Why would she ...

Mischief is my 3 year old tabby tuxedo pictured by my name. She is very very affectionate and loving. BUT ... she has always had a nasty streak. Normally it would just be scratching, but a couple weeks ago, *before* we took the babies in, she turned and bit my hand. Deep, as in needing stitches and antibiotics. She gave no warning, had been purring & happy pawing & nuzzling, then just a split second ears went back and she attacked!!! Also, lately, she has taken to pooping outside the litter box. Vet can find nothing wrong with her physically. No fleas, worms, mites, parasites, nothing. She has a clean bill of health.

It's at the point now, that my husband wants her gone. We have grand children and are terrified she'd do this to them. It breaks my heart, but I agree she is a menace. But, I love that cat to pieces, she's my baby. She loves to cuddle me and after my back surgery in February, was a constant companion during my recovery at home. I am so torn!! :( :( :( :( :( I don't want to give her up, but if she's going to be like this, I can't keep her. It's been 3 weeks now and my hand is still not healed up. Stitches are gone and the wound still oozes and has puss. I'd never forgive myself if she did this to one of the kids.

What do y'all think??? Any insight as to what would make her do this??? Please help me, I am just heart broken and devestated.

Oh dear...how heartbreaking when your kitty turns like that...

Did you get antibiotics for that bite?

There are a couple of people here that know really excellent animal behaviourists and psychics.

Have there been ANY changes at all in the household that MIGHT have stressed her? (I know this happened before you took the kittens in). Even repainting, moving furniture, moving her box?

You might want to look for and try Feliway or Rescue Remedy, some very mild relaxers (the first is just a spray, the last is drops in water). Vets can also prescribe a very mild form of Valium (might have to face that with MY heart cat Oscar).

Even if worst DOES come to absolute worst...and you look at rehoming her...there might well be a fellow Pet Talker here who can take her. At LEAST you would get updates, and know who she is going to.

BUT there is every chance you won't have to do that.

Prayers and hugs to you and Mischief (and your hubby - he is just concerned for you and the grandchildren).

Catty1

PS You mentioned your back surgery in Feb and how wonderful Mischief was...did this start after that? Does she feel she is getting less cuddling?

Someone else here had a cat that was peeing outside the box...turned out she just wanted more attention!

Just a thought!

Yeah I did. She went almost all the way to the bone with one fang. I had to have stitches put in for it as well. I'm still having problems with the healing, but the docs don't think I need more stitches. It is right on top of my hand, so they said it will take awhile to heal.

Nothing changed. Not the litter, not the food, didn't move any furniture or the boxes or anything. She's always had a small nasty streak in her, to where she'd try to scratch, but she has never bitten. I can totally understand my husband's concern and a part of me agrees. We can't have a cat that could turn that quickly. She gave no warning before it happened, just all of a sudden ears flat and she's biting. Vet doesn't want to put her on anything and we've tried Feliway and Rescue Remedy with her in the past, when she was agressive against Shadow.

Honestly, I think she will have to go, if I look objectively and take emotions out. She needs more attention than we can provide. She would thrive with someone who is home during the day and/or where she is the only cat. We both work full time out of the home and now with these babies demanding so much from us, I can't give her all she needs. She's always gotten a lot of love and attention, but she doesn't share well with the other cats. She likes to have all the attention and when you have 5 cats it's hard to do anyways.

This just breaks my heart. I can't have children (husband had his kids with his first wife) so my cats are my children. But the tension between the cats (as in the other 4 against Mischief) is escalating and the fights are starting. Even Ebby, who is the mother figure cat in here, is starting to snarl & growl at Mischief and Shadow bares his fangs if she comes too close to me. I have to spend time with Mischief in a seperate room otherwise Shadow will attack her (he's my Alpha male cat).

I dunno. I'm just so confused and torn. Objectively I know what I need to do. Emotionally, I don't want to. But what is kinder to the cat? To keep her in a situation where she may not be safe or to rehome her somewhere that she can get all the love she deserves?

Dallas - try posting this in Cat General and in Rescue also - see if there is a PTer who might take your baby.

