Random, but VERY serious aggression. PLEASE HELP!!

     I want to start by apologizing for the length lol. 

     This is my first post ever on this site and I literally had to make an account because of this ongoing issue. 

I'll start from the beginning. A year ago on about May 20th a friend of mine rescued three kittens she had found hiding under her car one morning (she's an extreme cat lady lol). Two of the kittens were black and one grey with gorgeous blue eyes. Her not being able to keep any of them for longer then it took to find them homes, allowed me to take the grey one. She was about three weeks old when she was found, and I've raised her since then. This is my first cat (except when I was a child I had two cats but we had to rehome them when my sister was born and allergic, I was 7) but I had researched a good amount before taking her into my home. I have my own apartment and she's the only animal (besides me lol) living here. For the most part she's very friendly. No matter who you are, she'll follow you room to room rubbing herself against you. 

     Anyway since she was about three months old (estimated by memory) I've been experiencing this problem, but I figured it'd subside with age. Whenever I pick her up and bring her to come lay with me she'll act very happy about the attention and there's no issue. She'll lay with me while I pet her under her chin and she'll purr like crazy. Now heres where the problem begins. After about 10-15 minutes of laying with me enjoying being pet, she'll lash out and go crazy attacking me. She'll wrap her paws around my forearm, claws out, and start hissing and meowing while biting me like crazy. If she's close enough she'll even try to bite my face. I've read articles about over stimulation and "petting-induced-aggression", but that doesn't seem to be the issue according to any of the sources I've been able to locate online. I just don't understand the problem. She's completely healthy, she's super active, eats like a full grown wildebeest (no I don't over feed, I go by the directions on the bag), and other than this issue she's a wonderful, absolutely gorgeous cat.

     I know this is a really long thread so far but I really feel like I need to provide the full extent of information that I can offer to be able to get an accurate response back. So she's up to date with her shots, she's obviously not declawed (I refuse, even though I have scars on my arms from her attacks), and she's not fixed, but I'm starting to consider it if it'll help with this problem. The vet wasn't able to accurately tell me her breed, but from what I've gathered online, she perfectly fits the description of a Nebelung (a medium-long haired version of a Russian blue, apparently they're pretty rare). She's all grey with medium-long hair, she has yellow/green eyes, her back legs have pantaloons, and the list goes on, she fits the description perfectly. 

     I'm going to wrap this up and answer anything I haven't covered when someone replies, but to finish off, I feed her various brands of high quality grain free food. I have a friend who works at an animal shelter and he provides me with free cat food. Right now she's eating Blue Buffalo duck recipe. She has no problem switching foods, she'll literally eat anything you put in front of her. She even tries to eat my food, whether it be a bowl of cereal, a steak, candy, literally anything, which according to friends is really strange. They say they've never seen a cat so attracted to human food before. 

     I hope I've provided enough information to get an accurate response. So, in conclusion, whenever we're laying together everything is perfectly fine for about 10-15 minutes. After the elapsed time she'll do anything she can to hurt me to the point where I have to remove her from the room. She'll try to bite my face, she'll wrap her paws around my arm (with surprising strength), scratching me until I bleed and biting me full force while hissing and meowing, until, like I said, I remove her from the room and stay away from her for a little while. Then she's back to being all lovey dovey wanting attention again, but when she gets attention the cycle repeats with her aggression. 

     Sorry for the length of this everyone, but I really appreciate any feedback I can get. 

Thanks. 

- Austin

Oh and here's some pictures. 

First picture ever, so about 3 weeks old 


About 2-3 months


Most recent pic so she's a year old now in this picture, jeez it's crazy to see how big she got now that I have the photos right next to each other. 

Welcome to the forums. 

First off 10-15 minutes of stroking a cat is a lot!!  Most cats only like it for a short time.  I have one cat who will lash out at me after just a few seconds.  When you are stroking and stroking a cat, energy ( think static electricity) builds up in their bodies.  This becomes very uncomfortable to them.  She is lashing out as she wants you to stop.  Most likely she is giving you clues way ahead of time that she's had enough.  Watch for shifts in her body or trying to move away.

Not all cats are lap cats either.  I have one that loves to sit in my lap, but the other will only sit beside me. 

Try not bringing her to your lap and just allow her the freedom to let you know when you wants to be pet.  If you do bring her to your lap, keep the petting short.  Just a few seconds.  See if she relaxes.  She can still sit on your lap, just watch the constant petting. 

