Let me start off by saying that I am a huge cat person and love all animals in general. In the past, I have routinely adopted the shelter rejects and "problem pets" because I have a bleeding heart the size of Texas. I merely point this out so that those who read this post will start off knowing that I am not negatively predisposed towards cats, even cats with extreme issues. Quite the contrary! The more un-likable the stray or shelter reject, the more I want to adopt it and rehab it. I have, however, met my match in a petit bundle of fur named "Fuzzy" who is my room-mate's cat. The cat was a stray kitten that was dumped in the country and taken in by a family with several rowdy boys who played very rough with her. I have been told by someone that knew the family that the boys trained the cat like an attack-german shepherd - they could put out an arm and the cat would attack it ferociously. Apparently they encouraged this behavior on purpose. Family had the cat untill it was about a year old, then they had to move overseas and left it behind with a family member who had to find it a home after a few months. It stayed at my friend's house for several months and I am told that the cat was ballistic the whole time. It tore out the underside of a mattress and tunnelled through it, destroyed everything in site, was a general hellion, etc, etc. My room-mate (I did not know her at this point), decided to adopt the infamous "crazy cat" and try and turn her around. That was three years ago. From what I've heard and can tell after moving in here 4 months ago, the cat is improved to be somewhat tolerable to live with. My room-mate has done good work with her and I've seen this cat curl up in her lap and cuddle (happens with no-one else, believe me!). The cat has also come to accept me as well....she no longer bodily hurls herself at me, claws extended, when she sees me, which is a good thing. Usually, life is pretty peacefull when my room-mate is around, and the cat and I tolerate eachother. Now, my room-mate is on 3-4 month trip overseas and I am left to deal with the Fuzz. Since her beloved owner has left, the cat has done everything she can to protest. She turns the garbage can over at every oportunity, spreads trash all over the floor, hurls everything off tables and countertops, breaks vases, lies in wait in dark corners and attacks my legs, hisses and bites when I pet her, don't pet her, etc....literally stalks my every move. It's to the point that I have to throw food in her dish so I can dash past her and lock myself in my room else she will dash in with me and harass me. She'll pester to sit in my lap then as soon as she's in my lap she decides she hates me and bites me and runs away, then she comes back and pesters me to pet her, then bites me for doing so. Last night she followed me into the bathroom and bit my calf for no reason while I was doing my business! Help! For the first time in my life I am actually afraid of an animal. This is coming from someone who owns abused horses with behavior issues, who has been rolled on, thrown, and kicked by livestock, bitten by dogs, etc etc. If I discipline her (water gun, firm voice) she retaliates by destroying personal property, if I love her, she attacks me. What do I do to help correct the situation?
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Help! My room-mate's physcho-kitty hates me!!!
- Thread starter theturboexpress
- Start Date
She seems pretty stressed out with her meowmy gone. You could try a Feliway plug in. They help calm kitties down in times of stress.
Yes, good idea. There is also a thing called "Rescue Remedy" Drops you can find in health food stores or check online:
For example:
http://www.anaflora.com/index.htm
You can start by putting it in her water bowl. A few drops into her water.
But the Feliway? Very good idea.
It's definitely a good start. Once she is calmer, you might be able to work with her a little better.
For example:
http://www.anaflora.com/index.htm
You can start by putting it in her water bowl. A few drops into her water.
But the Feliway? Very good idea.
It's definitely a good start. Once she is calmer, you might be able to work with her a little better.
She's very scared without her "mom" around...it seems like she looked up to mom as the great hairless cat matriarch!
She's redirecting aggresion in an effort to protect her territory. My Leo would do the same thing when I left...he destroyed my roommate's things and attacked her and her girlfriend. It was quite embarrassing, even though she tried to be understanding about it!
I agree that Feliway and Rescue Remedy would be a good start, but you might also want to consider a vet check. Even with the circumstances, I'd still err on the side of caution; aggression and stress can indicate a disease, or they can CAUSE one to start.
Do you play with her? Perhaps you could invest in a Da Bird and she might direct her aggression at that.
I agree that Feliway and Rescue Remedy would be a good start, but you might also want to consider a vet check. Even with the circumstances, I'd still err on the side of caution; aggression and stress can indicate a disease, or they can CAUSE one to start.
Do you play with her? Perhaps you could invest in a Da Bird and she might direct her aggression at that.
I don't know how I feel about adding stuff to cats water. Would you want stuff added to your water? Well, I wouldn't care I guess as long as I knew. Hmmm I guess I really need to look into this before actually making a judgement on how I feel about it....
Well actually they make "rescue remedy" for people too. But my aunt uses it on her kitties that are stressed and it works well. I also put it in my water at times for those stressful situations. There is also the flower essence on that anaflora website. It's natural and from what I heard from other people, very successful. She talks about what it's all about. It's different or rather a different way of thinking I guess, but not harmful. I'm considering getting some of the Feliway over the weekend and when my parents and I go do our, what we call "kitty cat run", meaning shopping. Hehehehe I'd like to try some on Boomer. The plug-in that is.
