gradually aggressive cat?

Question

no health problems
has claws
*had been kept in glass cage for a year by a breeder*; no info about year 1.
no other changes.
just swipes out if she gets the slight bit irritated (eg if you have to move her, etc.).
2 yr old. we got her a couple of months ago.
was sweet when we first brought her home, but is gradually turning into a quick tempered little jerk.
spayed. was better at first but declined again.
we've ordered 'softpaws' and are awaiting arrival. but wonder if she will bite after that.

the water bottle is nothing to her. it annoys her but 10 mins later she is begging forgiveness. is good again for about 2 days, then at the slightest 'provocation' (ie, no, you can't play with the dirty litter scoop, come here please), there goes the next swipe.

Answer 1

I don't really understand the bit about her being kept in a glass cage for a year by the breeder, or why they have little background info. about her. I wonder what kind of life she may have had prior to you adopting her. Perhaps she wasn't well socialised with humans and hasn't been taught good manners.

Do you think that there's any possibility that she was mistreated? This might explain why she's always on the defensive and ready to lash out.

Hissing is a good way of getting kittens and cats to stop whatever they are doing as it re-awakens memories of the mother's cat's discipline. For example if you try to move her aside and she lashes out, tell her "no" in a firm voice or hiss at her. If she doesn't calm down, then very gently scruff the skin at the back of her neck and tell her "no" or hiss at her again. Then walk away immediately. Bad behaviour should always be ignored, and good behaviour should be rewarded with either food treats or something else she enjoys.

The web article about nervous and aggressive behaviour in cats offers advice that may be able to help you.

http://www.messybeast.com/nervous.htm

Is she allowed outside at all. If not, does she have regular play time with you every day? If work or other commitments mean that you don't have a lot of time to interact with her, then perhaps she might appreciate having another cat to play with. She would also learn first hand just how much scratching or biting can hurt. If this is an option you want to consider, the web article below gives really good advice on how to choose the best companion for her and how to introduce them.

http://www.tulsa-animalshelter.org/tips/intro%20cat.htm

Hope you find a solution. Good luck.

Answer 2

We had this problem with our cat at first. He was so aggressive he'd bite and scratch our faces. It wasn't pretty.

We basically started giving him "time-outs." Every single time he bit, we'd sit over him and hold him there - not pushing or hurting, just holding him still - until he calmed down. Then, and this is the important part, we'd go back to doing whatever it was that made him bite in the first place until he figured out an appropriate way to express his anger.

It would go something like this:
1. I try to pet the cat. Cat bites.
2. I give the cat "time out" until cat calms down.
3. I try to pet the cat again. He bites.
4. I repeat the time out as many times as it takes until I try to pet him and he mews or walks away, or does something non-aggressive to tell me he wants to be left alone.

We broke him of biting a year ago and he's doing really well.

Answer 3

hmmmmmmmmm sounds like one of mine which the vet said has a behaviour problem and needs to be on anti-depressants.....i just couldn't bring myself to accept a cat needs this, so i spray her with a water spry bottle everytime she bits and yell....DON'T BITE....shes gradually getting better.