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HuliVili

How to help an angry cat, that attacks people?

This question is not about HuliVili, but my sister's cat. The cat is a neutered male, 4 years old, indoor cat. Stays alone at home when the owner is at work like 8 hours. Eats normaly and uses litter box ok. At first the cat was angry with visitors but now also with the owner. Angry means hissing and growling, making terrible noice like cats do when they fight. If you go nearer or pass by the cat, it attacks and not in a playfull manner but for real. What can be the matter, what there is to do ? Tell me your opinion, please. Thanks. Maija


Asked by HuliVili on Oct 23rd 2011 Tagged angry, attack in Behavior & Training
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Allie

First step would be to visit the vet and make sure he's not trying to tell your sister that he is ill or injured. If he was not this way with her before, then something happened to make him act out. It may be something as simple as her having a new smell. New perfume? New leather shoes? Started or quit smoking? Something about her that might be offensive and new to him all of a sudden that he sees her as a stranger too. Once the vet eliminates a health issue, they may be able to prescribe something to calm him down. Although I am not sure how you medicate a cat that attacks you :( I have heard good things about an herbal product that works to calm them down, called Rescue Remedy. I had 2 of my girls' teeth cleaned last week and the dental lady used that to help them relax a bit while she did what a vet normally does under anesthesia. It seemed to work unless they just didn't mind a stranger scraping tartar off their teeth. www.bachflower.com


Allie answered on 10/23/11. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 1 Report this answer


Izadore (Izzie)

It almost seems like this cat is acting like a feral, or wild cat. If he is completely alone all day, your sister comes home, basically ignores the cat and retires for the night, then the cat sees the house as HIS territory and anyone in it is threating his "space". Your sister may have to research his life. Is he seeing stray cats or prey like birds, squirrels, rabbits, etc., out the window during the day? If he can't get to them, a cat may turn his aggression on whoever comes into the house. If anyone at ALL plays "rough" or did ever play rough with this cat, it could be part of it. I agree with Miss Allie. I would absolutely take him to the vet if she can get him into a carrier to have him checked out.


Izadore (Izzie) answered on 10/24/11. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


Roush

Take him to the vet to make sure he's ok, maybe he's feeling pain - cats are very good at hiding it!

If he's home alone all the time, he may feel neglected and bored.

The vet could also recommend some behavior modification medicines or it could be stress.

My cat has a mild temper and I make sure that he's had enough food and then while he's eating I spray Feliway daily, it's natural pheremones that put the cat at ease and human's cannot smell it! :)


Roush answered on 10/27/11. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


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