In addition to ShadowsRescue's excellent advice, I'd say definitely get her spayed. It will help her to relax generally, not to mention making her generally happier and healthier.

With the stroking, watch her body language. If you see her tail start twitching that's your cue to stop. The faster and more strongly her tail moves, the more she's saying she's had enough. By the time the attacks start she's screaming at you that she's had enough. Learn to 'read' her so you can stop stroking her at her first request. She can still snuggle with you afterwards :rub:

Welcome to TCS, and thank you for refusing to put her through the mutilation of declawing. She really is a beautiful girl, and is lucky to have found you.

Thanks guys so much! I honestly wasn't expecting such a friendly response! Some people, on some forums, can be brutal with their responses so I really do appreciate your kind worded advice. Now that you both mention it her tail is moving around a lot by the time she does lash out. Like I said this is technically the first cat I'm really caring for on my own and learning to read their body language isn't something you can fully pick up on via reading articles on the internet. lol. 

While I'm here, I had an off topic question from this subject but you guys seem to have a bountiful wealth of cat knowledge so maybe you have a trick or two for this! How do I keep her off of wires? I arranged everything so nothing is hanging down, but she really loves wires! She even bit my main cable wire once and I had to have Verizon come fix it! Is there something you buy to cover the cords? or maybe like a home remedy, like idk, something you coat the cords with that has a foul taste to a cat? or something along those lines! 

Again thank you both so much! I'll take it easy on the petting and see how she reacts. But from my first TCS experience I'm definitely not afraid to post again with beginner inquisitions, so thanks for keeping the forums a friendly place as well!  

Welcome to the forums.  One thing I love about TSC is the friendly environment.  You seldom have to worry about being slammed here.

I second the idea that it is time for her to be spayed.  Cats in heat can be so touchy, I am sure is is adding to her nervousness.  And, yes, watch that tail.  Cats tell us a lot with their body language, especially their tails.

About the wires - *sigh* so many cats just love them.  But they actually have products to help.  There are corrugated tubes you can buy and cut to fit the length of the wires.  They cover the wires and sheild them from the biting.  You can also use toilet paper or paper towel tubes but some cats love to chew them more than the wires!

Keep us posted.  She is a gorgeous kitty!

Wires are a tough one.  One of my kitties likes to bite wires too.  It's under my desk where the computer is located as well as behind the tv.  I put blankets over all of the wires and this seems to help.  I believe there is a spray you can use that tastes awful to pets that you can put on wires.  When the cat goes to bite or lick the taste is very bitter. 

Biting wires can be very dangerous so work hard to keep her away from that area.  I would do my best to enclose it so she cannot enter. 

AustinAgliata said:

 
Thanks guys so much! I honestly wasn't expecting such a friendly response! Some people, on some forums, can be brutal with their responses so I really do appreciate your kind worded advice. Now that you both mention it her tail is moving around a lot by the time she does lash out. Like I said this is technically the first cat I'm really caring for on my own and learning to read their body language isn't something you can fully pick up on via reading articles on the internet. lol. 

While I'm here, I had an off topic question from this subject but you guys seem to have a bountiful wealth of cat knowledge so maybe you have a trick or two for this! How do I keep her off of wires? I arranged everything so nothing is hanging down, but she really loves wires! She even bit my main cable wire once and I had to have Verizon come fix it! Is there something you buy to cover the cords? or maybe like a home remedy, like idk, something you coat the cords with that has a foul taste to a cat? or something along those lines! 

Again thank you both so much! I'll take it easy on the petting and see how she reacts. But from my first TCS experience I'm definitely not afraid to post again with beginner inquisitions, so thanks for keeping the forums a friendly place as well!  

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Tx for the reaction!   Yes, TCS being a friendly Forum is one of the cornerstones of the philosophy and attitude here.

To your next question:

I have seen there are such a cable coverers, or even, you can yourself make them.  Take a lengh of a rubber tube.   Cut it up in suitable lenghts, and if necessary, also along the lengh.

Shorter cables where you DO have an end, you just put through.  Longer lengh without end, you cave this cutted open rubber tube, wrap around, and secure with say, tape areound.

Something like that.  

Have if possible several cables in one rubber tube.

The other trick is you get lotsa of aluminium foil, and wrap up the cables, and the joints between these rubber tube, with aluminium foil.  Cats dont like the sound if they are chewing on the foil...

Good luck!

