Cat aggression

I have had my male cat for about 9 months he is a year and 3 months. He has a jeckle and Hyde personality one minute he will be laying on my stomach with me petting him. Then he would be attacking me with claws out. Itcan happen at any time. He is fixed up to date in shots there are 2 dogs that I have but he seems to like them doesn't attack them only myself. I'm concerned I may have to get rid of him. He has scratched my face and hands leaving deep wounds and scars. It only started about 2 months ago but now it seems to be a daily Occurance.

It sounds to me like he wants to play. How do you currently play with him?

I have a red light he chases on floor. I never know when he's going to attack. He is an indoor cat but seems to like it when I bring him out in the yard. But im getting afraid to even go near him. It's very disturbing.

Do the attacks always happen when you're petting him? If so, overstimulation may well be the trigger. Remember that every time you stroke a cat you're putting your energy into them, and (some quicker than others) they will get to the point where they need to be left alone. My girl is like this. She'll sleep on my lap all day if I let her, but if I pet her too long she'll lash out at me. It's just her saying she doesn't want fussing at anymore. The golden rule is to watch their body language and stop petting (and maybe even walk away) at the first hint of a tail twitch of bodily tension.

If the attacks happen when you're moving about it most likely is that he's bored and trying to 'hunt' you to amuse himself.

Laser toys aren't the best for this sort of cat, as there's nothing to actually 'catch and kill'. This can create a lot of frustration for some cats, or if overused. If he loves his laser, be sure to end each session by making it land on a toy mouse (or similar) so that he has the satisfaction of 'catching' his 'prey'. Wand toys such as Da Bird or Cat Dancer/Charmer are generally a much better choice for playtime. [article="22328"][/article][article="29673"][/article][article="22399"][/article][article="0"][/article][article="0"][/article]

They can happen at anytime. I was just about to lay on the couch and he attacked he can attack if I'm just standing there in the kitchen. I had to put my oven mitts on to get him in the basement. That is were he is staying now!!! I looking into taking him to a shelter. I'm afraid he may hurt by dogs. They scatter and Hide every time they hear him yeowelling.

If there are literally no warning signs from him there might be something wrong. Please take him to the vet to be checked out. Explain exactly what's going on - if you can catch something on video and show it to the vet, even better. Even if there's no physical cause, anti anxiety medication could make a huge difference.

Fitting him with Softpaws claw covers would be a great move whilst you're working out where to go from here. They'll drastically reduce the damage he'll be able to do if he does attack.

I can't imagine how difficult this must be to live with, but if you take him to a shelter you're most likely sending him to die. Unpredictable, aggressive cats are HIGHLY unlikely to be adopted. If you really can't deal with him, I do understand, and of course you have a duty to keep your dogs happy and safe too. If you have to surrender him, please, please be sure to choose a truly no kill shelter.

Have you tried any calming agents such as Feliway diffusers or any of the blends from Spirit Essences?  That might help.

Do you have any stray cats living near you?   If your cat sees or smells them nearby but can't get to them, he might be attacking you in a case of redirected aggression.  
[article="32390"]Re Directed Aggression In Cats  [/article]
The trick here is to encourage the strays to go elsewhere.  If you live in a house, there are motion activated sprinklers that are quite effective.

Using Felliway or Spirit Essences as suggested above is a very good idea.  You might also look into calming collars.  Like Felliway, most use calming pheromones to reduce a cat's aggression.  Here are some of the ones available:  http://smile.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb...s=aps&field-keywords=calming+collars+for+cats

The claw covers mentioned are also very helpful and will keep your cat from scratching.  http://smile.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb...vers+for+cats&rh=i:aps,k:claw+covers+for+cats

When you take him in to be checked for medical issues, (which you should definitely do) ask your vet about medication.  Aggressive cats have been treated successfully with antidepressants like zoloft or prozac or benzodiazepines like xanax,ativan or valium.

I have a lot of sympathy for what you are going through.  I once had a cat who would suddenly lunge at my face without very little warning when I was holding him.  He almost took my eye out on more than one occasion until I learned how to pick him up in such a way that his front legs were contained.  In his case, it was redirected aggression towards another cat and when that was resolved, the attacks stopped as well.  

Good luck.  There are a lot of things you can try and hopefully you'll be able to find a solution.  

I am an avid fan of Jackson Galaxy and his show "cats from Hell". Every possible answer for an aggressive cat is covered. I believe he is on animal planet and I'm sure even has episodes online to watch. Entertaining and very educational with all products used on show being available to the public.

There are such things as psychotic cats.  I agree with @Columbine, he should be checked by a vet.  I'm not sure if you ever saw the work that Jackson Galaxy did with the "911 Cat" that was all over the news, the cat that trapped his family in the bathroom and they had to call 911.  This cat had serious problems and even with medication, he was at times unpredictably aggressive.  You should definitely start with a professional exam and opinion.  Yes, a videotape would be helpful, as would writing down a list of the times he flips on you.  The only appropriate shelter for him would be a place like Best Friends, where they have special accommodations for cats that are antisocial and not trustable with people.  It would be unfair to the cat and to  any shelter you would take him to if you just passed on the problems. 

Here is an article about Lux the Cat from 2014

http://www.oregonlive.com/movies/index.ssf/2014/06/portlands_911_cat_lux_update_w.html

and here is what I believe to be the latest updates by way of Mollie Hunt:

https://lecatts.wordpress.com/category/lux/lux-911-cat/

https://lecatts.wordpress.com/2015/03/22/32-lux-epilogue/

Columbine said:

If there are literally no warning signs from him there might be something wrong. Please take him to the vet to be checked out. Explain exactly what's going on - if you can catch something on video and show it to the vet, even better. Even if there's no physical cause, anti anxiety medication could make a huge difference.

