Panic Attack?  

This morning at about 3am, i was awoken to a cat screaming in full attack mode, attacking a cloth grocery bag in my living room. When i went to take the bag, she jumped on it, and wouldnt let me near it.  I finally got it away from her, and she started attacking me too!

After  20 minutes of her running around the house in full blast mode, I finally managed to corral her into a cage and shut the door, but not without her attacking just about everything in sight (sofa, chairs, plants, me, you name it, i havent taken a damage toll yet, but shes easily destroyed a thousand in upholstery alone.).  She kept screaming and rampaging though, and i finally doused her with a cup of cold water to try to shock her out of it, which it seemed to do, because she shut up almost instantly, and now shes acting fine, though im nowhere near letting her out of the cage anytime soon.

Then, i noticed that she had left droppings all over the floor, like 10+ as well as urinating on the sofa cushion. This leads me to believe that she was scared out of her mind. But i cant for the life of me figure out why?

Ive never harmed her, never even so much as raised my voice at her. There are no other animals in the building, and i just cant find anything that would have startled her into such a frenzy, or why on earth she would attack me after i removed the object that i assume originally set her off.

I love this cat, but if she so much as hisses at me again, shes going to have a short trip to euthanasia land. I cant have a bipolar wild animal running around my house, whom i cant trust around my belongings, guests, or even myself.

Any clues as to what could have caused it?

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrblanche 

This sounds like redirected agression.  Can she see outside?  If so, she may have seen another cat.

 

However, it's also possible she was "attacked" by the cloth grocery bag.  If she was playing in it and got one of the handles caught around her neck, she may have panicked, thinking she was being attacked by another animal.  I have seen fairly calm cats go absolutely bonkers with a plastic shopping bag handle around their neck.  Some cat owners recommend cutting the handles of any bag like that that you leave around.

Its possible she was messed up in the bag, but shes played around with them before, even getting caught up in them, but never reacted like this.  As for windows, i dont have many in the place, two of the three had blinds, and the other was in a different room from where she started her tirade. Also, we are on the second story.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrumbAndHarvey 

Wow. What an absolutely deplorable thing to say. Obviously, your cat was afraid of something. You came to this conclusion yourself. My Crumb is an inside cat who suddenly developed an extreme fear of strangers. I believe he must have seen something out the window. This is I'm sure a very trying experience for both of you, but saying things like that, even in jest... 

 

Here's to being glad there wasn't some omnipotent being that decided I should be put to death when I act irrationally.

Deplorable or not, i babysit my cousins child often, and dont fancy having my belongings shreded. Maybe im not as devoted and caring as you are, but i cant afford to babysit a cats every move. And i most definately dont intend to shove her in a cage every time  i have company or leave the house. I didnt adopt her to be a liability, and if she shows this type of behavior again, i will have no choice but to dump her in an alley somewhere, or take her to the pound. (and the pound around here makes quick work of voilent animals)

I dont think you understand the gravity of the situation, im bleeding from multpile scratches, and three places where she bit (hard) and punctured skin. One of them is still bleeding.  My $3000 sofa is now a combination of shredded fabric and foam, and all around my home, plants are knocked over, glass broken, etc.  Ive seen cats get scared and react before, but ive never heard of a cat going berserk for nearly 30 minutes and attacking everything but their own shadow.

Maybe im a mean guy, but when an animal attacks me, and does that amount of damage to my home and belongings, i dont care how cute and cuddly it is.  Im giving her a chance because of the possibility that she was frightened, but im not so emotionally attached as to ignore the fact that the cat just did $1000+ worth of damage to my home, as well as a number on my hands and arms. If she isnt a stable house pet, then i wont hesitate to do what needs to be done.

Quick update:

I let her out a few minutes ago as she has had about  4 hours to calm downn, and after about 30 seconds of sniffing around, she jumped right back into it. Started hissing at the wall (seriously), then leapt at it, and started attacking it..  I scruffed her, and put her back in the cage.  I just called my vet, and im taking her down today to have them look at her.

