We have a male cat (neutered) just over a year old. He has been with us since he was 10 wks old and has always been very easy going - playful but never attacked anyone. About 2 weeks ago all of a sudden he started having these 'spells' when he runs through the house like crazy and started jumping at & scratching & biting the kids. At first I thought that maybe they provoked him but after watching them for a while I know that is not the case - they don't treat him any different than they used to.
He is an indoor cat, has his claws - I would never have those removed but I don't like him scratching the kids (even my husband, but never me) - just this morning he jumped on my 3yr old's back while she was just standing in the kitchen...
Why would a cat start behaving like this? We don't hurt him - so it's not in defense. Should we maybe let him out of the house (not very safe in the neighborhood though) to get whatever it is out of his system? What can we do with him?
2006-09-11 05:03:12 · 10 answers · asked by SaSa 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
it is not the neutering - he had that done at about 11 or 12 wks of age - a long time ago
2006-09-11 05:24:29 · update #1
He does listen to me - if I say 'no' he will immediately stop whatever fresh behavior he is engaging in.. but not anyone else.
I doubt that the kids ever hurt him and
I do (want to) believe he just wants to play with them - they're just not prepared for that kind of action. Do you think getting one more cat would help?
Thanks for all the tips - we will try the spray bottle - I used it succesfully when he was little to teach not to jump on the table and scratch furniture around the house -he has a special scratching chair & the kids now :)
2006-09-11 05:34:09 · update #2
Thanks guys!
I would NEVER lock him in the basement or have him declawed.
2006-09-11 05:37:02 · update #3
He's a young male cat. Even though neutering him may mellow his manners in the long term, he's still young. I agree with other answers here involving spraying him with a water when he misbehaves. Also, put vinegar in the water, about a 1 to 5 vinegar to water ratio. Cats hate the smell, and especially hate it when the smell is on them. If he starts associating his attacks with smelling like vinegar, he's likely to catch on pretty quick.
He probably views it as fun, and isn't really trying to be mean, btw, so locking him in a basement is DEFINATELY NOT GOOD.
(To the person who suggested that: Would you lock your kids in the basement for playing rough?)
2006-09-11 05:32:29 · answer #1 · answered by anktuman 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a Domesticated Manx...and she is anything but sociable! Get the plastic/rubber tips to put on your cats paws, DO NOT lock him in a basement...or anywhere else for that matter. have him checked over at the vets to make sure nothing is wrong, ie cancer, tumor, pinched nerves...and then just start making the cat understand that attacking the family is NOT acceptable. I little water pistol comes in handy for modifying behavior in an animal and it is humane. If in the event that he will not stop attacking the family, then I would suggest finding a home for him that does not have ANY children, where it is just a couple of old folks needing some company. There are some cats who just can not for some reason function in a household with a lot of people. My cat does not accept anyone around her but me and she only TOLERATES my son. Hope this helps some. Might try getting him a climbing tree...
2006-09-11 05:19:31 · answer #2 · answered by bonnie.spinks 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is NOT normal cat behavior for a neutered male. I suspect one of the kids may have abused him at least once, and he's not forgetting! I would keep his nails trimmed as short as possible, and isolate him from the kids, allowing him out under your close supervision. "Arm" yourself with a squirt bottle filled with water & if he exhibits this behavior "let 'im have it!" He will learn that such behavior is not acceptable.
One other, less likely, reason for this may be epilepsy. When you say "spells" are there any other behaviors that may indicate a problem?
One time we had an older kitten (maybe 6 months or a year, I forget). Our grandchildren came over around Christmas time and played with her with a mylar toy. My sister-in-law called me in and to my surprise the kitten was having a mild seizure. I wondered if the kids had been a little too vigorous playing with the toy. (The cat was NOT being abused). About a week later, some other grandchildren came over. These two were, by nature, more gentle with animals & had their own. But another session with that mylar toy ended up with another seizure!
The cat was spayed immediately, the toy was never offered to a child again, and is rarely used except to take pictures, and we still have the cat, now about 6 years old - she's never had another seizure again. (I have to qualify this - "that I'm aware of")
Good luck & kudos for "no declaw"!
2006-09-11 05:15:01 · answer #3 · answered by Ragdoll Kitty 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He is just playing and doesn't understand that he's hurting anyone. You need to firmly tell him "NO" when he does this and then put him outside. Although, I had a cat that I would put outside everytime he scratched my couch. He learned that to go outside all he had to do was scratch the couch. So, maybe putting him outside isn't such a good idea. You could also get a water spray bottle and keep it handy. When he "attack" just spray him a couple times. Cats hate that. Spraying my cats with water stopped them from climbing up my window screens. Good luck!
2006-09-11 05:14:18 · answer #4 · answered by CAFEhonor 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would call your vet and ask, the cat might have some psychological problem. If you have a basement "lock" him down there with the litter box.. Ive seen a cat go "insane" once and it was not pretty It would be a better idea to have him down there than running around and able to scratch your kids. I would get him declawed too..as inhumane as it sounds, it would be better than having an emergency room visit for your husband or children.
2006-09-11 05:11:00 · answer #5 · answered by Terry J 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you want to see a cat go insane, get him declawed.
They stop using the litter box, can't walk right and are generally unhappy afterwards.
Most are given up for adoption after declawing because the owners cannot handle the change.
Your cat is just a male.
You should have had him fixed before sexual maturity to avoid this behavior.
2006-09-11 05:16:01 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He's just feeling frisky and playful. All cats do that, from my experience, and I grew up with a house full of kitties. Get what's called "Pawz" I think, they're plastic tips that go over the claws and they're glued into place. Then he can't scratch. Get him some toys to play with.
2006-09-11 05:09:33 · answer #7 · answered by sovereign_carrie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
don't fret about your pet,male cats under 2 years act strange at times....and 'act crazy or out of sorts' he's just being a freak,you just need to teach him it's not ok with the 'new play' he's discovered.
2006-09-11 05:07:40 · answer #8 · answered by vanislandwitch 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
www.iams.com
Click on cats, there is a link to behavior problems. Good luck.
2006-09-11 06:41:24 · answer #9 · answered by gator girl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
maybe take him to those cat psychologist/behaviorist?
2006-09-11 05:07:40 · answer #10 · answered by 2dogs 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