Fitting him with Softpaws claw covers would be a great move whilst you're working out where to go from here. They'll drastically reduce the damage he'll be able to do if he does attack.

I can't imagine how difficult this must be to live with, but if you take him to a shelter you're most likely sending him to die. Unpredictable, aggressive cats are HIGHLY unlikely to be adopted. If you really can't deal with him, I do understand, and of course you have a duty to keep your dogs happy and safe too. If you have to surrender him, please, please be sure to choose a truly no kill shelter.

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I obviously did not understand the extent of the attacks, though I do still wonder if there is some boredom contributing to the issue. Redirected aggression seems like a likely issue as well. Please follow some of this excellent advice instead. Best of luck to you.

I have taken him to the vet but at the time he was just acting out when I got my periid. I will take him back. There are no stray cats around. I had to take my dogs out through the basement when I came in I had to grab a chair cushion to back myself up the steps. I left him alone for a while and then let him upstairs. He's a Persian cat if that matters what breed he is. He seems ok for now but Everytime he acts up the oven mitts come on and down he will go. He likes to go in the backyard but I'm contemplating whether or not it's a good idea because I may at some point not be able to get him back inside. Because he has hissed at me when trying to get him in but went in on his own after waving my arms out stretched to get him in. Please pray for me. I think he needs an exorcism because he is definitely possessed. Thanks for all the help I will keep trying a bit but it's upsetting to live this way.

HE LOOKS SO INNOCENT TOO!  This is extremely unusual in a Persian, as they are usually pretty docile cats in general, to tolerate all the grooming needed to maintain that great coat.  You mentioned you have had him about nine months.  Is there any way you can find out his history in the six months before you got him?  Did he come from a breeder?  Did he come from a shelter?  Did he come from a private owner who gave you some reason they gave him up?  Are you only his second owner, or were there more? 

He is neutered, correct?

Now I want what is best for you and your cat so please do not feel like I am taking sides or anything. My writing may not be great but I want to see what is going on as I don't totally see what is going on. So I am going to ask about people in the house that sort of thing to understand more the environment. Since he was good before 2 months ago something seems to have changed. So please do not take what I write below personally. I am just trying to help and my writing may not come out exactly right. I do not mean to point any fingers. With that said:

I am a big believer in the energy a person gives off a cat takes in. If a person is confident and calm then the cat relaxes and is calm. If a person is stressed out a cat can become stressed out and act out. Did anything happen 2 months ago that may have caused you to bring home stress?

You write "I'm getting afraid to even go near him". Cats can sense this and take this negative energy. And it just escalates. 

Do you play with him other than the red light? Can you get the stick and feather toy? And play with him with that (if he responds). Maybe he just has too much energy adn wants to play in a rather bad way.

It can be a number of things. Medical. Environment. Etc. Does he give any warning or is it really out of the blue? Over stimulation (over petting) can cause them to lash out. but that doesn't sounds like the only reason.

Now you have him in the basement. Taking space away from him also can cause a lack of confidence and cause him to lash out. Imagine if you are a cat and you are confined to a basement. I would think I would wonder what is going on and be a bit angry. Taking space away takes away confidence. Taking away confidence can make a cat get aggressive as they are fearful.

Now I TOTALLY understand that you are worried about being attacked. Going to sit on the couch and being attacked or standing in the kitchen.  Are there any warning signs? Think about what happened before he attacked. Was there odd movements, loud noises, etc. Cats usually don't just attack, there is usually something that triggers it.

Does his tail move rapidly, does he go into a "zone", do his ears go back?

Now, given the cats behavior I assume that you have gotten more defensive as the attacks happened. I read oven mitts and I think if I am a cat I would wonder what is going on. With oven mitts come negative energy. Same with the cushion. BUT I understand you do not want to be hurt. Can you bring the toy along and if he is going to attack get him interested in the toy? 

How long has he been going outside? Was it 2-3 months ago? I wonder if there is something (an animal, cat, etc) that is visiting your backyard and he is responding to that.

Can you step up the play? Get him tired out? play and then give a treat. Try to give him some extra love (as long as he does not attack).

How often are the attacks? Is there anything common in the attacks? Is he using his litter box?

Maybe it is a chemical imbalance but there has to be something that has changed or something.

Can you give him some treats? Chicken out of the oven, turkey, etc. Does he love anything specific? I deal a lot with ferals, some of them pretty nasty and I give them warm chicken and they can melt. They go "maybe this person isn't so bad". Sometimes if they think you care about them they calm down. 

I would like to hear more about what is happening. He is a BEAUTIFUL cat and I would hate to see him meet his death because he is now not behaving. He was good for the first 7 months you had him so I think he can be good again. Maybe it is health related or maybe something else. Tough to tell when a person is not there. So any additional information you are able to share would be appreciated. I do hope that you can get a little more comfortable with him and let him back into the whole house (so he can own it). If not, can you put a cat tree in the basement etc? He has to own territory. And I wonder if some animal(s) are making him stressed. Whether he can see them from inside or when he is outside. Does the basement have a window? Can you put something so he can get up to the window and look out?

Please feel free to ask anything. I hope we can get you all living together harmoniously once again. Let's try to figure it out. Hang in there.

Nothing has changed its pretty calm and relaxing here. I only put him in the basement for time out after he attacked me and the mitts need to go on protect my skin period!!! he stays done there for a few hours when I open the door and I hear a more calming meow is when I let him up. When he starts getting yeowly I say no and put my finger up and he seems to understand that but the attacks give no signs at all he is usually calm. I know he is very sensitive to things being moved around or even me taking out the garbage. Again it never bothered him before why now. He's a problem child.