few years ago but Mookie still is very stand offish when people come in. Some people are just cruel and may have done something without you even knowing. Also you may want to try positive reinforcement, have someone you know well and know would never hurt him come in and toss him some yummy chicken or his favorite treats, do this several times and maybe he will see visitors as a good thing

Best of luck

It COULD very well be that the company you have invited over may have scents of their own pets on them and it's aggravating him. That's what happened when I started pet sitting at my cousin's house. His cat LOVED me when I first went over there. Now that he's on vacation, she's growling and hissing at me. Go figure.

Like others have said, it could also be pain from arthritis in their declawed paws.

One of the reasons why Alison my cat is so grumpy is because we had to declaw her front paws at six months of age. We are against declawing. Even our vet is. But she was eating the plaster on the wall and we didn't know what to do but that. Its that and the fact that her mom was mean. But Ashes had the same mom and he is such a sweetheart.

Alison does have her good lovey dovey moments. You just have to live by her rules. But she has calmed down some since the flood.

Cats or just so unpredictable sometimes. I think I would check with the vet if you haven't already. The one suggestion above about having a visitor give him treats was a good idea too.

[QUOTE=moosmom;2178099]It COULD very well be that the company you have invited over may have scents of their own pets on them and it's aggravating him. QUOTE]

that's just what I was thinking too, and someone could have mistreated him.:(

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Originally Posted by Karen

He may have pain as a result of his declawing. I know you cannot go back in time and undo that decision now, but I would recommend against it in the future. Has he been to the vet to check and see if he's in pain somehow? That can cause changes in behavior.

I know you love him, how do you react when he misbehaves now? Have you tried spritzing him with water when he does that? Is there any way you could just, for example, shut him in the bedroom when company is coming over? He may just view visitors as stress, and is acting out.

First and foremost, I'd get him checked by the vet, to make certain there's no sudden underlying medical reason for his change in behavior. I know I get cranky when I'm in pain ...

Once you have ruled that out, then you can work on behavior modification.

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Hi I'm tracey, I have six cats and they are all declawed and fixed. They came thru the surgery just fine. Bambi was ready to play when he came home. He even started bleeding where they fixed him. I was scared and I called my vet and told them what happened, they told me to quit playing with him. So I did and he quit bleeding. But all of them were fine. After a few days they acted like nothing even happened to them. I don't think I gave them a pain pill. Besides when their that young they bouce back pretty quick. So hope to hear from you, Tracey

I agree with the posts about being mistreated by a visitor to your house as he is fine when they have gone. He seems distrustful of "strangers" and there has to be a reason for the change in his behaviour

I had a similar problem with my RB Meezer Ming.

He always loved everybody, until one day, a friend of mine was visiting with her young daughter. It was a hot summer day, and the air conditioning was down for repair. The little girl kept pestering Ming and being a royal pain in the a$$. I told her to stop, that he didn't want to be bothered and he wasn't feeling well because it was hot, but she kept up. Finally Ming turned on her and bit her before running off.

After that, he would not tolerate kids (other than my own), and would actually scream at them and go into the attack mode, if they came in to "his" house. He never acted that way with any of the family, or other adults tho.

I would definitely start with a vet visit to make sure his health is okay and that there is no new pain issue going on because of the declaw. You do know that declaw is not just removal of the claws but actual partial amputation of the toes?...this can often cause a change in gait of the animal which can in turn cause hip joints or knees to go out of whack which in turn causes pain. Your vet will know how to feel and probe to look for pain triggers with the hips, back, knees and even feet.

I would also set up a safe room for your cat to go in when you are going to have company. Why stress him, yourself and your company? I know you love your cat, but you have a right to have company over. He'll be fine in a room by himself for several hours while company is over.

Another thing you could try is Feliway plug-in diffusers.

Pat,

I couldn't have said it better!! If I had added my opinion on the REASON people use for mutiliating their pets, I'd have been bashed, so I'll leave it at that.

Those of you who know me, know where I stand on this issue.

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I couldn't have said it better!! If I had added my opinion on the REASON people use for mutiliating their pets, I'd have been bashed, so I'll leave it at that.

Those of you who know me, know where I stand on this issue.

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Thanks.
I'm against declawing as well. Even before I knew what it really entailed I was against it. Now that I know what it really is, I try to educate people without being mean. If I didn't know what it truly was at one time, I'm sure others don't truly know what it is. Many vets do not explain what the procedure really is. I've experienced from either myself or someone else telling someone what declawing really is, the person becomes appalled that their vet didn't explain it, that they didn't research it and they feel terrible for having declawed their cat and decide they won't do it again. Education in a tactful if not kindly manner is the only way to attempt to change others' outlook on this. I wish it were illegal everywhere as it is in some countries across the pond from the USA.

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Originally Posted by Momto4FemaleFelines

Thanks.
I'm against declawing as well. Even before I knew what it really entailed I was against it. Now that I know what it really is, I try to educate people without being mean. If I didn't know what it truly was at one time, I'm sure others don't truly know what it is. Many vets do not explain what the procedure really is. I've experienced from either myself or someone else telling someone what declawing really is, the person becomes appalled that their vet didn't explain it, that they didn't research it and they feel terrible for having declawed their cat and decide they won't do it again. Education in a tactful if not kindly manner is the only way to attempt to change others' outlook on this. I wish it were illegal everywhere as it is in some countries across the pond from the USA.

