Was my cat about to try to eat me last night?

Okay, I adopted a cat from a rescue shelter 2 weeks, 1.5 days ago. I only adopted her because she looked adorable in her photos & reminded me so much of one of my sister's cats who bonded with me so much that she "picked" me when I lived with them and would knead me, making biscuits, when she didn't do that to my sister or her husband.

So this cat I adopted was an hour away and cost double what cats at the shelters cost as it was a rescue shelter where they saved her from the shelter. She was there for 7 months until I adopted her. She was so feral-seeming when I met her that I wouldn't have taken her if I hadn't driven an hour & a 1/2 to get her. After a few days, she turned sweet and would follow me around until she got more comfortable. Occasionally I see her feral side though...

Yesterday, I tried to play with her with my red sweats drawstring and she got really upset again. It's my fault as she made it clear the day before that she gets very upset when I pick it up as she thinks I am stealing it. She been this way with her toys and her pet blankets when I tried to move one before. Now I know better. So it was completely my fault yesterday because dumb human didn't understand her meow cries about that drawstring. I've come to realize that she likes to play by herself unless I am throwing paper wads in the air for her or rolling a cage ball on the floor for her to chase. She's shown me she can do that by herself though. :/ After she was scolding me, I tried hard to please her and gave her more new toys and treats but she still was upset.

Then, I got hurt and upset and stupidly put her stuff outside my bedroom and closed the door so she couldn't get in for one minute until I saw her staring at the front door and got scared and quickly opened my bedroom door and put her stuff back inside. I then made an even bigger mistake by pulling out more new toys for her and putting them in front of her, giving her my green drawstring also, giving her more treats and more catnip to get things back to how they were. She left my room and wouldn't come back in to sleep on my bed like she has this past week since I opened my bedroom door to her. I tried more groveling but to no avail.

Then, when I fell asleep, I woke up to her jumping on my bed, then again to her cleaning herself but in a fake way that I've seen her do before where it's to look like she's not interested or about to do something...I fell back asleep but then awoke to an extremely hard lick on my arm that I can still feel 9 hours later!!! I'm not exaggerating. She'd licked me gently before but this was so hard and rough!!! And her face was scary. I had turned my light on when I woke up to her jumping on my bed so I woke up to see her cat head close to mine with an "evil" look with scary eyes and felt sure she was about to seriously bite me next after that super hard, extremely rough lick. I quickly jumped out of bed and went to the bathroom, then threw her scratching pad outside my bedroom and then locked her out when she went to sit on it. When she cried to be let in, it sounded angry and feral before it changed during the night to gentler and gentler when she did cry sporadically.

I let her in my bedroom when I woke up this morning and after some confusion on her part and semi-friendliness but also sometimes feral looks, she is curled up on bed next to me. I'm not sure what to do at this point. I'm scared of her and convinced she will try to kill me if she gets angry with me again. I shouldn't have tried to grovel yesterday. I realize that now. It kept making everything worse. Last night I was sad thinking I'd have to put her back in her carrier and drop her off at the rescue shelter. I think I screwed up by spoiling her so much already and I hate worrying about dominance issues I read about online when I try to do research on caring for her. I've given her tons of toys already, treats, 7 pet blankets, multiple scratchers, a cat tower she ignores. I was SO happy with her before and so, so in love and now I'm scared of her.

I see my options as 1) hoping she doesn't attack me when I'm sleeping, 2) crating her up and taking her back to the rescue shelter, or 3) locking her out of my bedroom at night which will just make her hate me more...I lived with my sister's four cats for 2 and 1/2 years but they were adopted as kittens, not a 3 & 1/2 year old. Please don't reply if you think cats are just all harmless sugar with no scary spice side to them. I tried to Google why did my cat lick me hard but didn't really find anything. Any advice is appreciated.

I don't think you have anything to worry about. I think more than anything you have an alpha kitty who has figured out she can dominate you. By you giving her things to try and "make nice", she's learning that she gets things when she is aggressive. Stop giving her things unless she's really good.

Has she ever scratched or bit you? If not she's probably just acting a little aggressive. Cats can sense fear and maybe your reaction has added fuel to the fire.

