What can I do about my mean cat?

Question

Hey, I was wondering what can I do about my cat. His name is Cujo. My cat is a male. Hes turning 3 this summer.Hes really big and he weighs about 20lbs and he is Neutered. Okay, he attacks my female cat all the time, she is 8 years old. Sometimes he really hurts her and they've lived here together for almost 3 years. And also when we have people over Cujo attacks them. One time he almost scratched somones eye. I noticed though that he likes to go for peoples faces. Im honestly being serious about him. No one can pet him. If i try pet him he bites or scratches me. Then when we give the other cat attention(she doesnt scratch or bite) he gets jealous and attacks her.I tried trimming his claws but he bites me. He has really long nails. Also I took him to a vet to see about his behavior and to get his claws trimmed but he ended up scratching the vet on her face so she didnt want to do it after.
Oh and I should have added this in the beginning I found him when he was 2 weeks old abandoned

Im afraid hes going to hurt someone. We always have to tell people who come over not to touch him. Hes constantly hissing at people even when they dont bother him. When we put him in another room the scratches the door. Now from putting him in another room we have scratches on the door and walls. I really dont know what to do about him anymore.

Answer 1

How much do you like this cat? If he is sort of just OK and not a cat you like start looking for a safe home where he is an only cat or for a good no kill shelter. If you like him well enough to invest some time and money in to helping improve his behavior find a vet who understands that some cats do bite and scratch which any vet ought to know enough to know and let the vet know what the cat's behavior patterns are. There are meds that can be given in food before the visit that will make him much more cooperative (and probably sleepy) or a shot can be given at the time of the visit. His claws can be trimmed but understand that like your fingernails they will grow back before long. There are soft paw covers that can be put over claws that will keep him from scratching badly for a few months. If he is going to stay inside he can be declawed. I normally am against declawing but sometimes it is that or ending the cat's life. A cat who goes out needs claws for escape and protection. The vet can also check and make sure that his behavior is not caused by pain or illness. It sounds like a combination of dominence and attention seeking.

Claw covers or triming are just a start to keep you and others safe while you teach him some manners. Cats can be trained and this cat needs regular consistant training. Yelling and chasing will not train him. It will just excite him and make him more aggressive. A spray bottle or water pistol with bitter apple or other scent and taste he dislikes mixed with water will help condition him to associate mean behavior with unpleasant consequences. Simply say no quietly and firmly and squirt him. If misbehavior continues put him in his carrier or kennel. (Wear gloves if you need to). Put the carrier in a quiet and preferably dark place and leave him alone at least 1/2 hr preferably an hour. Then unlatch the carrier door and let him come out in his own time. For this cat you want a hard side carrier not a fabric one. In our area these carriers can often be found at livestock or junk auctions for under $10. I have also seen them at WalMart for under $20-25 brand new. Get one that has as much space as possible - a medium dog carrier might be good. Be sure it will fit in your vehicle so when you need to take him to the vet you can use it. Hopefully he will soon learn that agressive behavior is not rewarding,

At the same time try to catch him being good as often as possible. When he is friendly offer treats and soft affectionate words. When he obeys the no command offer a cat treat right away. Give him attention as much as you can in ways that don't get you hurt. Buy him some toys to work off some of his energy and that he can "dominate". A couple of good ones for that are a set of "rings" that have a catnip ball or mouse like thing in between them, cat can get paw inside and bat at the ball which makes it move and most cats will chase it by the hour. A "cat dangler" which is a feathery thing on an elastic string hanging from ma flexible pole that mounts with a suction cup is another favorite for most cats. A catnip mouse or just a small stuffed toy may appeal to him too. His toys should be in a place he can play and sometimes play rough. The lady cat should have her own play area opr resting area well away from his. She will probably enjoy being somewhere with a door closed between them. She should have toys and treats of her own which are in a place he doesn't go. For a while at least give her treats only when he is in another room to prevent jealousy and more aggression. These are some bassic suggestions you might also look for a pet trainer who helps with cats in your area or do a Yahoo search ion cat training or animal behavior specialists.

Sometime around 4 most neutered toms settle down but thgis guy needs some help now to be able to get along with his people.

