Unprovoked,random attacks <long post>

Our cat is about 5 years old and we've had him since he was a kitten (adopted from county shelter @ age 7 weeks). He is neutered and was front paws were declawed due to aggressive attacking. When he was a kitten, the vet had so much trouble controlling him for regular examination that he would literally cause his blood readings to indicate that he had an infection. We brought him to a specialist who did an ultrasound and found that there was no infection but concluded that he would actually alter his blood levels when he became so upset during examination.

We are very concerned because he has randomly attacked other people as well as myself. Attacks occur when the person is walking and Neo will lunge forward with no warning, no growling, no hissing, no raised hair and jump up and bite. Usually his target is the leg of the person walking. I'm an experienced cat owner and have said that these attacks are usually because he feels threatened somehow. But, there have been a couple of isolated incidents where he attacks me with no warning and this really concerns me.

Attack 1: occurred about 3 years ago when our friend was staying with us. The friend was loud and had a boisterous personality. Neo lunged and tried to scratch and bite our friend on a few occasions. I figured this was because he felt threatened because our guest was loud and different. Acceptable, but strange behavior.

Attack 2: occurred about 2.5 - 3 years ago. My toddler nephew was not provoking the cat but Neo scratched my nephew. I assumed Neo felt threatened and insecure due to not being used to having a toddler around him. Still, this was not the first time he severely scratched so we had his front end declawed (though I am very much AGAINST declawing, I could not accept him hurting an innocent child without provocation).

Attack 3: occurred less than 1 year ago. Our neighbor was pet-sitting and Neo lunged forward and bit her leg. I figured it was because he felt threatened somehow, but she is an experienced cat owner and refused to pet-sit for us anymore. This is not acceptable behavior.

Attack 4: occurred about 1 - 1.5 years ago. My other cat Maggie is also a rescue cat and she does not like people to hold her. When being held, she squeels and so we just don't ever hold her because this is too traumatic for her. One evening something frightened Maggie and she squeeled. Neo attacked my leg. I don't know if this was to defend Maggie or what, but he bit me and broke the skin. Anytime Maggie makes an unusual noise, Neo defensively comes running toward in order to protect her. This is acceptable behavior.

Attack 5: I got out of bed in the middle of the night. Somehow this triggered Neo to lunge at me and bite my leg and arm, breaking the skin. This is unacceptable behavior.

Attack 6: Occurred just recently within the past week. I was walking in my bedroom, turned back around and Neo lunged forward and bit my leg, breaking the skin. He ran away and when I saw him sitting in the hall I knew not to pass him because he would attack again. I could tell by the way his eyes were staring right through me. This really bothered me and it unacceptable behavior.

Each time he attacks, he does not give any warning with growling, raised fur, hissing etc. He just lunges, bites and runs away. He can also be very cuddly and often sleeps right next to me and my pillow. The random, unprovoked attacks really concern me and my husband. I cannot avoid the attacks because it is so random that I really never know when it will happen.
I have an appointment on Monday with the vet to see if there are any obvious signs of health issues that may lead to this behavior. I'm afraid that we may need to euthanize him if there is no obvious reason, simply because his behavior is unpredictable. We will soon have a baby in our home and it really concerns me that his behavior is so irratic and unpredictable. I don't think I could leave him alone around my baby.

It breaks my heart to see him hurt me like this. Does anyone have experience with such random attacks? This behavior began before he was declawed.

I am really so sorry to read about your problem with Neo. Being a nurse, the first thing I thought of, was a brain tumor, but then I read that he has been doing this for years. Have you ever tried to put Neo on any meds for his aggression? We always root for the cat here, but I would be very worried about the baby, too!!! I will send you a pm....

I'm sorry to hear that Neo is causing so much havoc and stress in your home. I hope that you will be able to get to the bottom of it for your family and for him.

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Originally Posted by greendoor678

When he was a kitten, the vet had so much trouble controlling him for regular examination that he would literally cause his blood readings to indicate that he had an infection. We brought him to a specialist who did an ultrasound and found that there was no infection but concluded that he would actually alter his blood levels when he became so upset during examination.

