A stray cat meowed at me aggressively then followed me, looking like it wanted to attack me.?

Question

I've seen a stray cat in my street, driveway & backyard for a few weeks. My family dislikes cats & we try to "shh" it away when it's nearby. Today I did that in my driveway & it stared at me & meowed aggressively. Later I was going for a walk with someome & it was behind a car on the other side of the street, staring. As we continued walking, it started following us! It wasn't walking, but rather running slowly in our direction. Scared, my friend "shhed" it, but it just waited there until she started walking again & it started following us again. We ran, & after a few houses we turned & it stopped following. But when we were returning, we saw it crossing the street where we were approaching. We got a ride back but now I'm scared it'll attack me when I leave my house. We might have provoked it with our "shhhushing", staring, our general dislike & fear, but what do I do now? Will it attack me again? How can I prevent that, and how can I protect myself if it follows me & tries to attack?

Thanks everyone. I'm planning to avoid it for a few days by taking a tougher/longer route from my house. If after that I see it again, I won't stare at it but I'll notice its body, especially its tail. However, my friend said its tail was not pointing upwards, so I don't think it was a friendly cat. I'll also try sprinkling water on it and/or raising my arms to look bigger. If all that doesn't work...then I don't know what to do. Keep sending in more suggestions if you have any!

Answer 1

Do not provoke it since you do not know this cat or its temperment. If you live within city limits call your local animal control and they will pick it up.

I had an incident with a stray cat in the neighborhood and was bitten. I had to take rabies injections and it was not an easy thing. If youd like to read about them I wrote of it in this article.

I have a picture as well of my bite and believe me...just because cats are small doesnt mean they cant pack a punch. Good luck and call animal control if you feel threatened by him.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/324193/cat_bite_results_in_painful_rabies.html

Answer 2

When and if that happens again, Watch that Cat's tail. and its position... If a cat is going to attack you will not see that cat's tail straight up ( that is their way of greeting a possible friend ( human in this case) or that human could be a source of a handout for food or for some reason or another... A cat will all ways go to the person who doesn't pay any attention to it...
An aggressive meowed to you may sound bad... But to a cat that can mean help me, I am hungry , or I want attention, I am ( the cat ) are in trouble and want some help from you...
If that cat wanted to attack you. The tail would be slung close to the ground and be doing a lot of swishing back and forth...Along with some loud hissing, maybe growling but you would have to be quite close in order to hear that... I would doubt that would happen, that cat would probably be running away before you really hear a growl or hiss...
From the sound of you writings, your a female and that cat was looking for a hand out of food and more and likely it was another female that did the hand out...
Now a rabbited cat is a different story. I have never been where a cat had rabies so I can't imagine what would happen.

Answer 3

Most cats won't attack humans. The stare thing isn't good with a cat who is aggressive though. If you don't look at it (turn your head so you're like looking in another direction, but slide your eyes to the side to keep it in view) that helps a lot. I only knew one aggressive tomcat who was even remotely a danger to someone, and he could be scared off quite easily if you hunched up your shoulders then slid your arms out like curved wings and raised them up to head hight from the side -- that makes a person suddenly look even bigger, and unnerves them enough to back away.

Are you sure you were reading the body language right and not actually having a friendly curious cat checking you out? Was the body crouched low to the ground? Ears half back? Tail puffed? Those are all signs of a cat who's not comfortable with humans. A friendly cat has their tail usually above the horizontal line of their body, their ears facing forward, and their head usually held with the chin above the line of their back, or at least their eyes held above the line of their back.

Answer 4

Yes, it seems that way. I already had two cats and took in a starving stray cat who actually is a lovely cat now and just recently, my children found a kitten all alone who's mother had been hit on the road. We are half heatedly looking for a home for her, she is adorable. But at this rate I'm gunna end up like the crazy old cat lady. How ever in saying that, yeah, I'll take you in sweetie.♣

Answer 5

Cats have a spitfire playful personality and don't like being told what to do. This cat is communicating his territory to you. All animals can sense fear, the cat knows your scared. I know it sounds strange but he is totally messing around with you. Like cat and mouse. He is showing you who is boss. How to fix the problem, go buy a empty water bottle that has a spray/stream nozzle. Fill it with water and set it on the stream setting. The next time the cat approaches you, spray him. After doing this for about a week, he should leave you alone. Please promise me you won't harm this animal. Remember he is an animal, and is trying to protect his territory.

Answer 6

I had a similar problem with an old male cat in my street. He'd stalk me on my way home and once when I tried to chase him off my front porch, he jumped at me. My partner (a cat lover through and through) told me to turn and walk up to him the next time like I knew him, with my hand out and try to pat him. I did (allk the time saying 'here puss, puss, puss' like an idiot) and he ran. I don't know why it worked, but it did and I didn't even see him much after that.
I guess that when he was in control of the situation, it was ok to stalk and approach me threateningly, but when I turned and approached him, I showed that was now in charge so he ran.

Answer 7

Did you and your friend have a good laugh afterwards? I would be sure to carry a squirt bottle with me unless the cat is foaming at the mouth it is unlikely to attack you. It is probably trying to let you know that it is hungry or wanting your attention. I have a cat that meets me at the front door and greets us when we come home. Don't be afraid, remember you are bigger that the animal.

Answer 8

I think this sound like the cat is stalking you. It probably just wants your attention my cat yowls at me when it wants attention. Try to pet the cat get it used to you. Leave a little dry food out for it I'm sure it wont attack but still get it used to humans before you call the humane society. Or keep it as a pet it sounds like it likes you.

Answer 9

Ya you should get a nice big dog and walk it home with you. Not only will you be cat free, but also free of crazy people, other animals, bullies, and so forth. Good luck!

Answer 10

get a dog