Violently aggressive cat - long post

[LuvDFuzz]

Hi, I just found this board and I'm hoping someone could give me some insight on cat behavior.
I've had several cats over the years, most of which I raised from small kittens. They turned into great, tolerant adults and I never had any problems with them.
I've never seen a cat actually get mad at a person until I moved in with my boyfriend and met his cat.
It took a few months for him to learn to trust me to a level where he didn't try to bite me when I touched him. He's very aggressive with people he doesn't know (indoor cat, de-clawed, fixed), he was worse at first, yowling at them and then attacking their legs. Biting hard!! But he's become better since I met him. Now he only warns people with a loud drawn out meow. Not really attacking unless they get too close.
Anyways, every time I think I've finally won the cat over he comes out of nowhere and bites into my forearm! Really hard, leaving two huge cuts from his teeth and a bruise.
Last time I was in bed, reading my book when he bit me. No provocation at all!
He doesn't attack my boyfriend out of nowhere like that but once in a while he'll get mad when he pets him for too long and bite him too. It seems he only wants attention on his own terms and when he doesn't want it to end, instead of getting up and leaving, he bites.
Any ideas on what I can do? We have to keep him, we do love him, most of the time he's good and we know that no one else could possibly have him the way he is.
How do I win him over? Stop the unprovoked attacks? What could have done this to him? My boyfriend had him since he was a tiny kitten and said he was fine in his youth.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

[4 feline house]

Do you know any of his history? Three things spring to mind immediately. One is that maybe he was an abused cat before your boyfriend got him. If that's the case you may never see much change in him, unless he's still young and will eventually learn the abuse has stopped and he can trust again.

The only other thing that occurs off the top of my head is that he may have some organic mental disease - in other words, your cat may be psycho! I'm making light of it, but it is a possibility, albeit a slim one.

In either case, a good vet can help with calming drugs, if that's not against your beliefs (some people have trouble giving a cat Prozac).

I don't want to start the controversy, and even hesitate to mention this, but some cats exhibit this kind of behavior after declawing, especially if the procedure is done as they are older. Did this behavior start after the declawing? If so, there may not be much that can be done now.

I'm glad to hear you say you love him anyway, it sounds like this little guy needs it.

[4 feline house]

I'm sorry, the first time I read your post I somehow missed your statement that your boyfriend has had him since he was a tiny kitten! Scratch that first idea then! The second and third possibilities look even stronger with the limited information.

[Logan]

All I could think of when I read your post was "Butter" without claws. I have a stray that I took in almost 8 months ago, Butter, who my vet has nicknamed "Killer", after viewing the scars on my arms. He bites, but he also has all claws intact and uses them quite often! And he is totally unpredicatable. He will sneak up and attack my legs while I am at my desk, but then 15 minutes later, I might find him sleeping within inches of my feet, or right next to me on the bed or couch. I have learned that I need to calmly pet him a couple of times, and then keep my distance. I always make sure to talk softly and sweetly to him, but never fail to say a big, loud OUCH when he latches on to me. I startle him so that he usually lets go. He is NOT trusting yet. And as Leah mentioned, there is no telling what kind of abuse or neglect he suffered in his early life.

Patience is my only suggestion, and to make sure you isolate him in a comfortable space when visitors come. I am always warning people that Butter isn't quite as affectionate as he seems. But most of his aggression is taken out on me for some reason.

Good luck, and Welcome to Pet Talk.

Logan

[LuvDFuzz]

Thanks for the advise!
I've probed my boyfriend a bit more to find out how long Scooby has been acting this way and it turns out that he wasn't like this until after he was de-clawed. He was fairly young, still biting but in a kittenish way until he came back from the vet.. Then he became as he is now. Hates having his paws touched especially. He's a terror at the vet's, they have get 2 people to hold him down, wearing thick leather gloves.
We'll take him back to a different vet and see what he or she suggests. I'll keep you up to date and thanks again for the advice!
I'll be sure to buy some feather toys, with that and the paper balls he fetches, yes, he fetches, perhaps he can channel his energy in more positive directions.

[4 feline house]

It sounds very much like it was the declawing. He may also have some nerve damage due to the procedure since he doesn't let anyone touch his paws. I would visit the vet again and give a complete history, including the type of behavior and when it started, and include the fact that his paws are apparently still painful. Good luck with this little guy.

[NoahsMommy]

You should also consider your behavior before and after the attacks. This happened to me with Noah for the first month...the reason was is that I was jumping around sreaming each time he attacked. It was FUN to have a giant squeek toy to play with!