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Because he has been 'difficult' starting when he was a kitten makes me think this may not be a behavioral issue and more of a physical nature of some sort.

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We are very concerned because he has randomly attacked other people as well as myself. Attacks occur when the person is walking and Neo will lunge forward with no warning, no growling, no hissing, no raised hair and jump up and bite. Usually his target is the leg of the person walking.

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This really made me think of a cat that belongs to some folks we know. I actually helped them find this kitten when they said they were looking to adopt. She was 7 weeks when they brought her home and she has had a very aggressive nature since day 1. She too randomly attacks people and there is no warning and the next thing you know she is shredding your leg or attacking your hand usually bad enough that it leaves people bleeding. Mandy (the cat) is good with her family but mostly just the husband. The wife gets attacked for no reason on occasion.
I used to think that perhaps it was because this cat may have been the result of 'inbreeding' but over the past year one of her eyes started changing colour with a rusty marbling. I posted a thread on here about it: Have You Ever Seen This Happen in a Cat??
I really think that Mandy has a tumor or growth of somesort in or behind her eye that might be causing her discomfort and results in aggressive behavior.
Sadly her family has not taken her to the vet because her eye seems to be going back to it's original colour a bit. This has lead them to believe that she is fine but I don't think she is as she is losing some weight and the aggressiveness is continuing.
Anyway, I'm wondering if your cat may have a physical issue that causes discomfort and results in this behavior. It's as if he is 'hyper-sensitive' and lashes out when there is loudness or movement which may not startle a normal healthy cat but for some reason is distressing for your cat.

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The friend was loud and had a boisterous personality

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Neo felt threatened and insecure due to not being used to having a toddler around him.

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Not being used to a child, their movements (arms moving about and legs kicking the way toddlers do) could be startling for Neo.

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Our neighbor was pet-sitting and Neo lunged forward and bit her leg.

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Hard to know what happened on that day but even if your pet sitter set something down loudly like a plate or a dish it might have been the trigger.

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One evening something frightened Maggie and she squeeled. Neo attacked my leg. I don't know if this was to defend Maggie or what, but he bit me and broke the skin. Anytime Maggie makes an unusual noise, Neo defensively comes running toward in order to protect her. This is acceptable behavior.

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As you said, this may fall under 'acceptable' as it is not that uncommon. My cat George and my RB cat Charlie would go after anything that is near them if another cat fight broke out. If my neighbour's cat was screeching and in a fight and I was in the room with George or Charlie and the closest thing to them, they'd attack me. Otherwise, Charlie was a complete love bug. George is semi-feral so each day is a surprise with him. lol

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I got out of bed in the middle of the night. Somehow this triggered Neo to lunge at me and bite my leg and arm, breaking the skin.

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If Neo was sleeping or in a super relaxed state and didn't expect you to get up, he could have been startled.

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Occurred just recently within the past week. I was walking in my bedroom, turned back around and Neo lunged forward and bit my leg, breaking the skin.

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It does seem like all the things you posted would be normally tolerated by a cat but in Neo's case they aren't. I'm guessing that he is suffering from something physical in nature that is making him hyper sensitive to simple things like sounds and movement. A battery of tests might a good idea to see if there is a reason for the aggressiveness. Maybe they could put him under and do some xrays and an ultrasound and some bloodwork. It may not be in the budget though, especially with a baby on the way.

I would also suggest that you purchase some Feliway. It is a product that mimics the pheromones of cats and helps to calm them. It comes in a spray and in a plug-in (kind of like a Glade air freshener but with pheromones instead). You can get Feliway online or at your vet clinic and PetSmart and stores like that have similar products available under different names and are a bit cheaper too. I know that Catty1 has suggested spraying a bit of the spray on a collar and putting it on the 'offending' cat and it has been successful. (I think it was catty1??)

