Random Attacks from the cat

Hi,

Just wanted to get an opinion and see if anyone else has experience
similar to what I am going through.

I had cats all my life. From early age, my parents being animal lovers
allowed me and my brother have pets. I really like having pets in my
house, cats especially.

After I got married we lived in an apartment and that's when we got
Mia. At the age of only 4 weeks she was the only gray kitten in the
litter of redheads. She was cute playful and very personal. She never
hissed, except for one time when we had a dog visitor and this was very
short.

Shortly we moved to a town house and went through most of the known
routines to make the move for Mia les painful. She adapted fine and
after short few months she was enjoying more space in her new home.

This was almost 2 and half years ago and she was one years old at the
time. We never hit her or physically punish her. She would react
perfectly to the voice. If she bit while playing with us usually a
"no!" would do for her. Same with talking sweet to her would make her
start purring.

Eight month ago when my wife came home and was going through some
presents we purchased for an upcoming short trip, one of the presents (
a toy) suddenly make a noise (a beep or so). Apparently Mia was
sleeping near buy and heard it. Instantly she started attacking my
wife, scratching her hands, jumping on her until her (the cat) cornered
her in her own house. I run downstairs to see my blood dripping down my
wife's hands and Mia circling her and getting closer. I tried to push
the cat away but got a scratch myself. Slowly the animal clamed down to
the degree for us to be able to pick her up and put her in another
room. I had to take my wife to the hospital to get treated from the
scratches. She still has those marks.

Several visits to the vet and some advices from our friends we decided
that it could only be a one time thing and probably was coursed by the
sudden notice and all that stuff. So we gave her another chance but
were very cousins around her. Took a month or so for my wife to be able
to play with her again and not fear so much.

I started clipping her nails regularly and monitor her behavior. She
seemed to be fine, with exception of few stresses she had due to other
people in the house.

Three days ago there was a team meeting in my house. Four people from
my wife's school came over to study. I could tell that Mia was on
guard, so I asked everyone not to approach her (like I always did
before). I came down to the basement from the outside still wearing the
boots and that's when the attack happens again! This is not the
normal hissing and withdraws type of thing. Mia got furious with me.
She was screaming on high notes like someone stepped on her or there
were 10 dog trying to bite her. Fluffy tail, darkened eyes she was
ready to fill. Luckily I had a bottle of water and splashed her to she
ran away. Since then the cat was unpredictable. She would take food
purr and then from my "sudden" move she would go to the same stage
again. I come home from work, thinking she is calm she makes weird
noises and know another attack is coming. It came to keeping her in the
basement so we could walk around the house without the fear of being
attacked.

Please, don't get me wrong I love that animal and she is really good
otherwise. But it came down to the point where a pet is terrorizing our
being instead of making it better, Living in constant fear in my own
house is not healthy and wrong.

She is at the vet known I took her in this morning. They told me that
they are going to run some blood tests for possible diseases. Although
less likely (she is only 3 years old) but if one is found, they would
recommend treatment (Prozac type). If not health abnormalities are
found I have a choice of taking her to the behavior specialist or
leaving her there in the hospital for a possible secession. I feel
really hirable right now, but if I have to make that decision I think I
will. With my parents coming in month or two to stay with me (they are
bringing a dog with them) my house can become a dangerous place to be
for other pets and humans. Not even mentioning our talks about having
children....

Sorry for the long letter just had to get off my chest..


V.

"Vahehoo" wrote in message
ups.com...
Hi,

Just wanted to get an opinion and see if anyone else has experience
similar to what I am going through.

I had cats all my life. From early age, my parents being animal lovers
allowed me and my brother have pets. I really like having pets in my
house, cats especially.

After I got married we lived in an apartment and that's when we got
Mia. At the age of only 4 weeks she was the only gray kitten in the
litter of redheads. She was cute playful and very personal. She never
hissed, except for one time when we had a dog visitor and this was very
short.

Shortly we moved to a town house and went through most of the known
routines to make the move for Mia les painful. She adapted fine and
after short few months she was enjoying more space in her new home.

This was almost 2 and half years ago and she was one years old at the
time. We never hit her or physically punish her. She would react
perfectly to the voice. If she bit while playing with us usually a
"no!" would do for her. Same with talking sweet to her would make her
start purring.

