How to deal with a moody cat?

Question

Ok, Here is the deal. My boyfriend has a cat. She is about 4 yrs old. She goes from sweet to painful in seconds flat. We use to just say she was moody till she attacked my daughter while she was running in the house. The cat has never done this before...just hissed-bit lightly and scratched.

The cat clung to my daughters leg and scratched her 8 times all 2 inches plus in length and bit her on the back of the calf. Needless to say she ended up in the hospital on IV antibiotics.

Her owner wants to give her away or put her down.
I am an animal lover and want to see if there is a bi-polar or something like it cat disorder before I agree to have her put down. Any help or info to web pages or docs is welcome.

The cat is utd on all shots and is spay.

Thank you,

Diana

My daughter is 11 yrs. She loves animals and does very well with them. The cat acts out with everyone even the owner. BUT "attacked" my daughter.

Answer 1

It sounds to me like the cat is terrified of your daughter. Cats normally react out of fear. You did not mention how old your daughter is, but I know that my daughter who is 7 can be pretty mean to our cat at times (especially when she thinks I am not looking). I would recommend that you try to explain to your daughter that you need to be nice to a cat, just like you would a person. This means not pulling their tail, running after them suddenly or throwing toys at them, etc. I am sure you know what I mean.

Answer 2

Early experiences have considerable bearing on later aggressive behavior but genetic diversity is a greater cause of problem aggression.
Personality traits just vary from cat to cat.
Cats love to explore, stalk anything that moves, and bat and pounce on small objects that they pretend to be prey.

Do not encourage rough play, scratching and biting. Be sure this is a rule for all family members and not just some. You can clap your hands or use a loud noise when you see him begin to stalk.

Territory-based aggression usually begins when cats are about a year or two old. Punishment never works in curbing aggression in cats. It simply makes the problem worse. Your cat will become fearful or turn its resentment toward you.

Be sure your cat(s) have plenty of scratching posts to sink their claws into and plenty of stuffed toys to attack.

Be patient. Improvement takes time. A good way to socialize with your cat is by brushing it down with a slicker comb. Be happy with small successes and don’t push the cat too much. Try to read the signals and body language that your cat is giving you before things get out of hand.

The best time to get cats used to owners, strangers and children is when they are still kittens. To accustom a cat to be touched, begin when the cat is relaxed and content. Start off scratching and rubbing its head. Make no sudden moves. Progress to stroking its back and the base of the tail. Talk to the cat while you are doing this and watch for any signs that the cat is becoming agitated. Finish this short lesson with a food treat. Eventually the cat will enjoy being touched and handled.

When they feel threatened by strangers or a new owner it takes much longer to overcome the problem. Let the cat get hungry and then have the person hold the cat’s favorite treat. Do not let the person approach the cat. Let the cat overcome its fear and approach the person on its own terms to develop confidence and trust. If the cat is too shy to approach have a member of the family with whom the cat has a good relationship give the treat while the second person is in the house. Over a series of weeks the visitor can be closer and closer when the treat is offered.

Answer 3

There are various forms of aggression and each of them has their own separate causes and treatments. If she's a particularly nervous or timid cat, she may just be reacting more extremely when feeling anxious or frightened. Children tend to be much more lively than adults and their shrill voices, do make some cats nervous.

I've posted a link below to a web site which will help you determine which form of aggression the cat is displaying and how best to resolve the problem.

http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/aggression.html

I can highly recommend a book called "Do Cats Need Shrinks" by animal behaviourist Dr. Peter Neville. It's compiled of his case histories and has a whole chapter dedicated to the different types of aggression and how to treat it. I've posted a link below to the topics covered in the book and where you can purchase it.

http://www.pets.f9.co.uk/shop/media/dcns.html
http://www.pets.f9.co.uk/shop/

Thank you for being kind enough not to give up on the cat straight away, even though it was your own daughter who was attacked. You sound like a very decent person, so I'm sure that with your willingness to understand her behaviour, that you will be able to find a solution.

Good luck.

Answer 4

Check the vet first. Maybe she has a tender spot, or maybe someone stepped on her toes once so she doesn't like people running in the house. I don't think her behavior is enough to put her down. I think some owners might be able to handle the cat without getting scratched. Find a no-kill shelter.

Answer 5

Honestly, your daughter probably just startled the cat (unintentionally of course). The cat may not used to the noise and energy of children and may have felt threatened in her own environment - she may have just responded instinctively in the only way she knew how.

Personally, I think that while it is horrible and upsetting that your daughter ended up in the hospital, this single incident shouldn't warrant the cat being put down. Is there any way to keep her in a somewhat restricted area so that your daughter can be herself without worrying about startling the cat, and yet the cat can have her own space where she feels safe/secure (bedroom w/ bathroom, laundry room, etc)?

You may also contact your vet and discuss the cat's behavior in general - there are medications for nervous cats if he/she feels like they might be needed.

Sorry for your dilemma. =(

Answer 6

Is the cat jealous of your daughter?

Some cats will attack if they are scared or maybe your daughter running around reminded the cat of being in the wild. They would attack their prey in that fashion, biting the back of the leg to take the prey down.

Answer 7

She shouldn't just be put down because she's got emotional problems. Can you keep her in a separate part of the house until you can find someone else willing to try to take her. We have 2 cats w/ major behavior issues, but they have their own rooms. Good luck and God bless.

Answer 8

Yhe cat ONLY wanted to show her dominance toward your daughter.If the cat is utd with her shots, there is NO REASON to have her put down.The iv for your daughter was ONLY a PRECAUTION the hospital took.She probably just wants to play, but she plays rough.

Answer 9

for some reason my cat did that too she would attack everyone without a reason once my aunt was walking by a chair and my cat was behind it and she attacked her and if u would pet her stomach or touch her feet she would try to get your hand or arm.i think my cat was playing but she never was that bad

Answer 10

when you and your daughter are visiting please put the cat in a room with its litter box,water and food.
she may smell something on your daughter or you that may want her to attack out of fear.
if you put her in a room away from you with plenty of toys and food and drink she should be OK if not them you might need to see a vet and ask them if they think something is wrong.