My cat attacks me when I sneeze....

Hi Dennis, welcome to TCS.

Yes cats can get very jealous especially if he doesn't feel like he's top cat anymore. You might need to spend more time with him and while giving him a deep body message try mimicing a soft sneeze first so him will associate that sound with something pleasant. Good luck with your 22# wild cat. Wow! that would be a littler scary if you had to sneeze while getting your midnite snack with the light out.

Is Dylan actually a ragdoll or just a big moggie? If the latter, he needs to see a vet as 22lbs is a bit large and there are health issues that can arise from that. (and yes I know, heavy kitties often have a lot of muscle on them, too) Unless one lives with a person who has blood sugar issues/diabetic, many do not realize how harshly they can lash out at you, and seemingly for no reason - cats and dogs can have the exact same problem. Thyroid issues can cause major behavioral problems as well.

Get him in to see a vet soon so you know 100% what you're dealing with. Your vet can also advise you on how to try to correct this.

Get some feliway diffusers and maybe consider getting some rescue remedy for him.

All bites need to be treated by a doctor as cat bites are very serious.

What a strange problem! I'd try one of two things. Either I'd get something that made an unpleasant noise like a penny in a Coke can to shake at him post-sneeze or I'd go the opposite route and toss him a treat post-sneeze. It's obviously behavioral (but as StrangeWings pointed out that can be caused by a health issue so there's no harm in a vet check) and when I have behavioral issues I try to retrain. Think you can teach yourself to sneeze on command so you can practice?

^The reason he's doing this to a sneeze is because it's sudden and sounds like hissing. But since it's a new response any potentially deadly causes for the behavioral change need to be completely ruled out.

I bet you sneeze louder than your wife, and it scares your cat. I am by no means a cat expert, but that's my best guess. I can never predict if Daisy is going to run from something that scares her or attack it. She used to engage in battle with the Dust Buster. Now she runs from it.

And all my cats are jealous of one another, except for the rare, sweet Marshmallow. I love them all the same, but he is the most humble gentleman I've ever met.

How does Dylan react to other startling sounds?

You could try to counter-condition him to the sound. I would recommend doing that pre-sneeze since he is already in a state post-sneeze.

Let him get good and hungry - get his very favorite treat and toss him a few. While he is involved in getting these snacks give a very mild pretend sneeze and toss out some more treats. Keep these sessions real short 15-30 seconds. Incease the volume of the pretend sneeze gradually.

Of course at some point you are going to actually sneeze. When that happens get a barrier between you and the kitty. Go into a room and close the door. If your sweetie is home have her either confine the cat or engage the cat in play or feeding that can serve as a displacement behavior to get kitty out of the state of arousal.

I hope so. He's a bit young to have some of what are consider "senior" diseases, but as you know with people - some extra weight doesn't help. So maybe your vet didn't check for those things? (you'd know if they did - blood work isn't cheap)

So Swan500....what happened?!

I have signed up for this forum specifically to be able to ask you that question.

The reason: I have two 5-year-old cats, one of whom does EXACTLY as you say. He started doing this about 2 years ago. He charges 500mph to wherever I am when I sneeze and attacks me. I usually have to fend him off with a pillow or foot or clap my hand, and he'll slink off, majorly angry and crazy looking. If I'm not careful he will sneak back and wallop me with his claws out. It is terrifying. A few weeks ago I was sick with a horrible cold and fever and I would sneeze and I'd here -THUMP- bump bump bump bump bump as he'd jump off wherever he was sleeping and start charging toward me. I'd have to like beg him to leave me alone and be throwing pillows and blankets to get him to back off.

Otherwise he is pretty chill, loves to play, loves to be petted, and can be a total sweetheart. Although actually lately he has also started making this weird mean cry with big eyes if I make him get off my legs if he's sleeping on them. He glares at me with the same scary attack look as when I sneeze. AND this week he started doing the same thing if I sing a song in too high a key. Something weird is going on. It's also, frankly, annoying to have to keep my behavior in check to keep a cat from freaking out on me.

Incidentally, the past few months his twin brother has started making chirpy worried sounds when I sneeze or cough now too! but he is waaaay too much of a sweetie pie to ever hit me.

So....did the exercises work? or what's happening with you-all?

thanks
limeginger

I never had a cat attack me when I sneezed (which is a very good thing considering I'm always sneezing due to allergies.) when Lynxx first came here and I sneezed, he'd run away, but he got used to it very quickly. Luna and Midnight never reacted to me sneezing. Maybe you sneeze loud and it scares your cat, that's why he attacks?

IMHO I kinda lean toward StrangeWings idea that your sneeze sounds like a hiss. With the new cat & all he may have felt threatened. All peoples sneezes are different, and yours may sound more like a hiss than your wife's.

And limeginger's being attacked when singing too high..could it be that sounds like the wailing howling a cat does when ready for a fight, trying to scare off it's opponent? My heart-kitty, Midnight, over the bridge, sounded for all the world like he was almost singing, including a yodeling sound when another cat came on or near his territory & he could see it outside. He would then attack anything that moved, including me, or his timid roommate who learned to just melt away at such times. Me, I would put on boots & try to stay clear til he came out of attack mode. Any other time, Midnight was so sweet & loving you would never believe it was the same cat. He would never strike out at anyone unless another cat was around.

If I stub my toe and start cussing or get really mad or upset my cat Ricky comes out of nowhere and nips me...nip no bite and sometimes a scratch or to. I've asked the vet and a few others for insight. Apparently it's his way of calming me down...lol I fell on back once while mopping the floor and also had him nipping me on the leg as I was trying to get up.