Help! my cat attacked my son!?

Question

Okay yesterday morning I spent all morning in the ER with my 6 yo son after my 1 year old cat attacked him. He had just finished petting the cat in the kitchen and came into the living room, sat down on the couch and watched TV. Our cat came in and jumped on his leg and tried to bite him! My son picked up an umbrella sitting nearby and held it out till I could get to him. As soon as he put the umbrella down the cat leaped up and bit my son's arm leaving 4 deep gashes in his upper arm! We got this cat as a stray a year ago and with my mother's passing, selling of the house and moving I haven't had the chance to take him to get his shots and neutered. The last 2 days I've kept him outside because he was spraying everywhere in the house. They started my son on rabies vaccine just to be sure he's not infected. I have the cat in a crate and I am observing him, which Animal control told me to do. Our cat is whining 24/7 to get out. Why in the world would he attack my son like this?

2 weeks ago he did the same thing to a neighbors little girl! while she was sitting on the couch! We all love the cat and my son cried when I told him we had to get rid of it! I believe it's because he has reached puberty and he sees the couches as his territory and attacks anyone on his couches! If I get him fixed and all his shots up to date will his atacking behavoir stop?

My son does not torment animals, he is a naturalist! He wants to works with animals when he groes up! My son won't even kill a spider! he'll observe it!

okay bagging the cat or killing it, is NOT an option! I would never inhumanly do that! My son does not want that! He wants his cat! This cat is normally a lap cat. Loves to be cuddled all the time! He just started doing this! The night before, the cat was snuggling with me! This cat has had NONE of his shots! My son IS doing the rabies shot series now! My vet said to observe him because this is a way of cats play! Please don't tell me to bag the cat, that's cruel! I do have the cat crated at the time being to observe him for 10 days! we had him scheduled for shots and neutering on the 15th of September! My son's happiness comes first and if he wants this cat fixed so-be-it! It would totally mess with my son's head to have this cat put down!

Answer 1

I have a cat that acts out this way as well. Not all the time. Usually it's when he's bored, or peeved that I won't let him do something he wants to do - such as, go outside, or when I sequester him in one room and he wants to come out. Mine is neutered and has all of his shots, so I'm not sure that neutering will help. But please do it and see.

The most effective things I've found to stop him are 1) water - squirt bottle, or just flick him with water out of the sink or a dish, and 2) distract him by throwing a toy and then playing with him a bit.

What is the cat's other behavior when he's doing this? Is his tail swishing back and forth aggressively? Is he meowing? If so, he may feel he's being challenged in some way. I get the feeling my cat was "top cat" or the bully in his litter, and that contributes to some of it, too.

If not, it may be a form of play, at least in the cat's mind. When they're young, behavior like this is cute - their claws and teeth are small and don't hurt much. But when they get bigger, it's a different story. They still want to play the same way they did as a kitten.

Like you, I could never have mine put down or give him away. The majority of the time, he's just a regular cat. However, if I had kids (which I don't), I'm not sure what I'd do. Try the neutering, and don't let your son be alone with the cat until you're sure he's safe. Keep a water bottle nearby as well. Talk to your vet about ways to correct his behavior.

Cats are very individual creatures. I hope you don't end up having to break your son's heart by giving him away. But if you do, you can get a different cat that hopefully would have a gentler temperament.

Answer 2

I hate to have to state the obvious but by not having your cat neutered or vaccinated you were being an irresponsible parent and pet owner. Now the responsible thing to do would be to neuter the cat, get him vaccinated and then wait and see. Male cats attacking and playing rough is very normal and had you had him vaccinated you could have put a bit of neosporin on the scratches and remanded the cat out of the house. This could be the problem though suddenly you are kicking him out of the house but your son who he sees as on the same level as himself is allowed to stay the act of aggression may have been him venting his frustration.

Answer 3

My cat has had the snip snip treatment and he still acts out on family (and without being provoked either). I would say make him an "outside" pet. If you feel the need to bring him in then do so, but keep him outside. It will let him spray all he wants (hey it IS the outdoors) and he can take some agression out on other animals, not you. Also I would suggest getting him fixed. It may mellow him out some. If that does not work then I would suggest putting him to sleep. Exhaust every option before you decide to let him go.

Answer 4

The cat sees your son as a threat to its territory. The spraying is to establish that territory, your house, as his. Since you did not neuter the cat before it matured, it will continue to spray.

The cat will have to be impounded for the gestation period of rabies. You will have to pay for that impound. As for the rabies vaccine etc. Check with your doctor to see what must be done for your son. He may have to undergo the rabies shots. NOT FUN.

Once the cat has passed the impound, you will have to get the cats shots completed. I would recomend that you then take the cat to the SPCA and have someone else put up with the problem. And do not get another one until your son is at least 6 years old.

Answer 5

Firstly I would have him neutered and see if it helps but it doesnt sound good. A workmate of mine was attacked by her cat and took it to the vet-the vet thought it was brain damaged and had it put down. Because of the history of this cat it could be unsuitable as a pet though. Maybe it will never be tame. Kids do tease though and cats do playfight with people which can hurt. Mine playfights with me because I taught her to! She had a strange past and didnt know how to play or how to have a cuddle etc. She doesnt playfight with anyone else in the family though-just me. Cats can also become jealous and also hate anybody to stare at them. It is threatening. Have a word with your vet and take his advice regardless of your emotions.

Answer 6

Hehe, I had a cat like that growing up, tore up my arm pretty good all the time, sprayed all the time and we would chase him out of the house. After a while he learned to fake spray to get outside, and he stopped just ripping up my arm after a while. Eventually became the best pet ever, he kinda stayed tough, but became real docile and friendly with us. Always in fights and killing mice, birds, rabbits, and other cats. Don't put it down right away, give it a chance. Cats aren't threating to humans, unless they sleep on a childs face and suffocate him. He can scrape your kid up a bit I admit, kids get get scraped up, but he can't do real damage.

Answer 7

this happened to my brother when he was a toddler he was tormenting the cat while no one was looking and the cat attacked him so bad the apt. kitchen looked like a crime scene! He was so bloody the cops and doctors didn't believe it was a cat attack until they were cleaning the wounds and found fur in the wounds and stuff. My lil bro lost so much blood on the kitchen floor he was passed out. Needles to say the cat "dissappeared", before we got home from the hospital.

Best bet, get rid of the cat, little boys and cats don't always mix!

Answer 8

My daughter had a cat that did this. When she surrendered the cat to the local shelter, they told her that some cats just go "off" once they hit maturity. It can't be predicted. And it can't be prevented. There are no causative agents that have ever been found. I suspect that this is why feral cats exist in such numbers. They revert to their totally wild ancestry, and take themselves out of their home environments.

Once the cat has been proven free from Rabies, after the 10 days incubation period in the crate, I suggest that you also surrender this cat to your local shelter. You can't help him. The cat has already given itself permission to attack your son. You would probably be next.

Answer 9

Why is the cat still in your house? I love my pet, too but he would bite my kid once and be gone. And, by the way, taking an animal to get shots takes about 20 minutes. Shame on you.

Answer 10

Cats are territorial and something set him off. It will likely happen again. Probably the cat see's your son as a threat to his position in the house especially if he's spraying.