It's hard to take the emotions out - but in the final analysis, you want what is best for everyone - Mischief not the least! :)

HUGS
Catty1

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Originally Posted by DallasRechelle

but a couple weeks ago, *before* we took the babies in, she turned and bit my hand.

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As I haven't been on PT too often lately, I have to ask - Were those her babies and where were they taken in to? Is this after she's had a litter and you've taken her kittens away? That can explain for aggressive behavior.

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Originally Posted by RedHedd

As I haven't been on PT too often lately, I have to ask - Were those her babies and where were they taken in to? Is this after she's had a litter and you've taken her kittens away? That can explain for aggressive behavior.

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No they were one of the strays I tend to. Fancy had been severely injured shortly before giving birth to the kittens. She became either unable or unwilling to care for them and left them on my doorstep (she sat back a bit watching until we came out and found them). Upon examination of Fancy, I realized she had not been nursing the kittens as her milk was dried up.

Mischief is a spayed 3 year old female. She has a clean bill of health after examination by her vet. There is no physical reason for her attack.

A bit off topic, and maybe I missed this in another post...what became of Fancy? Is she tame enough for you toe get her to a vet?

Just wondering. What a brave little momcat!

Catty1

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Originally Posted by Catty1

A bit off topic, and maybe I missed this in another post...what became of Fancy? Is she tame enough for you toe get her to a vet?

Just wondering. What a brave little momcat!

Catty1

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She actually has turned wild again, I think probably from the pain. I'm lacing her food with some mild pain meds my vet gave me for her, and I'm going to be getting a trap before long. My husband & I are moving next month & I want to be sure she's safe. I've managed to catch her a couple times to examine her, but not long enough to see how that shoulder is mending. Every time I try to exam her in more detail, she starts scratching and squirming. I'm afraid to try to hold her when she's doing that in case she reinjures that shoulder.

We keep trying to watch the hockey game tonight, but they are interrupting to give us info on a storm! Heck, we're used to tornados, leave the hockey on!!! (I'm originally from a town northeast of Edmonton, moved to Dallas 8 years ago).

How wonderful that you have some meds from the vet...and want to make sure she is safe!

Will the live trap work well? I hope so! What would your vet think of a mild tranny in the food in the trap, so she relaxes a bit?

And maybe the vet knows of someone who would make a great furrever person for Mischief!

Good luck in all of this, and keep us posted!

hugs hugs hugs
Catty1

Please. Don't give up on your cat. If there is a slight change in surroundings or routine, that could spark this behavior. My cat uses the playroom hallway whenever she gets mad as a litterbox. Although we get angry, we don't give up. If you yell at her more often or dont pay as much attention to her, she may also be this way. Do not give up on your cat. although you were hurt by this action physically and probably mentally, your cat may have felt threatened or frightened for whatever reason. Let your cat cool off for a bit, and then get back to your normal routine. Giving the cat away will only make you sad, and the next owner may have a surprise. giving the cat away may also spark a new trend and it could get even more mad because of the huge change. Thats my advice.

My sister in law had a friend whose cat died suddenly, and only had the one cat, so Mischief has been moved there. It's still better than taking her to the shelter and this way, she'll be the only pet and can get all the love and attention she wants. When we measured the pros & cons, it's better there. Mischief is better suited to an only cat home and this guy adores cats. I feel good about this. Safe, single cat home, lots of cat towers & condos for her, spoiled rotten, treated like the queen she is .... it's perfect.

Not that I'm not totally heart broken right now ..... :( :( :( :( :( :( :(

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Originally Posted by Catty1

How wonderful that you have some meds from the vet...and want to make sure she is safe!

Will the live trap work well? I hope so! What would your vet think of a mild tranny in the food in the trap, so she relaxes a bit?

And maybe the vet knows of someone who would make a great furrever person for Mischief!

Good luck in all of this, and keep us posted!

hugs hugs hugs
Catty1

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Actually I'll probably put some in there. My vet said he'd do her surgery before we take her to the no kill, so that'll help. If we took her as is, she'd be euthanized because of the severity of her injury. :( But this way, she'll go in post op and have time to recover and settle down again.

See my response below, but I found a furever home for Mischief! I'm heart broken because my baby is gone, but it'll be better for her.