Eight month ago when my wife came home and was going through some
presents we purchased for an upcoming short trip, one of the presents (
a toy) suddenly make a noise (a beep or so). Apparently Mia was
sleeping near buy and heard it. Instantly she started attacking my
wife, scratching her hands, jumping on her until her (the cat) cornered
her in her own house. I run downstairs to see my blood dripping down my
wife's hands and Mia circling her and getting closer. I tried to push
the cat away but got a scratch myself. Slowly the animal clamed down to
the degree for us to be able to pick her up and put her in another
room. I had to take my wife to the hospital to get treated from the
scratches. She still has those marks.

Several visits to the vet and some advices from our friends we decided
that it could only be a one time thing and probably was coursed by the
sudden notice and all that stuff. So we gave her another chance but
were very cousins around her. Took a month or so for my wife to be able
to play with her again and not fear so much.

I started clipping her nails regularly and monitor her behavior. She
seemed to be fine, with exception of few stresses she had due to other
people in the house.

Three days ago there was a team meeting in my house. Four people from
my wife's school came over to study. I could tell that Mia was on
guard, so I asked everyone not to approach her (like I always did
before). I came down to the basement from the outside still wearing the
boots and that's when the attack happens again! This is not the
normal hissing and withdraws type of thing. Mia got furious with me.
She was screaming on high notes like someone stepped on her or there
were 10 dog trying to bite her. Fluffy tail, darkened eyes she was
ready to fill. Luckily I had a bottle of water and splashed her to she
ran away. Since then the cat was unpredictable. She would take food
purr and then from my "sudden" move she would go to the same stage
again. I come home from work, thinking she is calm she makes weird
noises and know another attack is coming. It came to keeping her in the
basement so we could walk around the house without the fear of being
attacked.

Please, don't get me wrong I love that animal and she is really good
otherwise. But it came down to the point where a pet is terrorizing our
being instead of making it better, Living in constant fear in my own
house is not healthy and wrong.

She is at the vet known I took her in this morning. They told me that
they are going to run some blood tests for possible diseases. Although
less likely (she is only 3 years old) but if one is found, they would
recommend treatment (Prozac type). If not health abnormalities are
found I have a choice of taking her to the behavior specialist or
leaving her there in the hospital for a possible secession. I feel
really hirable right now, but if I have to make that decision I think I
will. With my parents coming in month or two to stay with me (they are
bringing a dog with them) my house can become a dangerous place to be
for other pets and humans. Not even mentioning our talks about having
children....

Sorry for the long letter just had to get off my chest..


V.

Have a read of Pam Johnsons- Bennets book Psycho Kitty . There is a
chapter about a cat who attacked his owner and other people coming into the
house.
Some cats attack in defence if they feel threatened or feel angry that
intruders are in their territory. There are specfic circumstances that
trigger your cats attacks such as the toy beeping and people coming into
the house, your boots. This might not seem logical to you but it is to your
cat.
Unfortunately , spraying with water can increase the anger or fear the cat
feels and next time something triggers attack she will remember that . I
understand why you did it though as it is frightened to be attcked by an
enraged cat.
You've done the right things so far by having vet tests done , they
should also think about thyoid aggression or maybe something more serious
such as a brain tumour or epilepsy. Seeing a behaviourist would be a great
help. You might be able to change your cats behaviour without resorting to
drugs, but the behaviourist would advise you on this. I would check your
behaviourist is recognised the relevant association. In the UK we have the
Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors.
Ask your vet for some plug in Feliway* diffusers, they can help calm cats

(*Feliway® is a synthetic analogue of natural occurring feline facial
pheromones that make cats feel calm and secure within their environment.
Feliway mimics these pheromones and when sprayed or diffused within the
environment creates a comforting and reassuring feeling, calming the cat
reducing the impulse to undertake urine or scratch marking.)

Alison

Vahehoo wrote:

She is at the vet known I took her in this morning. They told me that
they are going to run some blood tests for possible diseases. Although
less likely (she is only 3 years old) but if one is found, they would
recommend treatment (Prozac type). If not health abnormalities are
found I have a choice of taking her to the behavior specialist or
leaving her there in the hospital for a possible secession. I feel
really hirable right now, but if I have to make that decision I think I
will. With my parents coming in month or two to stay with me (they are
bringing a dog with them) my house can become a dangerous place to be
for other pets and humans. Not even mentioning our talks about having
children....