Im almost convinced that she has some sort of chemical imbalance now. No normal cat goes berserk on and starts ramming themselves into a wall. She hasnt had access to any chemicals in the house, theres not even a dirty dish or half-full can of soda within her reach.  I havent changed her diet at all either.

Vet gave her a hefty dose of tranqulizer, and told me to let her sleep, and call them if she acts up again.

whats another $65.

Quote:

Originally Posted by brightlily 

I don't think your cat is behaving aggressively for no reason.  Behavior this sudden and severe must have a physical cause behind it.  If she isn't better after the tranquilizer wears off, please do call your vet.  I would have them do a blood test and physical exam to see what is going on.  It could be any number of things that could have a simple remedy or treatment, or it could be something more serious.  Either way, you'll never know if it could be helped if you don't try.

 

And, IMO, if you decide that you cannot deal with your cat or her issues, it would be much kinder to take her to your vet and have her euthanized versus a pound/shelter or just abandoning her to the streets.

She did it again last night when i let her out of the cage, but i was quick enough to catch her and put her right back in her cage. This time, she attacked a pillow on whats left of my sofa. I will be discussing euthanization with the doctor on monday. I have no intention of owning an unstable animal, whom i have to medicate and watch daily. I hate to kill the poor thing, but there comes a point when a cat is better off being put down peacefully, rather than spend its life in a concrete and wire cage. Either way, she has worn out her welcome with me, and will not be returning to my home. I adopted the cat from the vet office, and i know the staff there quite well, so ill leave the choice to them as to what to do. If they think they can find a home thats more willing to deal with her problems, then thats fantastic. In the mean time, i cant afford (emotionally or physically) to lock up a cat in a small cage all day long, and take the time out of my day to spend money on vet fees for a cat whom i cant get near without the fear of her attacking me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrblanche 

If this cat was normal for a long period of time and this was a sudden occurance, something happened to her.  My best bet is the bag, but it could be something else.  Maybe someone tried to break in the house.  Maybe another cat outside scared her.  Maybe she even had some sort of stroke.  She may be irretrievably damaged; however, I hope no one makes that sudden a decision about you or me, should we have a sudden problem.  Of course, we can tell someone what happened to us; she can't.  All you can do is use your deductive powers.

 

I hope you got your wounds taken care of, especially any deep bites.  They get infected very easily, and it can be very serious.

I called my doctor and he sent me a prescription of some antibiotics, i also cleaned the cuts and put neosporin on them, so far none of them have even so much as swollen up.

I am not sure what triggered the problem, but its apparent that there is something seriously wrong with her, however as it stands now, she attacks litterally anything, and its getting to the point where she is self destructive. She is walking with a small limp, and part of her tail is missing a bit of hair from what i can see. Now when i get close to the cage, she starts up immediately, so im doing my best to avoid her for her own sake.

^^ i do care about the cat, ive lived with her for a year, ive spent at least an hour each evening playing with her, not to mention the time she spends on my lap while im working on the computer, or in front of the television. Im not so inhuman as to say that i dont give a hoot, its tearing me up inside that i have to keep my cute little suzu confined to a 3x3x5 dog cage all day for fear that she will attack me, its not right, but i dont have a choice..  Im also dreading having to put her down, but the realist part of me says that its the most humane option at this point.

Step by step of the first night:

1. I wake up to my cat screaming attack mode

2. Walk out to living room, she is in attack stance maybe a foot from a grocery bag.

3. She sees me, but still focuses on grocery bag.

4. I walk over slowly talking calmingly, pick up bag

5. she leaps onto bag, and starts biting/clawing

6. I drop bag, she attacks it on ground

7. she turns from bag for a moment, i pull bag away, and hold it up high, wad into fist.

8. she jumps on my leg and begins to bite/claw it

9. i bump her away, and quickly make my way to the kitchen, where i toss the bag in a cabinet

10. I come out, shes attacking sofa. I try to get near her to distract her attention, but she hisses at me and makes a jump at my outstretched hand

11. I go out to garage, and get cage

12. I come back in and wait, hopeing she will calm down

13. 5+ minutes have passed, shes still on a rampage

14. i start to carral her with the cage

15. she attacks cage and me, then runs

16. she starts attacking a chair on the other side of the room.

