Why is my cat so mean?

Question

I have a cat and she's been mean and violent since the day I brought her home. (6 years ago) I got her from a yard sale in my community and she escaped when I was taking her to my car. She took off and ran head first into a house window, shook it off and kept running. We eventually caught up with her and brought her home. She bites VERY hard and scratched us like crazy for no reason. I finally had to break down and take her to the vet to be declawed (front only) and fixed and when I went to pick her up after the surgeries the Vet made me go into the back room to get her because he said she was the meanest cat he'd ever seen. Just about a 1/2 hour ago she was laying on the floor and I bent down to pick up something next to her and she jumped up and bit my hand (inbetween my thumb and finger) and scratched the heck out of me!!! I didn't even touch her.... could she have brain damage from hitting the window 6 years ago? I've never seen a cat like this.....

1) Do not degrade me for declawing my cat. This was a decision I had to make for my own safety and the safety of my furniture. Our apartment complex makes it mandatory to have your cat declawed (front and back) and it took me a year and a half to follow their rule because I also thought it was inhumane BUT I had no other choice. I did only have the front declawed but I lied to our landlord and told him both were done. We tried other methods before resorting to this. We tried Softpaws (she bit them off!), we tried the sprays and we tried training her... nothing worked!!

2) I really do not think she was abused as a kitten and as for me and my husband, we have not abused her either! We also do not neglect her at all. We're always trying to play with her and give her the attention she needs. I just think she's a moody cat and sometimes she strikes out for no reason.

When she's not mean, she's the sweetest cat ever. Maybe she's got split personalities. lol

Answer 1

I have sooooo been in your shoes! My oldest cat, who is now 7, was the same way when we adopted her and remained that way until maybe 6 months ago. Acted feral in a lot of ways though she wasn't, she had though been very abused as a smaller kitten. When we got her she was covered in fleas, had horrible ear mites, and several broken ribs. We nursed her back to health and tried to put off declawing but after 4 years, we had no choice with a baby on the way. 6 months ago we moved into a much bigger house and she now has her own room (heated garage but the dogs aren't allowed out there so it's basically the cats bedroom) and she is much better. She is now a lap cat as a matter of fact. She loves to cuddle and sleep with me now. Weird, like a whole new cat! He could likely grow out of it like my cat has, does he have a place where he can go to be completely alone from noise, people, etc.? If not, try to find a way for him to and see if it helps. My cat turned around in less than 2 weeks time. He could be like mine too and be very neurotic and that's where the anger comes from. Don't give up on him though, he needs you more than anything because cats that act like this are considering unadoptable and will be euthanised at shelters. I know, I asked before making the decision to declaw.

Answer 2

I'm surprised you've put up with this cat for this long, if she's really as mean as you claim she is.

I recently had one of my cats bite me and scratch me so badly that I had to go to the ER. I liked to have never got the bleeding under control in my wrist. It's now left scar tissue under the skin with a big knot in three places, not to mention the scarring from the puncture and scratch wounds. He is a siamese mix. I have no idea what's made him so mean, other than I haven't spend twice as much time with him as I do everyone else. He's only a year and a half old.

I've had some serious complications with all the puncture wounds and scratches he gave me; to the point that I never want something like this to happen again to me or anyone else. So, I've made arrangements for someone to take the cat. She wants me to drop him off at the veterinarian where he will be neutered first before she takes him home. Then she is going to work with him and try to re-socialize him and teach him some better manners. I wish her well, in advance. I don't see it ever happening, but she has hope.

If your vet told you that was the meanest cat he's ever seen, then there must be a serious underlying problem. There are many drugs out there for cats that will calm them down. You really should talk to your vet about prescribing the cat Prozac or something like Valium to help curb it's temperment if you want to keep your hands from being bit and scarred up from this cat. Just remember, never ever give your pet medication that has not been approved by or prescribed by your veterinarian. Kitty Prozac or Valium would not be the same as it is for human consumption. Frankly, I wouldn't wait another day to get this cat medicated or in the worst case scenario, to have it euthanized, because, obviously, it is a very miserable being. I don't mean that in a flippant way. You must have some compassion for the animal or you wouldn't have kept her for so long. But I'm saying that for the cat's sake and for your sake. If the cat ever attacks someone in the manner I was attacked in, for example, you could have a serious lawsuit on your hands.

I was just wondering how she clawed you, if you had her declawed? Did she get you with her back claws?

I don't think she has brain damage. I just think that, like my cat, somehow, socialization skills are not the best instiled virtues in either one of them.

There are behavioral therapists who can work with your cat and show you how to "re-train" the can and how to socialize it so that biting and scratching is kept to a minimum. I don't know what that might cost, however.

Regardless, you are faced with some decisions that only you can make for the welfare of the cat and for yourself.

I wish you and the cat the best.

Answer 3

I know what you mean about a mean kitty, my cat has been evil since I bought her home from the humane society, she attacked me twice for no reason and now she is throwing up all over the place. We feed her very little so she wont throw up like she does but we make sure she eats plenty throughout the day by monitoring her. I am afraid we will have to take her back. I am getting older and ill and I cannot put up with her attacking me like she does. I think the previous owners knew she was sick "evil" as well and I think the Humane Society knew too, they lied to us big time just to make their numbers. We love cats all they had to do was tell us the truth, she is sick and evil.

Answer 4

Sounds like your cat did get some brain damage from either hitting the window, or perhaps it was abused previously. I would talk to the vet about some medications that might help to calm her down. Sounds like a sad case.

Answer 5

This sounds like my friend's cat Chupacapra, who is referred to by her vet as "the land shark," or my cat Snow, the "Certified Psycho Kitty."

My vet told me when I asked about Snow, who will let me pet her if my hand stays on the top of her back but otherwise will attack me if I try to touch her, that there are some cats that he believes are just born psycho. He says that in his experience, no amount of contact with humans makes any difference to these cats, they are just mean. He offered to let me try Snow on an antidepressant medication (I think Prozac but I'm not sure), but I couldn't even begin to think how I would get her to take it, so I took a pass on that.

I have concluded that the psycho kitties help us appreciate the gentle kitties that much more.

Answer 6

like any critter they sometimes are born that way. Just as with some cats 98% will not get close to water others have been known to jump right in to get a fish

Answer 7

Sounds like somebody beat that poor thing as a kitten, my brother had the same problem with a dog he owned.

Answer 8

well when it was a kitten it may have been beaten and/or mistreated and its owners may have not been around alot and she is not used to people.she may think that she will be mistreated agian or refused to play with.here is how to help

1.get a treat
2.call her upon your lap
3.try to pet her gentally
Repeat every day untill she feels more comforatble around people.
good luck! :-)

Answer 9

She may have been abused when she was a kitten. Also, she may miss her previous owners and still not quite understand why you took her away from them. Just treat her nicely and try not to touch her, and maybe someday she will realize that you take care of her and own her. Good luck!!

Answer 10

my mom had a cat like that;and it was hit ;slapped and abused all day long,she adopted it as a 4 month cat ;and it was a terror.she would scratch;she bit;but we kept her as;it was not her fault.the vet said she mite calm down;and she did; alittle.like your cat they had hell for a mom ;before we got them;;; .talk to your vet;and maybe he can give you some tips and or meds,,,good-luck