See what the blood tests bring. Parasites like giardia can irritate a
cat, but still this is way beyond. And recently I dealth with a
declawed cat with struvite crystals become unpredictable but not
dangerous, just threatening to attack but did not.

This is a tough one. She is at the age where I might suspect some brain
inflammation or bad reorganization taking place. Aside from MRI's,
especially an early one and a recent one, I don't know how to track
brain damage easily in a feline. Even in humans, it's difficult. And
then what to do? Prozac is used. If inflammation, maybe a steroid but
where is the inflammation. This is a tough one. And most vets won't
have this experience or be so inclined but ask. I met only one vet who
really knew his neurology but he was in Boston, a research vet
professor.

I would look for illness in the body or brain damage or inflammation.
But I am not a vet and inexperienced with felines. But I am experienced
with vets and brain problems they were usually grotesquely incompetent
as a general rule. Very, very useless so tread carefully and you may
have to vet the vets.

I agree that a full medical workup should be done. Also, the sound the
paper or toy made may have been a trigger to something you know nothing
about in her past. Best bet, soft paws for now.

Dogs and other stressors are tough, especially with a "psycho kitty"
but I'm sure the cat will be fine once you identify the triggers. I
suspect a brain inflammation or tumor. Could be nothing more than a
virus, but cat's can't tell us what's wrong with them. If you are near
a vet school, take her there. They usually have more info on the
newest stuff at a school.

Scratching is harder to deal with than biting, as there are things you
can do to stop the biting.

Hello,

Thanks everyone for their replies, advices and kind words. Also I am
really weird out by TheAmazingPussyWiz trying to sell me something by
making me feel guilty and stupid at the same time. Way to go
TheAmazingPussyWiz !

Unfortunately, I had to put the cat to sleep. Her blood work came back
normal and so the only option that vet was offering was Prozac. No
guarantees were made with that. Thinking objectively we would not have
been able to trust her again...Locking her in a room every time we
decide to walk around or when other people (including children) are
present is not an option either. Drugging the animal to unconsciousness
is cruel and giving her away or setting free somewhere far is not fare
to the people and animals that would encounter her. So holding down the
feelings below the rationality I made the decision to humanly let her
go...

Truly this was one of the hardest decisions I had to make in my 26
years of existence. It was really sad to tell them to put her down like
that...I still miss my cat a lot.

V.

On Tue, 28 Feb 2006 09:28:08 -0800, Vahehoo wrote:

Hello,

Thanks everyone for their replies, advices and kind words. Also I am
really weird out by TheAmazingPussyWiz trying to sell me something by
making me feel guilty and stupid at the same time. Way to go
TheAmazingPussyWiz !

Unfortunately, I had to put the cat to sleep. Her blood work came back
normal and so the only option that vet was offering was Prozac. No
guarantees were made with that. Thinking objectively we would not have
been able to trust her again...Locking her in a room every time we
decide to walk around or when other people (including children) are
present is not an option either. Drugging the animal to unconsciousness
is cruel and giving her away or setting free somewhere far is not fare
to the people and animals that would encounter her. So holding down the
feelings below the rationality I made the decision to humanly let her
go...

Truly this was one of the hardest decisions I had to make in my 26
years of existence. It was really sad to tell them to put her down like
that...I still miss my cat a lot.

V.


We feel your pain. Purrs that you will find a loving kitty.

On Tue, 28 Feb 2006 09:28:08 -0800, Vahehoo wrote:

Hello,

Thanks everyone for their replies, advices and kind words. Also I am
really weird out by TheAmazingPussyWiz trying to sell me something by
making me feel guilty and stupid at the same time. Way to go
TheAmazingPussyWiz !

Unfortunately, I had to put the cat to sleep. Her blood work came back
normal and so the only option that vet was offering was Prozac. No
guarantees were made with that. Thinking objectively we would not have
been able to trust her again...Locking her in a room every time we
decide to walk around or when other people (including children) are
present is not an option either. Drugging the animal to unconsciousness
is cruel and giving her away or setting free somewhere far is not fare
to the people and animals that would encounter her. So holding down the
feelings below the rationality I made the decision to humanly let her
go...

Truly this was one of the hardest decisions I had to make in my 26
years of existence. It was really sad to tell them to put her down like
that...I still miss my cat a lot.

V.


Purrs for you. We feel your pain. Purrs that you will find a loving
kitty. MLB