17. i slowly follow her over, she runs and attacks something else

18. (repeat 16-17 multiple times)

19. i toss one of her kitty toys and distract her long enough to scruff her

20. shes still thrashing in my hands and screaming, i manage to get her in the cage

21. shes still trashing in the cage, ramming herself  against the walls.

22. five more minutes have passed, shes still screaming and rampaging

23. small water bottle spritz doesnt calm her down

24. treats, distractions dont calm her down

25. get frustrated, take her out on the patio, turn the hose on her

26. she finally shuts up and calms down (estimate time total 15-20 mins)

Take her to vet, vet checks ears, nose, temperature, etc. Says shes fine, gives her tranqulizer to help her calm down

Next night:

1. Let cat out at about 9pm, she seems calm enough, rubs up against me, purring.

2. Jumps down from ledge where i have the cat cage (high up so she can see the whole living room)

3. Suddenly hissing

4. Headbutting wall,

5. scruff her

6. put her back in cage

7. she calms down after a few minutes without needing to be hosed.

Next day:

1. Let cat out at about noon, rubs up against me, purring again.

2. Jumps down from ledge

3. Goes to potty (guess she didnt like my pie tin and sand idea)

4. comes out of potty, purring

5. suddenly hissing

6. attacking computer chair

7. scruff her

8. back in cage

9. few minutes go by, shes calm again

Last night: 

1. Let her out about 8pm

2. about 20 minutes go by, shes happy, purring, on my lap

3. suddenly hissing at my hand using computer mouse

4. jumping on desk, attacking my hand , then goes for face.

5. i swipe her down before she gets to my face (yea, i swatted her down, this is the first time ive done any aggressive act towards her)

6. catch her before she rebounds, scruff her

7. put her in cage

8. she screams and rampages for about 10 minutes, then calms down

Game over for me. I was willing to give her a chance, but the second she went for my face, it was over. Shes going to the vet today, and im not bringing her back. They can do what they want with her, maybe she will find a home, but i have a strong suspicion that the only place shes going is 6ft under. I know shes not human and cant comprehend things like we do, but ive given her a home, fed her, loved her, etc. And her only response is to destroy my home, and quite litterally bite the hand that feeds her, not only can i not afford to pay for the extensive treatment that she will need, i do not have the time (im a full time college student, and work full time at home). There are millions of cats in the world, and maybe an older one at the pound will more appreciate the home i have to offer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LDG 


I realize you're angry, upset, and frustrated. Apart from the fact that you portray your attitude as being completely heartless, which naturally offends us here at THE CAT SITE (though many of us have experienced threatening, dangerous, and frustrating experiences ourselves), your cat did NOT freak out because she does not appreciate you or your home. Your cat was in distress. Whether medical or otherwise, her response was not out of "lack of * appreciation. I do hope that if you adopt another cat, it will never experience any health problems that you have no desire to help her through.

Again, this is not my frirst cat. Ive had two myself (both adopted at a fairly young age), and grew up with plenty more in the family. My first cat was asthmatic, and the second was hit by a car around the age of five, requiring her left rear leg be amputated. I gladly paid the bills because i loved the cats, and because i knew that the cats were not money pits. The asthmatic cat died at 11 years old, and the amputee died at 13, only two years ago.

  This case however is obviously a mental disorder, even the vet has told me that her actions are very unnatural and that the only documented cases with similar situations were of sever neurological disorders that have no know cause or solution. I can throw money into bloodwork, cat-scans, etc all day long, with no promise of a solution to the problem. Im not made of money, and even though i love her, i still have to make logical decisions.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Feralvr 

I really am in tears right now. For this cat.... I seriously still think handling her the way you did that first episode, scruffing her, throwing her in a dog cage, the hosing outside on the patio with her in the crate, just tears me up inside. That is animal cruelty. I am just sick to read that you did that to the cat. That only led her to become more emotionally unstable, even if it was something gone wrong in her brain, that was just cruel to hose her. I am really sorry for this cat.

