What can be done to help calm a cat who was hurt and now freaks out for no apparent reason and attacks us?

Question

I asked about why a sweet cat would suddenly start yowling and attacking us. The answer that best fit was trauma. She did get hurt in our new house twice and her behaviour didn't change until after that. I want to know if anyone knows what can be done to calm her down and help her to stop getting scared and reacting by attacking us?

Answer 1

This is a hard one. Most likely it's being taken from her old hom and into the new one (anxiety) plus the fact that she DID get hurt in the new house (trauma) so you've got yourself a messed up kitty right now.

The best thing you can do is start off by putting her in a room where she feels safe (i.e. a bedroom, or more probably, YOURS). Let her stay in there with food/water/litter pay for a while (with as much company from her humans as she can take, and if she's good with it, then A LOT). She has to feel safe and secure again. Once she's acting "ok" in that one room, let her come into the rest of the house again. Be careful not to spook her with sudden movements or loud noises. And hold and pet her as much as possible, speak gently to her and reassure her. It's a process, and takes a while, but that's basically it. She's in a place where she's freaked out, and she can't get away from it, so she's a bit terrorized.
you might also try catnip and/or rescue remedy (health food store) to try calming her, or get tranqs from the vet. She's not trying to hurt YOU, she's just reacting in fear mode. Don't get mad at her when she does it, just help her feel safe. Maybe putting her in "her" room with your company everytime she gets aggressive... It's trial and error, and a period of adjustment, but if you make it a priority and try to make sure everything is calm and serene for her, she'll eventually snap out of it - hopefully.

Best of luck to you.+-

Answer 2

I'd say this depends on the type of bite. He may have been just in a playful mood and trying to get you to pay attention and play with him. It could have been a sign of affection - my cat likes to bite my chin when he is really happy. If he meant no harm by it, he still would have run off if he sensed that you were displeased with him. If there are other people or animals in the house, this could also be a factor. Some cats are very jealous and will get upset with you if you are paying too much attention to another person or animal, or if there is a new person or animal in the house then he may feel threatened, as cats are very territorial. I've never heard of a cat biting agressively, though, unless they were already attacking with claws and showing other signs of aggrevation. More than likely it seems to me as though he just wanted to play, and didn't mean to hurt you at all.

Answer 3

You need to find out what caused the trauma, like a fall, or something fell on her. When she attacks try to remember what you were doing before she attacked you or got scared. If it is something you are repetitivly doing like moving a certain way, or dropping something then you should try not to do it. You need to hold her and comfort her, if she attacks you then you should not react to it. If you get scared she may think you are trying to hurt her. A little more information on her reactions might help figure out what is wrong.

Answer 4

Just a couple questions 1. what do you mean hurt? fell off something, had something fall on it etc. 2. does she freak out when you touch her in any way, or for no apparent reason at all 3. notice any limping, pain etc.
Get back to me on these questions and i should be able to help

Answer 5

A friend of mine had something similar happen to her cat. Ultimately the aggressive behavior was uncurable and the cat had to be put to sleep. Hopefully, the trauma your cat suffered is not as severe as that of my friend's cat.

Answer 6

CHARTER

We the non-human beings of Earth, ask that you treat us with dignity. Remember you are animals as we are, and our desires are no different that your own.

We seek life, happiness and freedom from fear just as you do.

Love and compassion for us relate directly to world peace.

We ask that you, no longer subject us to the pain and indignity of circus and other forms of human entertainment. There are so many other ways we can delight you.

We ask that you, re-evaluate interpretations of sacred texts, in which we are described as inferior and available for human exploitation. When you stray from sacred relationship with us you harm all life.

Use the goodness of your hearts and minds to find ways to be healthy without hurting us. Remember you do not need to harm us to be beautiful. You are beautiful as God made you.

Do not confine us to cages, pools, or other environments in which we cannot live according to our true nature. This keeps us from performing our divinely appointed tasks.

Encourage the beauty of your children's natural love of animals and know that your children can teach you.

Consider carefully before you destroy or pollute our natural homes, for your homes will suffer too.

Allow us the right to live, love and play, to express, and to be our unique "animal selves."

While you feel you must use our bodies for food remember that we become you. What we experience in life is enfolded into you.

If we must be put to death, please do so with mercy and compassion for we have shown your species the same as much as we are able.

Leave natural areas in every country in which those of us who are non-domesticated can live undisturbed in our natural habitats. We do important work in such places.

Recognize us as members of your communities and take responsibility for those of us who have formed bonds with and have become dependent on you. Set aside places in your towns and cities where we can live and prosper.

Help us not to over procreate. We cannot do this ourselves. It is part of your stewardship.

Remember that you are animals too and that our desires are not so different that yours.

Listen to all of the subtle ways we speak to you with silence and affection and reciprocate when we need your voice in order to be heard.


Remember we were the first 'people' on earth...here before you arrived.... We have a right to be here just as you have a right to be here.

We ask that you do your part to make the world a better place by promoting new attitudes towards us. We can then, impart our true gifts to you.

As you honor our requests, through conscious choice and love, we can in turn help you to awaken from your age, old story of pain, struggle and fear to create a new story based on honor, respect, and love.