And Medusa has had great success with Clomicalm, a kind of kitty prozac that is available from you vet. It helps to calm aggressive and inappropriate behaviour.

The last idea I have may seem kind of nutty but it might help you. You may want to consider seeking out a 'pet communicator' to see if they can communicate with Neo directly to see if he can shed some light on what is going on with him and why he acts out like this. I have used Dr. Monica Deidrich a few times and she has written quite a few books and is well known. She can do it by email or by phone and it is about 60.00 for one reading. Her website is here: Pet Communicator.
There are a ton of people on this site that have consulted a woman named Nancy. I don't know how to get ahold of her but alot of PT'rs could give you that info if you wanted it.
As well, Brodysmom (another PT'r) is now an animal communicator.

Even if a communicator could give you a small amount of information, like a specific area of his body that is causing discomfort, it could narrow your search when at the vets and help you to focus on a particular spot.

I hope things will improve for you and Neo. :)

Thanks for the info, friends.
Just to clarify, baby is not here yet, but in our near future as we start our family. I like to use positive terms to make it known that having a baby is definitely in our near future, and not a 'maybe, one day'. :) (hope that makes sense.)
I am anxious to hear what the vet says on Monday. Extensive exploratory tests may not be in our budget, but I'm willing to try some of the herbal or Rx pills. Honestly, I think he may be bi-polar?
An animal communicator is a good idea. Sonya Fitzpatrick has a radio show each Tues on Sirius radio. I will also explore some of the names you mentioned in your post.

Thanks for the thoughts and advice. Euthenasia would be an absolute last resort , we need to explore as many options as possible before we go down that route.

As soon as I read that he attacked whenever there was a loud noise or boisterous person, it made me think that it may be some type of seizure. I had seizures as a child and I can tell you that things like fireworks and bright lights would bring one on. Perhaps your kitty has a brain disorder, as has been suggested. If not, Emeraldgreen mentioned that I've had great success w/a med called Clomicalm. It was originally prescribed for behavioral problems in dogs but has been used successfully w/cats. I have 4 of them on it presently, all 4 for inappropriate urination and one of them also for aggressive behavior (attacking my other cats). It's been a godsend to me. Some vets say that it takes a while to start working but I saw immediate success w/it. If you have your cat checked out and a brain tumor or disorder is ruled out, you might want to give Clomicalm a try. It isn't that expensive for one cat and it may be the answer you're looking for if the problem is not indeed medical. Good luck. I know it's tough and you do have your future baby to consider but I think w/a little investigating, you can come to a solution. :)

I will definitely ask the vet (tomorrow) about some medications that may be suitable for his condition. The replies I have gotten here have really helped me cope with his behavior and I appreciate the feedback.

Nancy's email (animal communicator) address is [email protected]. She charges $30. She might be able to find out why this is happening.

Thanks for the info about the communicator! Neo had his blood drawn and urinalysis today so he's not in the best of moods right now.
The Vet will call tomorrow with some news about his tests and then we can start looking at next steps.

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Originally Posted by greendoor678

Thanks for the info about the communicator! Neo had his blood drawn and urinalysis today so he's not in the best of moods right now.
The Vet will call tomorrow with some news about his tests and then we can start looking at next steps.

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Any news from the vet on the test results yet?


BTW, on a sort of related side note, I'm SO glad I work for a vet hospital that in most cases can do in house lab work while the owner waits. From an owner perspective I'd hate to have to wait a whole day or two for lab results.

The good news is that Neo's blood & urine tests came back with no issues. No infection, kidney, liver or thyroid problems, negative for feline leukemia.
The vet explained that overall his tests look great. He explained that Neo may be epileptic and a seizure may cause him to behave irrationally.
Medication is available for to prevent seizures but side effects are also a possibility with medication.
He also said that some cats just keep their hostility bottled up and something will provoke them to release the anxiety without warning. He recommended trying Feliway and also suggested lavender as a calming agent. I have some lavender oil but also want to buy some dried lavender flowers to put in sachets around the house.
I was able to get a Feliway diffuser last night. The box indicates that it will take 4 weeks to see behavior changes. I will search around on the forums to read about other users experience with the Feliway product.
I'm excited that we have some alternative solutions to help Neo's behavior. If the attacking worsens then we will need to look more closely at using the seizure medication. Though, last night he seemed very relaxed and was sleeping next to me on his back with his legs sprawled out. He looked really comfy!
Thanks again for all of your thoughts and feedback over the past few days. I really appreciate it. I'm also in touch with Nancy, the animal communicator.