Feliway is a good place to start. It's pheromones that promote good feelings in cats.

Also, some cats have weird reactions to catnip. It can occasionally make them aggressive.

As far as do I think she's going to hurt you? Absolutely not, she's most likely just bored at night.

A laser pointer chase before bed may tire her out.

Licking is just something cats do? I think you're reading a whole lot of weird stuff into her behavior. No, cats aren't all "sugar and spice and everything nice" and they can hurt you, sometimes for reasons an inexperienced cat person may not see coming, but I don't see anything in your description that makes it sound like she was about to attack. Don't worry about her getting mildly upset, don't "grovel" (this probably stressed her a little), don't worry about "dominance issues" (not really a thing), don't worry about her "trying to kill you", don't worry about "evil" looks. She's a CAT. They do cat things; there are no nefarious reasons for cats to do cat things.

But if you're really that scared of her, you'll probably never have a good relationship with her, so it might be best to return her to the rescue, unless you think you can get over your negative feelings. But for pete's sake don't tell them she's evil or trying to eat you or something like that, because in some places a shelter/rescue legally HAS TO kill any animal they're told is aggressive, and she hasn't done anything aggressive.

Thank you for the reply. I was just about to post that I sprayed lots more Feliway last night after our "tiff". I've been spraying it daily and bought a diffuser for the living room along with a bunch of refills because I just want her to be happy. I'm so sad for her when I think of her living on the streets and what she must have been through. I did poor planning and just assumed that besides the initial cost of cat toys, cat bowls, cat beds, scratching posts, & a cat tower, I just had to buy her food and more toys, but I decided to buy Feliway to bring her home since the drive "home" was so long from the rescue shelter. She responded so well to it that I decided to just keep buying it for her forever unless I lose my job. She also loves catnip but just likes to roll around and rub her cheek against it and play. She's always happy with it and peaceful so I am sure it was not the catnip. Yes, I have an alpha kitty, maybe also because she had babies before? I saw enlarged pink nipples. I have to run to work but will read the replies later. I do feel better. Thanks!

Well, I read the rest of the post and the next one and I really don't think "she's most likely just bored at night."

I think I responded very badly to her getting upset again thinking I was "stealing" toys I buy for her and present to her. I've realized I just need to "ignore" her when there is a problem like this and then it'll probably just go away quickly.

It was very unusual behavior as she usually sits quietly at night when she's not sleeping and I've woken up to look for her. She has licked my chin lightly in the middle in the night twice. Probably to try to wake me up. I think if I was smaller, she'd have already killed me. It's their natural instinct. She doesn't cover her poop and that might not mean anything, but maybe it does. I've been reading about cats and how they have not changed much from the wildcats they once were even though we think they are "domesticated".

Of course, if I returned her to the rescue shelter out of fear, I would just tell the truth. I screwed up her introduction to my place and to myself and am now afraid of her, but she didn't do anything besides lick me extremely hard and roughly while I was sleeping. The rescue shelter already knows she bites. She bit me but without breaking the skin when I went to go meet her (and several times since) and the person there told me she does that. I love her when she's peaceful, but not the feral, scary side to her.

I forgot it's only been a little over 2 weeks. I will "ignore" her, try not to grovel, and not gift her any new toys or things for a while. She has plenty already anyway but I'll let her keep getting accustomed to me and to my place. She's always walking and checking the perimeter out in the rooms and wakes up sometimes fearfully. It makes me very sad for her. Life on the streets must have been tough for her.

I back up Willowy and want to add-

My shelter cat licks me at night when she is hungry or when she is feeling lovey dovey. I don't see it as a threat. I see it as her way of communicating and yes she looks kinda scary on my chest as she is licking me and yes the tongue is rough as it naturally is. But I trust my cat!  I don't fear her! When she is super hungry she nips my toes. When I stick my face to close to hers repeatedly  I get a warning growl and a swipe of the paw because she hates that.-All normal behavior.

In reading your thread it sounds like you did a great deal in adopting this baby and  I thank you for that. But it appears that you went into the situation with specific expectations for this kitty and now are frustrated and disappointed because this kitty did not meet your specific expectations.

That is not far to the cat or to you!

