HELP PLEASE!!! My cat is very aggressive!

After work my cat, Gimli (11 months, Female), started growling and hissing at me. I thought that perhaps she was just scared of the sweatshirt I had on, she gets scared of everything. So I took it off and she was still wide eyed hissing and lunging at me. She tore up my hands after I put her in her carrier because I was so alarmed.

After half an hour I let her out, thinking maybe I had just upset her and she was now angry towards me. But she continues to claw and hiss at me? It is like I am a total stranger to her! I have no other cats and I have not been around cats. I was very upset today and cried later after she settled. She got up, and hissed and was freaking out again. This happened twice?? 

I don't know what to do! :c I have had cats all my life and have never experienced this. She is fixed and indoor

My cat has NEVER acted aggressive towards me.

SOmething is triggering her response. We need to figure out what that is.

Need more information too. Please take a look at this article first:

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/cat-aggression-toward-people

Do you live with somebody else? Have you been to somewhere different (like a clinic) that have a strong smell that may have confused kitty? YOu said this happened twice? What happened between the two times? Did she go back to normal? How long have you had her? Did you try distracting her with a toy?

It's scary when they attack us and I hope we can find out what is causing it. 

I came home, went to the bathroom, came out, and then she responded like that? I have no idea why. I had just come home from work like I always do. I showered. Nothing out of the ordinary. The only different thing was that I cried. and anytime I start again she starts to become aggressive. I dont understand?

I live alone with my kitty. We haved had nothing out of the ordinary. I played with her and the toys after I let her out of the carrier thinking maybe I havent played with her enough. She played and acted normal. Later on the couch though it happened again (when I cried a second time, sorry, lot going on lol).

It could be something as insignificant as a change in soap or fragrance.  Or you doing something different to your hair.  Cats are very observant and notice every little thing.  It may not even be YOU, it could be misdirected aggression and something could be upsetting her in the house or outside.  Do you have any Christmas things that are motion activated and make some noise?  Those are upsetting to cats.  It could be anything.  It may even be another cat marking it's territory outside, she would see this as aggression.  So try not to think of it having to do with YOU.... Try to think of anything around you that may be triggering it.

So she attacks *after* you cry?

Because you say she is afraid of everything, I am inclined to think she suffers from anxiety.  Have you tried Feliway diffusers or the calming collar?  They can help a lot with cats like her. 

Yeah, people have had success with Feliway diffusers, calming collars and calming treats.

It is upsetting. I have never seen her like that. I feel like it is me. She stars right at me and freaks out like I turn into a stranger. I havent changed anything and the decorations have been up for a month (no noisy ones). I just am afraid if she attacks me all the time I will have to part and Im really against that. 

I just want my kitty back

I have never tried calming treats.

I did just recently buy catnip.. she loved it. I only gave it to her a week ago though. Can it have an adverse affect???

Have you consulted her vet on this?  If it's not any changes, she may be in need of medical attention.  Have you been stressed out lately?  Cats are like furry little mirrors and will reflect back our own emotions a lot of the time.  So she may be picking up on your stress, too. 

Catnip will not make her aggressive like this a week later. 

She is often stressed about new things. As a kitten I picked her out from the litter because she was swinging from the cage up sidown and pawing at me crying to get out. She hates being confined. Even in the car I let her roam and shes happy. However, back to stress, around easter I took out some easter grass to throw into the trash and she freaked out! Completely went insane like it was an alien? But she calmed down and never acted like I am experiencing now. This is like the paranoid scared cat it the normal and my normal cat is gone.

She suffers from anxiety.  Look into the Feliway diffusers and calming collars and use them at the same time.  They may help.  If not, consult her vet.  See if there is anything they can do.  This isn't normal. 

To be honest yes. I have been under a lot of stress. and I was just let go from my probationary period at work so I am completely bottom. I also have no medical benefits for myself or the vet. I did think about calling them though. She was spayed around June and had rabies shots.

Echoing the vet too. That really should be the first thing I mention. The first stop for any extreme behavioral changes should be your vet.

Sorry, I meant that I have had the catnip for her for a week. It is in a little sack.

Catnip would not cause this type of reaction... It relaxes them or it has no effect whatsoever.  But, it's not catnip.  It is probably anxiety and possibly a medical issue.  Is she eating, drinking, and "going" OK?

Everything seems normal. She has no problem eating, shes a pig, lol

I would at least call her vet and explain what is going on.  See what they say.  Get some Feliway diffusers and a calming collar.  And just try to be calm around her.  Also be observant because I am betting it's not just YOU.