Before you consider diagnosing this cat with mental problems, see how things go when you calmly react to his atacks by placing him on the floor, with a toy, away from you. If he continues, use a spray bottle.

It totally worked with Noah, and to be honest, I swear he KNOWS we don't like him clawing or biting becuase now when he plays with me, his claws are in and he nibbles, he doesn't latch on like before.

The reason I know this was the case with our kitten, was that he wouldn't attack my hubby like he did me. He seemed to think I was here just for him to practice his attack skills.

Good luck and let us know what happens with Scooby.

[wolflady]

LuvDFuzz, welcome to Pet Talk! Reading about Scooby was just like me reading about my husband's cat Scooter. I can totally sympathize with your predicament! It almost sounds like the same kind of behavioral problem that my husband's cat has. I do agree with 4 feline at the possibility of the behavior occuring as a direct result of the declaw prodecure. I was startled to find out that behaviors such as these can develop after surgery. It is still a little unclear if it is a direct correlation between the surgery and behavior. I've read different articles and opinions from vets about this issue. Unfortunately, there really isn't a lot you can do but try to observe Scooby's behavior before attacks, so you can try to aviod them. Or, my vet recommended 2 different kinds of drugs for Scooter when we were trying to come up with alternatives. The first was to give valium. The benefits are it's cheap and it usually works. The downfalls is that you have to give it 2 times a day. We tried this. We definitely did notice that he relaxed considerably. Like your kitty, our Scooter is just a complete terror at the vet's to the point that they have to "net him" so that can tranquilize him before even touching him for an exam. The valium make him considerably more relaxed and friendly.
The other option was a drug called Ovaban. The plus sides of this were it works, it's affordable, you only had to give it once a week...I think. But, the downfalls was that there is a possibility of it causing a type of cancer in cats, that once you find out about it...it's too late. My vet did say it doesn't happen very often...but that doesn't mean much when it happens to your cat. My husband was a little leery of that choice...because knowing our luck...it would be our cat!!
Good luck with your kitty. I certainly hope you can get him to open up to you and not attack so much! Please keep us posted!!
*hugs*
Karen

[LuvDFuzz]

You should also consider your behavior before and after the attacks. This happened to me with Noah for the first month...the reason was is that I was jumping around sreaming each time he attacked. It was FUN to have a giant squeek toy to play with!

We noticed this kind of thing so running, sqealing and other exited behaviour is avoided when he's around. He attacks when I'm sitting quietly, coming out of nowhere, and is perfectly calm before he bites.

Before you consider diagnosing this cat with mental problems, see how things go when you calmly react to his atacks by placing him on the floor, with a toy, away from you. If he continues, use a spray bottle.

Of course me must have one of the only cats in existance that doesn't mind getting wet!! He'll sit there and let us soak his furr and just look at us. The only time he bothers to walk away is when we spray him directly in the face.

Good luck and let us know what happens with Scooby.

Thanks for the ideas! I'll keep you up to date!

[NoahsMommy]

Oh my goodness. I am sorry that I didn't think it was as serious as it was.

I hope you can find a solution to this...cat attacks hurt!

[LuvDFuzz]

Good luck with your kitty. I certainly hope you can get him to open up to you and not attack so much! Please keep us posted!!
*hugs*
Karen

Thanks Karen! You've given me a lot to think about.. The information on the drugs is especially useful!

Cecilia

[LuvDFuzz]

Noah's Mommy:
Thanks for the support! We're used to it now so it's not so hard to live with. I just wish my arm healed faster! lol

[NoahsMommy]

LuvDFuzz,

I just saw that on your profile you breed hampsters! They are so cute!!! Do you have a problem with the cat and the little ones?

P.S. I know what you mean! I swear kitties have something in them to prolong the healing process! Especially when they get you with thier teeth! Ouch!

[LuvDFuzz]

Noah's Mommy:

Actually Scooby loves to watch the hamsters running around. That's about the extent of his interest though. He sits by their cages and watches, smells, and watches some more.
When the hamsters are out, he ignores them! Just walks right by like there's nothing special going on. The hamsters don't seem to mind him either. They grew up with him watching so I guess they know they're safe.

You would think he would be more aggressive with them but I guess he's content to watch. Birds are another matter, he sits on the windowsill and meows his frustrations at them! lol

[NoahsMommy]

LuvDFuz,

How funny! Scooby sounds like a character! Noah likes to watch the birds come to the bird feeder, but he seems intrigued with them. He is only 3 months old though, maybe when he's older he'll figure out he wants to eat them!

He likes to "attack" our rabbit though, as if it were another kitten. I don't think he understands...