Getting a pet is a serious commitment for life. You chose her and she deserves a chance at a lifelong home. Take the time to appreciate your new baby. Work with her, love her, play with her. Get to know and trust the wonderful cat you have!

I am so glad you came here for advise too it shows what a great cat parent you are.  Give it time.

Well, I have to answer that my expectations for this kitty were really just that she wouldn't harm me if I treated her properly. I already understood not to expect her to act a certain way and to let her be herself.

You did not feel what I felt last night or see what I saw. I'm not fearful of her when she bites me normally as I have been around cats and understand that if you pet them too much or when they don't want it, they may bite you quickly to get you to stop.

As I stated, she has licked me before too in the middle of the night and that did not scare me.

The lick last night was extremely hard and rough and I am not exaggerating that I still feel it on my arm. She obviously has her feral side, which I have no experience dealing with. As I did not run on here to post as soon as she bit me or licked me, it should be clear that what happened last night was very alarming. If I had not jumped off the bed, I seriously think she might have bit me extremely hard to draw blood and match the lick to "show me who is boss".

She is definitely an alpha kitty and my behavior towards her with the many treats and cat toys and groveling when she is unhappy because she seems to think I am "stealing" her toys has not helped. I'm always giving her stuff because I'm indulgent.

But if I had read this thread when I was living with my sister and her four cats, I would have rolled my eyes because her four cats wouldn't really harm us, even though they nipped and bit and clawed occasionally and one jumped on my bare back once with his claws out and dug in yet I wasn't really fearful of him as I saw he was having "fun". However, with this cat...it is different and I can tell. Last night was serious, but you can think what you like without ever having seen my cat.

I also agree that you should just give it time. I had a kitty with a "sandpaper tongue" when I was a kid. When a cat licks you it's because they like you, not because they want to eat you. If you watch how cats interact with one another, they tend to groom their "friends". This is how cats show respect for one another. 

Just try and take it easy and not worry so much about what your cat is thinking or feeling. Most cats I know don't think a whole lot past the basics (hunt, eat, sleep, play). It will all work out if you let it. 

Thank you for your replies in case I don't sound grateful, but I think this is really serious. I wouldn't give my cat back to the rescue shelter lightly. I hadn't ever planned on even thinking about it until what happened last night. I was already planning dental cleanings and making notes of when she needs her next vaccine shots and researching which vet to take her to in my area and thinking about "her" retirement planning and who would care for her in case I died. I'm going to give it another shot and see if what happened last night ever happens again before I consider thinking about giving her up. But If I can't feel safe around my cat that I do love, then that is not going to do either of us any good...

I heard an animal hoarding expert say that when cats eat (dead) people, they start with the mouth. Think about it...why would a cat start with an intact limb?Your cat licked you hard. Piglet, one of my many cats, is most fond of me and she licks me the way a mother will lick a kitten clean. Sometimes she gets entirely too thorough and the skin is sensitive for a couple of days.Piglet just gets into it at times, as your cat did.

@Bonitababy -- could it be that you might have the feral acting thought in your mind? i mean, kind of being in the back of your mind. i understand that it can be quite...unsettling to see cats when they're very stressed and upset, like your girl probably was at the rescue. it's true what people say, that you many/most times don't get to see a cats real purrsonality in a shelter/rescue situation. it's extremely stressful and upsetting to many cats to be in a shelter or rescue, they don't understand what's going on and have people and other cats (maybe dogs too) there that they've never met before. truly feral cats wouldn't "After a few days, she turned sweet and would follow me around until she got more comfortable". truly feral cats most times have a much longer process of feeling even a little comfortable around humans....feral cats need much time and patience along with gentle, loving care to begin to recover.

your girl is probably still feeling insecure. it's only been just over two weeks since you adopted her and brought her to her new home. she may very well have never had toys of her very own before. at the rescue, they may have given her toys to play with, but they probably would be taken away again (so other cats could have a chance to play too). with time, your girl will learn that her toys will always be hers to enjoy.

i don't think your girl is in danger of trying to hurt or kill you. at the very least, cats rely on their people to care for them and feed them. but i think your girl is wanting to become friends with you. it takes time, because she's had a lot of changes in a very short period of time and will need time to settle in at her own pace. give her the time she needs, let her become comfortable with you and get to know you, and love her just the way she is......and she'll grow to love you, and you her.