Cable covers are the best thing for the wires. They're cheap and easy to fit (so long as the wires aren't a tangled mess, that is )

A cheap and harmless deterrent is a citrus oil spray (cats generally hate the smell). Lemon essential oil with water (1 drop oil per 10ml water). Shake well before use. I'd be wary of using liquids on electrical wires though - if I had to use it on wires I'd make sure everything was unplugged first, and maybe use a cloth to apply the liquid. That way you can be sure no liquid gets where it shouldn't.

If possible, try to block access to the wires as well as using other measures.

You might find these articles helpful

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/making-your-home-and-garden-safe-for-your-cat
http://www.thecatsite.com/a/cat-behavior-for-beginners
http://www.thecatsite.com/a/the-dos-and-donts-of-cat-behavior-modification
http://www.thecatsite.com/a/cats-and-discipline-dont-mix

Agreed with all the posters already. Do get her spayed. it will calm her down and help prevent any further issues such as cancers or possibly a surprise litter.

Hello, the spray mentioned in one of the posts above is called Bitter Apple. Its available for a few dollars at the pet store. I've used this often with other types of chewing animals on wires, walla, fueniture, even the animal themselves as its natural. Its very effective and generally deters them quickly

Yes have her spayed, do not stroke for extended periods without 10 minute breaks Also feed some canned food, it makes kitties more content and not so voracious for your food!

Hi. About the wire thing......I bought a thing called "critter cord". I just received it today so I'm not sure how good it is. It's about $12 for 10'. I got it from Amazon. It's a tubing infused with a citrus smell. Its supposed to stop them from chewing, lol. We will see.

You have much good advice here but I will add my agreement. She needs to be spayed and pet for less time.I have a two year old that I can only pet for a minute or so at a time. It gets better as they get older.

Welcome to TCS. Everyone here is very nice and, very helpful.

I, too, have the same problem with my cat (Grits). However, it is not nearly as severe as your case sounds! Grits always comes to me to be petted and after about the 5th or 6th stroke she starts flipping her tail and biting my hand...sometimes she grabs my forearm with claws ready and loaded. I suggest stopping whatever you are doing when kitty starts to attack. I stop petting and let her chill out and let go of me and then simply leave her be. I stop petting her immediately if I see her tail start to thrash. If you pay close attention to her body language you will know your cats limits. When Grits comes right back to be petted I only allow her a pet or two after she has attacked. I try to let her initiate it...she talks to me and tells me when she wants to be acknowledged. Normally she doesn't want to be touched if she doesn't announce her arrival. Sometimes it's hard to figure out a cats mood if you have a prisspot cat like I do:lol3:. Shes peculiar and finicky at times. She's spoiled rotten and she knows it! And for the wire biting...grits also used to chew cords but I got a small water bottle and gave her a little squirt and a "no" and she steers clear of them. Just be sure you're squirting the kitty and not the outlet! Be sure to test out the sprayer beforehand. ..you don't want to soak the cat or hurt her/him. Never aim for the face etc..it's only meant to be used as a deterrent temporarily until kitty starts to understand. I hope that doesn't sound cruel to anyone.

I forgot to add that this aggressive behavior got a lot worse after Grits had kittens and got spayed. We now have her and 4 of her adult offspring. They're all fixed. We originally had 6 kittens but could only find good homes for 2. We have 4 females and 1 male. It's amazing how prolific cats are!

I do recommend getting your cat fixed asap. It's an all around healthy choice. =)

tails up said:

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• tails up
• May 26, 2015

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 Do you know your cat is a lynx point?  Ie tabby and point?   Its not apparent if you dont know how they may look...  

I agree completely with you, it helps much to read of the body language.  Some individuals they are contend with just a few strokes, mostly to give a mutual acknowlements.  But it get often better with time.

Please above all else , get her spayed. I think it will help calm her down and keep her from getting a deadly condition called pyometra. My poor Willow is slowly recovering from pyometra surgery and it's been horrible! I hope you get the answers you're looking for

@3KittiesMom   I hope Willow does well. Is she eating good? Also was she sent home with pain meds and antibiotics?

She just sits around. I think it's because she's wrapped in a bandage. Her stitches come out tomorrow and I'm going to have to find something to help her gain her weight back. They gave her an antibiotic shot that lasts for 2 weeks the day of her surgery and only sent me home with 2 days of pain meds. I'm switching vets and have found a really nice office that a friend recommends. I'm hopeful she'll return to her normal self soon . Thanks for asking

Possibly kitten food as its extra high in nutrients? Also she might need a few more days of pain meds since this is more complicated than an average spay. even with an average spay, mine are always sent home with 4 days of pain meds.