PLEASE HELP-mean cat!

[adrockergirl]

Hi there. I've been looking all over the internet for help, I hope someone here might have some suggestions for me.

I have a 8 month old male kitten that I've had for about 4 months now. He was an angel when we got him, and seemed to like us. When we brought him home, he changed and desperately tried to avoid us. In fact, he's STILL doing it-4 months later! He runs when ever we come near him. We have other animals, but that doesn't seem to be the problem because he has always been very lovey with them.

Until now.

I don't have a problem with him not wanting to be loved on by us humans, but he had taken to chasing after our female cat and attacking her. At first, I thought it was all in good fun, but my female is scared to death of him! She hisses, spits and growls when they are in the same room together and she has even starting losing weight.

I don't know what to do with this kitten! He was just neutered last week, which I hoped would fix the problem. But no, he's been at it for the last three days.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I care about this kitten, but I can't keep him if he is going to terrorize my other cats. Would he be better suited for a home with no other animals and less human contact?

Please help me! I've been so upset about it all.

Thank you!
Niki

[Traci]

First....please check out Debbie's Feline Health & Behavior Links and check the headings "Aggression", "Attack Cat" and "Behavior"...you should find a great deal of helpful info.

Next, do you spend time with the male kitten? Does he run from you because he is scared and apprehensive or because he is iliciting play, or? Is the environment stressful and are you showing YOUR stress around him and the other pets? (pets can sense our stresses and will react to them)

Sounds like you might have to start over with introductions...or at the very least, use short 'time-outs' (use the search function here for this term relating to similar posts elsewhere in the forum) for him when he gets agressive with your female. Time, patience, a whole lot of love and consistency are the keys....don't give up on him, he's depending on you to set the boundaries, but remain patient and understanding as you train him to learn what is and what is not acceptable behavior. It's never too late to correct the situation.

It sounds like he could benefit from some serious bonding with YOU.....this might include individual one-on-one attention and affection, playtime, grooming sessions, nap time together, whatever you can do to encourage interaction with you.

[wildorchid78]

patience is the key to trying to solve these kind of problems. I have a problem between two of my cats who have been living peacefully for almost five years until a week and a half ago. I know how upsetting it is and it's taken me a good while to finally calm down. doesn't mean the frustration is gone though! Traci is right about cats sensing your stress, the more stressed I was the more my cats were stressed. Sounds bizzare but it's very true. I just keep mine seperated for now. There was a lot of underlying medical problems in my situation though which make it harder. good luck and just hang in there. there's a lot of posts on this board about this that are actually really helpful so I suggest doing a search. I really hope things get better for you! keep us posted.

[adrockergirl]

Thank you both for your help. My partner and I discussed the matter this afternoon after reading your posts and we've decided to hang in there. He's stubborn, but I bet I'm more so!

And would you believe it, since submitting that post last night, he has been an angel (well, at least to the other animals). Things will work out.

Thanks again for you fast responses!

Take care,
Niki

[Dusty]

I have this problem too. My cat is the most lovable little thing on the planet 50% of the time. The other 50% he flies at you from across the room and sinks his razor sharp claws into your knees. My girlfriend has perfect puncture wounds in her knee where he just flatout attacked her.

Its so bizarre...its not consistant at all! We scold him and we lock him away in the bathroom for a bit and we also give him a spritz of water sometimes if he is really bad....but nothing works.

He's not neutered yet, but we are going to shortly....we aren't giving up on him yet. We don't want to. But everything we have read online doesn't work at all. And I keep hearing all these stories how a lot of cats don't change at all after you neuter them.

Its unfortunate because he's the cutest most lovable kitty in the world. He always crawls up on you when you are reading and sits on your book and sprawls out to be petted. He likes human contact a lot.

But we'll be sitting in our living room on the couch and he'll be on one of our laps and he'll just freak out and slash at our necks or face......

Its a real Jekyll an Hyde scenario.....

I feel your pain, adrockergirl.

-Dusty

Edit: Oh yeah...He's part Siamese. I have heard that all Siamese cats are just insane. Lucky me.