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I so agree w/this! My good friend had both of her cats declawed (before we met) but those cats have gone to the Bridge and she now has 3 others. When she adopted the first two, I spoke about being against declawing and she said "I've always had my cats declawed and they didn't have any problems" but when I went further on the subject, I made an impact and she now says "Now that I know, I won't declaw" and she hasn't, thankfully. Unfortunately, it is sometimes difficult to adopt out a cat unless the new owner can decide for him/herself whether or not to declaw. Otherwise, the cat stays caged in a rescue until such time as an agreement can be reached. It's very frustrating.

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Unfortunately, it is sometimes difficult to adopt out a cat unless the new owner can decide for him/herself whether or not to declaw. Otherwise, the cat stays caged in a rescue until such time as an agreement can be reached. It's very frustrating.

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In other conversations with cat folk, when someone talks of wanting to get a kitten and further goes on to say "and I'll get it declawed", what many do is suggest "adopt a cat from the shelter that is already declawed, don't acquire a clawed cat and declaw it."

In my opinion, true cat lovers will accept that cats come with claws and some damage is to be expected, but they'll also know that with some discipline and teaching, cats can claw what they are supposed to and not your furniture.
I feel if a person thinks their furniture is more important than a cats toes/feet/claws, they shouldn't have a cat.

And if it isn't going to be outlawed, then it SHOULD be law, and just plain ethical and moral behavior, that vets be REQUIRED to fully explain the procedure and not just take it for granted that every client coming in who wants a declaw knows what it truly entails. Because many don't know and just may change their mind about it if they knew.

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Originally Posted by Momto4FemaleFelines

[SIZE=3]In other conversations with cat folk, when someone talks of wanting to get a kitten and further goes on to say "and I'll get it declawed", what many do is suggest "adopt a cat from the shelter that is already declawed, don't acquire a clawed cat and declaw it."

In my opinion, true cat lovers will accept that cats come with claws and some damage is to be expected, but they'll also know that with some discipline and teaching, cats can claw what they are supposed to and not your furniture.

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Absolutely, on both points.

What is it with some of you with automatically assuming that every cat problem has to do with declawing?!? This is clearly not the issue here. She noted that her cat only acts this way WHEN STRANGERS ARE PRESENT. If this had one tiny bit to do with the cat being declawed, it would act that way all the time! We get it, you don't like declawing cats; but don't turn every health issue about cats into something about declawing! How is anyone supposed to get a straight answer on here when some of you people are spouting off about your totally ungrounded theory that their cat's problem has to do with them being declawed? I bet if someone on here said her cat had developed a cancerous tumour, one of you would suggest it had something to do with declawing... "Cat got hit by a car? Oh, that's because of the declawing. Cat got pregnant? Oh, the declawing somehow interfered with your cat's ovaries and made her no longer spayed".
I'm not saying that certain problems cats have aren't attributable to them being declawed but NOT EVERY PROBLEM A DECLAWED CAT HAS IS BECAUSE OF IT HAVING BEEN DECLAWED!

Ok, I'm done with my rant now and I'll just say that I think this cat most likely had an issue with a stranger at some point, as someone on here suggested - a repair person or else the scent of other animals on a friend's clothing..these are far more likely reasons for the cat's peculiar behavior.

You make some good points, Maximilian - just note that the previous comments are well over 2 years old.

I'll have to look for you in General or somewhere here - would like to know who the kitties are that own you! :D

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Originally Posted by Karen

He may have pain as a result of his declawing. I know you cannot go back in time and undo that decision now, but I would recommend against it in the future. Has he been to the vet to check and see if he's in pain somehow? That can cause changes in behavior.

I know you love him, how do you react when he misbehaves now? Have you tried spritzing him with water when he does that? Is there any way you could just, for example, shut him in the bedroom when company is coming over? He may just view visitors as stress, and is acting out.

First and foremost, I'd get him checked by the vet, to make certain there's no sudden underlying medical reason for his change in behavior. I know I get cranky when I'm in pain ...

Once you have ruled that out, then you can work on behavior modification.

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chico was declawed before i got him. i know he misses claws.. i hope that chico doesnt start acting adversely later on because of it. he is really a nice charming kitty who loves everybody when they come over. 20120722.1126

I am also against declawing. Not only is it mutilation, it gives the cat no defense if he or she is an outdoor cat, or somehow gets outside. It also causes problems with using (or not using I should say) the litterbox. Imagine if someone chopped an inch or so off all your fingers.
I've had cats all my life, and I would much rather have shredded furniture than an unhappy cat in pain. There are ways to stop scratching or any other bad behavior in any animal. All it takes is a little research. ;)

I would have all visitors give him treats when they come to visit. Maybe even give them his favorite food to him. He might associate company with yummy treats. Does he have a favorite toy? A feather toy maybe. The company could play with him with it. Just a thought.

When repair people come in my house, my dog goes crazy so I give them Greenies to give to the dog and now she expects treats from the folks coming in... :) Its pretty funny now, as she goes through their bags and containers of tools, looking for treats!