Question about my feral cat.

I rescued my feral cat when she was about 8 weeks old about 3 years ago. She was easy to litter box train, she was very playful, she used to love sleeping on my chest. She used to scratch and bite but not very hard since she was so small. As she got older she was becoming more and more aggressive. Now we don't pet her at all because she attacks as if we were threatening her. She only allows me to touch her. Sometimes she wants me to pet her so she jumps on my lap but after a few minutes she attacks me then runs away.  She has been an inside cat most of her life, she ran away 2 times and got pregnant both times from the same male cat. She was a very good mother both times. She attacks my dog when he's near her or sometimes she'll hide behind the wall waiting for the dog to come around the corner and strikes him on the face. Is there something wrong with her psychologically, why does she act like she has been an outside cat?

Thank you for rescuing this kitty that was in need. :heart3:

I'm so sorry she's becoming aggressive. The very first thing you can do that may help is have her spayed! I don't know why she hasn't been all this time, but she certainly ought to be, and as soon as possible.

Has she been to a vet recently? What you are describing could easily be caused from her being in some kind of pain. She may react that way because of pain, or she may be trying to tell you something is wrong.

She needs to be spayed, and she needs to see a vet for a full check up and blood work. :nod:

I did considered spaying her but I didn't think I had to since i never let her out and I just hate the thought of someone cutting her open, I'm not very good when it comes to wounds, when my baby was born I couldn't even clean his belly button I used to cry every time my boyfriend would make me do it.  She got very smart, she started sitting by the door waiting for us to go in or out till she finally caught us by surprise and ran out and did it again when we were moving out. But that's a good point I never thought about her being in pain. I just would hate for the vet to tell me I have to put her down, she might be crazy but she's my baby and my very first cat. But if spaying her will help I will try to take her in.

Sweetie, if your child didn't feel well or started acting out and you thought it might have a medical basis, you'd take him to the doctor, right? Same thing for a cat! They need medical care too. There's absolutely NO reason in the world to think a vet is going to suggest putting a cat down because they're becoming aggressive. I mean - she's not actively attacking you. No, this is a change in behavior, and that is the only thing cats have to let you know there's a problem. Vets already know this about them. :nod:

As to having your cat spayed... you can see why it is SO important to have them spayed even if they're indoor only. Those hormones are powerful things, and they find a way to get out. There are sooooooooo many homeless cats. It's really just the responsible thing to do. It also reduces their risk for various problems later in life, and it makes them MUCH better, much happier pets, without all those hormones making them crazy. But if thinking about surgery upsets you... think about the literally millions (yes, millions) of cats that are killed by shelters and animal control every year because there aren't enough homes for them all.

IomisMOM said:

 Sometimes she wants me to pet her so she jumps on my lap but after a few minutes she attacks me then runs away.

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This is actually no agressiveness, but a quite common phenomen.  You see it most often when rubbing the cats belly.   They seem to like it, but after a while they got too much, and may scratch or bite, and runs away...  The key is either not to pet them longer moments, and or learn to see their behaviour, when they had gotten enough. Often the tails wips faster and faster.... you can also feel the tension of the body.  The position of whiskers changes too shortly before the bite...

Otherwise, I do second LDG´s suggestion.  The problems may be behavioural, so lets proceed to think about it.

But she does need a spaying, and also a good vet check up.

It is very typical for cats in pain or stress they dont have the same patience as usual, and are teaching whatever needer or not, or even - becoming aggressive.

This stress here may even be because of her being fertile...

ps. She got pregnant by the same male cat?  So it could be good if the male cat did also got neutered. Please talk with his owner.

Good luck!

Please heed the above advice. Your cat needs to be spayed and checked out at the vet. This is definitely hormones and could be a health problem as well. If your cat escaped out of the house twice before then she will again. There are toooooooooo many homeless cat's and kittens, so please do the responsible thing, put your concerns about the surgery aside, and get your kitty spayed. She will be much more happy, healthy and stable. Being unaltered carries many health risks, physically and mentally as you are now seeing.