1. I didnt throw her in the dog cage, i have never handled the cat with anything other than loving care. Scruffing a cat is not a voilent nor agressive manuver, it is how mothers deal with their children, and how any professional disarms a cat without causing it pain or panic.

2. I didnt just hose her with water, is spent alot of time doing my best to calm her down, i offered her treats, toys, etc to try to get her attention, but she was ignoring me and going berserk. Out of concern for her own safety, i used a water bottle to spritz her with water with no results.

3. Finally after she showed no signs of stopping her self-destructive  actions, i carried her outside, and turned the hose on her. I didnt blast her with a nozzle, or anything, i turned the water on lightly, and let it drizzle into the cage.  It was only then that she was shocked out of her frenzie.

4. So yes, im a cruel asshole for being concered about the safety of myself, my belongings, and the well-being of my cat. It matters not that i did everything within my power to calm her down, it matters not that she likely has some nerological disorder. You are right, im just an abusive asshole. Get over yourself.

Im sorry i signed up at this site, it seems to me that most of you seem to think that im some sort of cat killer who enjoys abusing animals, and frankly, im insulted. i really truthfully would have loved to see just exactly how you would have dealt with the situation, when your own cat, whom you love and cherish is turned savage for no apparent reason and begins to attack you, your home, and even his/her own body, and refuses to stop for anything. Then have people tell you that its your fault.

For those of you who have been helpful, thankyou. The rest of you, get off your damn high horse and learn some social skills.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruthyb 

OMG I have read this and I'm disgusted.Last year I got attacked by a cat who I adopted and I required hospital treatment.I wanted to still keep him as I loved him but I knew it wasn't the right thing to do,I rung around and and found a rescue centre that re-homed him for me on a farm.They had the vet check him over first.I could never of had him PTS ever.There could be something underlying and she could be ill,people suffer from mental illness and so can cats,do we just put down every human that suffers from mental illness?I hope that you can live with yourself if you have her put to sleep and please never consider getting another cat again!

Fantastic quality of life the cat will have in her straight jacket and 3x3x5' cube. Finally, i have made every effort to find her another home. But the vet, and the local shelter have very strict rules about handling unstable and aggressive cats.  Yes, you are right, we dont kill every mentally challenged person on the planet, but we do kill those who are mentally challenged enough to attack and kill. Take a good look at death row if you have any questions about that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrumbAndHarvey 

 

I think it was just the way you presented the initial post... and continue to be, at least in text, aggressive and nonchalant. And hard as it is (see my temper flare after even the first response), we do hang around here to help. I hate to see anyone seeing this obviously AWESOME community in a negative light. 

 

I can see that working a traumatized animal -- however the initial incident happened, and no matter what may have immediately followed -- might not be something the OP wants to participate in. But I ask you to please, please, please actually take her back to the veterinarian you adopted her from or looking into a rescue/shelter situation rather than immediate euthanasia. It may seem like a humane decision, when in actuality, it is a convenient decision. If you don't feel like taking it on yourself, seek someone who will. I know there are many people out there in the world who would be willing to help. 

She is at the vets office now, they are monitoring their behavior and have contacted a specialist. Euthanasia is not my first choice, and i would like more than anything to have my cute cuddly kitten back. But  i have to face facts of what i can and cant do. Taking care of a cat with the issues she has is not an option for me, and thus far, my attempts to find anybody willing to take her in have been fruitless. Every place i have called as told me that aggressive animals are put down.  The veterinarians office is her last chance really, and i pray that its the chance she needs. Until then, my hands are tied.

I am sorry if i come across as nonchalant and aggressive. Death has (unfortunately) been a large part of my life since childhood, and i see the world from a very different perspective than most. I follow logic, not emotions when i speak and write and make decisions. Its hard to explain, but im not very "lovey dovey" if you get my gist. I still have feelings, and love my family/friends with all my heart, but im just more upfront about the reality of life than most. When i see a situation, i try to make the best of it, and  in this case,  putting her down is the only logical choice that i myself have.  Unless i can find her a home that will accept her, the only other option is taking her down the road, and dumping her in the gutter - not even an option for me.  Whats peaceful slumber when compared to a strange world of disease, deadly moving vehicles, and your own mental instabilities??