I live with several fully feral cats indoors. The main trait of a feral cat is that they don't want human contact---attacking humans is pretty much the opposite of feral. Yes, they will freak out if grabbed, but that's pure self-preservation; they definitely won't attack proactively. So don't worry on that account!

Thank you all. This is all very helpful information, especially about feral cats not attacking proactively. Yes, in the back of my mind, I guess I am scared of her previously feral nature as she seems to have been living out in the wild before she was brought into the shelter on January 28th. I do love her lots. It sort of makes me feel better to know that she probably would have tried to eat my mouth last night. It also worries me that she stop purring for me about a week and 1/2 ago. Comes to lie on me but rarely compared to the first few days. No longer wants me brushing her coat and only allowed it that first day she came out of hiding when I brought her home. I think she's more comfortable with my place now, so comes to lie on me less... I guess she's really mostly self-reliant with grooming and playing. I'll just leave her to settle in and try to be more oblivious and try not to be scared to sleep with her in the room. I'll just let her come to me, even if there's another "tiff". I had started trying to "read" her after finding information online about how cats communicate with their eyes and tails, etc, so I was very worried yesterday evening. I am trying to watch her tail to judge her mood now. I think cats are weirdly funny. If you ignore them, they tend to come love you and try to get your attention. If you're an eager puppy, they seem to not like you as much from what I've seen. She's a lot less affectionate than she was the first week. I was so happy with her before yesterday evening before I got scared. It makes me so sad for her when I see her checking the perimeter all the time and even checking under my comforter/bedsheet because she seems scared there might be something there when she comes back. She's so confident the rest of the time and walking around with her tail up in the question mark, but then other times, she's afraid of what might be under the bed even though she hides there when I'm gone, I think. She loves all her pet blankets and her toys and, yes, I was thinking how sad that she's probably never had toys before so that's why she's so protective of the ones I've given her. She came charging over to me the first time I was trying to move her first pet blanket with toys on it. I acted extremely stupidly last night and will have to try to...just do nothing sometimes.

Just to add my experience - I also have a cat who likes to lick me, either when she's being affectionate or to wake me up to feed her. Sometimes she licks very hard, like she would have licked her kittens, and my skin gets sore because I don't have fur like they do. I don't think it means anything except that they tend to misjudge how it feels on human skin.

Also, have you ever seen a cat hunt? They don't sit and lick their prey, it would get away!

All of the ladies are lickers. Silly prefers my eyebrows, but will lick my face until it gets red -if I will let her. Sheba (Meezykins) prefers the arm or hand. S&S like to lick me and nibble on my fingers while I am skritching their jaws, and Julie will lick any part of me that is available when she is in the mood.

Maybe they like the sweat, or maybe they like the taste of the lavender bubble bath I use.  By the way, I have a Y chromosome.

Thank you! I feel stupid this morning. My beautiful kitty wasn't acting "normal" around me when I got home last night, probably because I kicked her out of "her" bedroom the night before when I woke up scared of her licking me so hard.

I did the opposite of groveling last night. I spoke a little to her, but ignored her mostly and tried not to make eye contact. I couldn't help unrolling her 7th pet blanket for her though, so I did that in our bedroom to let her know everything was okay. She sat outside our bedroom and stared at me continuously until I hid using my blanket. After a while, she jumped up on "our" bed and was purring away. Now I know if I want her to purr, I have to ignore her. She slept most of the night cuddled up against me and licked me awake a couple times, but not hard. We are all peachy again. ^_^

Thank you. Posting my fears and receiving advice helped a lot! She still did not cover her poop this morning...but that's fine. :/ But now I don't think she would have bitten me the other night...Thanks again!

A lot of cats do not cover their poop. I had one for 15 years that didn't. Stinky but livable.

Sheba does the poop and scoot, also. But one of the others usually covers it up.

@momto3cats, you're right, but I would watch her lick her food to taste it first, so thought she was licking me roughly before biting...>.<

Whenever you are in doubt, ask questions here. You will get loads of useful advice and experiences.