Answer 2

You obviously love the cat and want it in the house where it belong. You need a new GF. Anyone who treats animals like that will also tend to treat humans in the same way. You can have the cat go to the vet and get an exam and proper shots. Cats are not inherently diseased. tossing the cat outside does not teach any lesson. The cat does not know what it has done that is so wrong. You cannot punish any person or animal unless they know what the offense is. The daughter cannot catch anything that the cat does not bring in from outside. So when the GF tosses the cat outside she is inviting lfeas, tick and disease inside. If she thinks cats are useless, remind her that if it was not for cats the world would be over-run with rats, mice and many insects that cats kill and eat. Youd does not, but there are plenty of other out there that do and without them, there would be a plague of rotents. I suggest you change the GF rather than the cat. Alternative to that find a friend or family member who will take the cat and give it a good home. By the way, If the GF kicks a defensless cat, imagine what she will do to your child when she gets angry. People who torment animals are usually warped and will do harm to humans when irritated.

Answer 3

First of all, make sure he's got all his vaccines, just in case he really hurts someone. Consult a couple different vets before deciding to put him down, just to make sure you know all the options.
When my cat was younger, she was very very mean, I wasn't able to really pet her, and she really didn't like other people, specially the vet. Even now, she's kinda mean with strangers, but her behavior totally changed toward the people in the house. She's become much more docile. She's over 8 years old now. But the "mean behavior" lasted some good years.

Answer 4

1st of all, anyone that tells you to put this cat to sleep is an a**hole --- Okay, my grandfather was a mean son of a bit** --- Did we put him to sleep?

The bottom line is your cat is mean. It happens. If the relationship is not workig out between the 2 cats and he is mean to others then I would try putting an ad in the paper -- "cat for free to good home., preferably single person with no other pets".

I would be willing that there is a single person out there...possibly an elderly person that would love to have a cat. Once he is in a quiet home and bored, he will calm down. He doesn't like the home he's in now. He wants no other cats and want's quiet.

I think you need to give him a new home and a new chance at life.

Answer 5

He needs to be put to sleep. He's an angry, territorial cat that has developed some very bad habits. Cats habits are extremely hard to break. When they get mean like this, it's best to have them put to sleep.

I'm surprised the vet even tried touching him without a mild sedation first. Most male cats need this to be handled by vets. Also, male cats are not the best indoor pets. They usually require being indoor/outdoor pets. Even when neutured, they can be viscious to people, including their owner(s).

I had a cat like yours in the past but was a female. She came from a very well mannered mother & father who would rub against your legs & meow loudly to be petted. She was an 8 week old kitten that I ended up having to give away to a friend. She'd bite, claw, scratch, hiss & attack people, including me, regularly. Within 2 years, she'd done her worst to my friend & her mother. So after several visits to different vets, they chose to humanely euthanize her. I felt awful because I'd given them my onry cat. But they had more patience with her than I did & realized that this was the best option.

I've since adopted an older female cat who was a stray for her first 2 years. She followed a friend home while out walking with his brother. They tried to keep her but she needed to be the dominate cat, not with other cats (they had 2 other female cats). I took her in & she's fit in quite well. I can tell she was abused at some point though. When I go to pet her sometimes, she flinches or cowers away. I've never hit her, even when she misbehaves. I always squirt water at her with a squirt bottle or say her name in an angry tone & she runs off. She had a big biting problem for almost 6 months after we brought her home. She now only bites if you accidentally step on her tail or paw (I would too if I were her!). I've tried to bring other cats into the home to be pals with her. But she hisses or tries to fight them. So she's sole queen in my home.

Answer 6

ok i kinda had the same problem with some of my cats to. but as bad as this one. mabey you should send him to a different vet and tell him/her not to let him get neer his/her face. or you can put the cat down. you know to sleep. forever. i'm sorry but that is all i can think of. it is sad and all but it might be the best thing to do.

Answer 7

get a baby kitten (bebe)
move this one on.....let him continue his life where he won't hurt your family and friends. kittins are usually more affectionate.
sounds like a cat case from the SPCA and they don't gas them anymore. you might have some problems with moving him on if he is a big (fat ) cat. so ask yourself, can you live without this cat.

Answer 8

deeep six him he was wild when u got him he's probley not going to change the best time to get a cat is about 6 to8 weeks hug them feed them and disapline them the best way is with sit's worked everytime 4 meqitte gun after a while say siss like the gun then switch to no

Answer 9

take him to the vet and tell them to put "soft paws" claw covers on him. they last up to three months.

Answer 10

I am a big animal person but you can not have an animal that is hurting other animals and people. I am so sorry to say it...but you need to get rid of him.