That is great news that there is nothing somatic causing Neo's behaviour!!! Hope all the good smells that you may bring in the house will be of help! AND please let us know what you find out from the animal communicator!!! GOOD LUCK!!!

I will provide any updates and let you all know how things go with the communicator.
It's so nice to have virtual friends that can help! :)

I talked with the animal communicator and got some great feedback regarding Neo's behavior. Basically, I need to give Neo a lot of space and quit coddling him because apparantly I am getting on his nerves. So, instead of giving him lots of hugs and kisses, I'm letting him do his own thing and come to me when he is ready for some lovins'. Its a little hard for me because my cat's are my fur-babies, but I also realize that my attitude is affecting his behavior and really making him mad!

That is interesting!! Be strong!!! I bet Neo will come around for affection, alot, and you both will be happy!!!

Yes, I was a little shocked to hear that my behavior and attitude was affecting Neo so much. But you know, the past few days I've backed off of my usual behavior with him and he seems to be doing great!

WOW. I hope things stay well! I can see how the coddling would happen - if Neo was attacking unprovoked, and he is a cat you love, you would naturally spend more time and attention on him like "what is WRONG, baby boy?" sort of thing. Then he may find that a bit suffocating.

Lara is right - I am the person that uses a stretchy collar on my tabby Oscar, and squirts a bit of Feliway into it (shake bottle first). That way it is with him all the time, and I don't have to figure out square footage, diffuser placement, etc.

Please keep us posted. Oh - and we like pics on PT! ;):D

Exactly where would I find a stretchy collar. Do you mean the break-away collars? How often do you spray it with Feliway?
Thanks!

Neo sounds a lot like my Ripley. One of my vets said he thinks Ripley suffered from Feline Rage. All I know is he would stalk and attack me out of the blue. I was terrified of him for years. He started it at about 3-4 months old and the last true attack I saw from him was when he was 10 years old. He's 16 now and has been pretty mellow for the past 6 years but it sure was a rough ride the first 10. I have many scars to prove it.

BTW, Ripley was neutered at 5 months and the vet hoped it would calm him down - it didn't so the vet suggested female hormones as an option but I refused them. One vet even suggested declawing him since I was getting so scratched up but only as a last result. I refused that also but boy there were days... There weren't a lot of options back then.

One other odd think with Ripley, since he's gotten older he developed OCD. Maybe it's all related somehow.

Good luck with Neo. I sure hope the Feliway helps.

I first used a breakaway collar - but stopped that! One day Oscar was grooming his chest...his lower jaw got caught in the collar, and it did NOT break away! Thank GOD I was there, as he quickly started to panic.

I just got a collar from a pet store - adjustable, stretchy and reflective. I can adjust it so it is snug - but if he and his furbrother get into a fight, it stretches enough to pull right off and no one suffers!

Oscar's dosage was decided by the vet - 2 to 3 times a day. I did it twice a day for a long time; now it's once in the morning.

You might want to try that dosage schedule - or give your vet a call and see what s/he recommends.

Thanks for sharing your story about Ripley, Jazzcat. We had a good weekend and I kept my distance from Neo. I have noticed a big change in his behavior simply because I leave him alone.

Catty1, Thanks for the info about the stretchy collar. I will look for one next time I'm in a pet store. I don't know how Neo will react to a collar since he's never had to wear one (he's exclusively an indoor kitty).
Will post updates as they occur.

Thanks again to all for your support!
:)