Hello, I'm new to this group and I was looking to see if anyone could help with a behavioral issue with my cat. I've had my cat for about 2 years now and a little less than 6 months ago he has shown really aggressive behavior. I've grown up around cats and I have never encountered a problem like this one and I have no clue how to help the situation. Every so often I will be walking and my flips out and jumps on my leg, holding on as tight as he can biting me. He literally attacks me and it isn't in a playful sort of way; he is pissed. (His ears are back, hair on his back is standing up, his tail is twitching, and he's making these strange little meows) I have to pull him off and he continues to go after me trying to grab a hold of whatever he can. I usually end up having to grab his scruff and hold him to the floor till he relaxes then release and praise. I read somewhere online that is the best way to break a cat of this sort of aggression. However i wish there was something more I could do because he seems so stressed out when he is in this state. Now a little twist is that when he is in my room he is completely different. I can carry him to my room while he is trying to attack me and as soon as I enter my room and set him down he turns into the affectionate cat that he normally is. Now, I live with my dad, step-mom and brother and he does not act this way with any of them only with me. I am the one that takes care of him when I am home he hangs around me including sleeping with me. So if anyone has any suggestions to guide me in the right direction that would be very appreciated. Thank you!
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Re: Need Advice
Fri, March 21, 2008 - 11:00 AMi would recommend contacting a cat behaviorist... this kind of behavior CAN be modified with some work on your part... i met Diana Partington when i was still working at the cathouse - she helped out with a client cat as well as another member of staff who had a very aggressive cat problem... her webpage is thecatbehaviorist.halfbathforcats.com/
good luck!
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Re: Need Advice
Sun, March 23, 2008 - 11:47 AMwww.salon.com/mwt/feature...t_whisperer/
this is a good article about a woman - the author calls her a "cat whisperer" - a cat behaviorist who advises her client on an aggressive cat situation that could be close to yours...
i used to work in a cat hotel and dealt with a lot of cats day in, day out and i can tell you that when cats are aggressive to their loved ones i suspect it is a cry for attention (obviously this is different from petting aggression which is a physical response that you just have to learn to judge and get out while the getting's good!)... in my amateur studies and in my learning to live with my new cat - when i get heavy teeth on me for no good reason i have found that an intense snuggle session where i am very much in control of him physically (i.e., gently scruffing him and holding him so he can't hurt me but giving him enough rope to get out at any time if he doesn't want to be snuggled) he calms right down and becomes a purring puddle of love... now obviously, if your cat remains aggro while you are considering initiating a snuggle session you don't want to do it... but watch the signals you get and maybe it might do the trick... just don't get hurt!
