Freshly caught stray exhibiting aggression

naggynancy

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After just finding your site and the forums, here I am with a problem. I just caught and took in a stray yesterday.  New Kitty has obviously been around people, but not for a while. He seems like a yearling, maybe a year and a half old, and has been coming around for food since last autumn. He looks like he may have been in a fight recently; has scrapes and small cuts, nothing severe.

Last evening, I picked him up and got him into the house. He's separated from my brood (I have 8 barn cats, ferals and strays), they can see/smell each other through a french door. Problem is, Kitty is showing aggression towards me. He wanted to get to the other cats; when I wouldn't open the door, he went after my hand. He bites, scratches. I've worked with ferals and understand that things take time, but I took in a stray Momma/kitten once and Momma turned out to be rabid! So that nightmare has me spooked about Kitty.

First of all, I know that he needs time. He's been here less than 24 hours, but I'm a little freaked at the aggression. He didn't show any until he got inside. I've used Rescue Remedy drops with my most recent rescue, a feral whom I trapped. He would play aggressively when he was first integrated with the rest and responded wonderfully to the drops. This morning I gave new Kitty drops in his food. I haven't been in there since, I want him to just relax. The other big thing is that he's hormonal... you can smell his urine a mile away. I'm thinking that could have something to do with the aggression.

I'll call my vet today and find out the number of days we need to quarantine him before his first vet visit. I'd like to be dealing with the aggression by then. I understand that it could take a long time. I'm willing to do whatever I need to do to allow this sweet innocent Kitty to have a good life as an indoor housecat, like the rest of my brood.

Thanks! And I think I found my new home on the net. :)

-Nancy
 

ritz

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Thanks for rescuing this cat.  And welcome to your new home :)

He probably isn't neutered, which may explain the agression and wanting to get to the other cats.

I would take him to the vets asap; not sure why you have to wait for that.
 
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naggynancy

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Called the vet this morning and they're ready to see him right away, but it goes to a mandatory 2 week waiting period if there was a "bite incident". I hate to admit it, but he bit me on the hand. He took me by surprise. I've gotten worse punctures from thorns, but I do have two teensy marks where he broke the skin. After going through the nightmarish experience of having one of my rescues being rabid, I want to do things right. That time I took the stray right in to the vet and she was just starting to show aggression, then wanting petting. The vet didn't recognize that she was rabid. She ended up biting me, my husband, the vet and one assistant. She got her shots and was scheduled to be spayed the next morning. By the following morning I was violently attacked and then the poor thing died. Her symptoms were very odd besides the aggression; after attacking she'd dissolve into purring and wanting petting. She made sounds like a cat in heat.

So there were rabies shots all around. At least, if I need shots, I'd only need a booster. They also came and took the kitten. It was horrible.
 

If his aggression is from his unfixed male hormones, then will getting him neutered help the aggression? I'm conflicted, but I have to do the right thing, so he can just cool his jets for two weeks.

In the meantime, is there anything I can try besides rescue remedy drops and short petting sessions/handlingAfter he got drops this morning he's a little purring gentleman. I'm hoping and praying that this works out. I'm using long sleeves, long pants/shoes and gloves. I want to keep handling/petting him, but don't want to get bitten again.

Nice to meet you, Ritz. Thanks for the welcome, and the reply.
 

StefanZ

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I'll call my vet today and find out the number of days we need to quarantine him before his first vet visit. I'd like to be dealing with the aggression by then. I understand that it could take a long time.

It baffles me a little. Most do calm down inside 24 hours, usually even shorter, and arent longer aggressive after the catching.. When they see nobody wants to hurt them etc. 

I suspect he wants to the other cats not only because he wants cat company, but he sees possible competitors, and wants to put them into right place, being a high strung tome in his prime.'

Him having scratches, he may have other paints too. And this is lessening his patience too. Perhaps even in itself triggers up his adrenaline.  Not so seriously hurt he is weakened, nor need your help -

but the pain keeping his adrenaline sky hight.

So dont let him met them not just having a health quarantine, but also let him wait at least a couple of weeks extra to let the hormones go down. First meet with the most docile of them.

Bachs rescue remedy is good.  Calming music may be good, classical harp music is best, but most soothing calm musics is ok.  If you have access to Feliway so a feliway diffusor is good.

He knows you some, as he got food from you? So your calming, friendly voice should also help quite a lot.  As you say, dont force matters. Let it take time with his cooling down.

It should come.

A little peculiar your vet wants him first to be at quarantine at your place before the check up.  Many rescuer takes their capture to the vet first of everything. (the vet used to handle ferales of course).

Continue with your reports and questions! Pics also welcome!

Good luck!   *vibes*

[I see you had one more letter while I was writing, but my answers are essentially the same]

ps.  Welcome to the TCS site and our Forums!
 
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ritz

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So sorry to hear about the rabies incident.  Out of curosity, where do you live?  Is rabies common?  It is very rare in the Washington, DC/east coast area.

Getting him neutered should help the agression.  His lashing out of you could also be misplaced agression towards your other cats.  Unneutered cats certainly tend to fight more than neutered.  Could take a few weeks for the hormones to totally exit his system. 

Did you tell the vet about the bitting?  I guess you'll have to wait for two weeks because of the quarantine issue.  He should be kept separate from your other cats until he is tested for FIV/FELK.

If you have access to Feliway plug in, I'd use that (requires an electrical outlet).  Play calming music.  See if he is interested in playing, like with a toy (DaMouse), which will also make him calmer.  Watch his body language carefully.

Ritz is a rescue (lived on the streets for the first five months of her life).  Prior to her I'd never had a cat before (or pet of any kind).  After two years, I have learned to watch her carefully to make sure I'm not petting her too much; this is especially true when I rub her belly.

It seems you're doing a good job given how receptive he is to you already. 

Keep us posted.
 
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