Help! Advice for odd over-stimulation aggression

Hi all,

I have an extended (3 weeks) pet-sitting job with a friends 4 cats. They are a handful but generally great cats. They are all older, all between 10-14 yrs. I have sat for them many times before, usually shorter visits. They know me well and I've never had any issues with any of them.

I went over for a pre-sitting visit this evening and one of them has developed a behavior where she jumps up on the couch behind you, rubs against your head with hers repeatedly.....but continues until she is over stimulated and winds up lashing out a scratching. Lucky I wear glasses or she would have gotten me in the eye this evening. She does this with her owner as well. Sadly, I don't trust her anymore. I can stay out of her way mostly but I know I will be sitting/relaxing with another cat who adores lap time and she may jump up behind me. I'd hate to move him just because of her bad behavior.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to deal with this behavior? I have had cats that got over stimulated from interaction from people and it was easy to just stop petting them, etc. and respect their boundaries,  but she's overstimulating herself, which just seems odd to me. If she were my own cat I think a vet visit might be in order if it continued. Unfortunately that won't be happening before their trip.

I could be overly concerned but I'm trying to be prepared. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

Kelly

That is strange behaviour to start up - do you know if the 'owners' have talked to their vet about it, or have they simply been living with it?   Any indication there might be a scent or something she is responding to like shampoo?   (Alternatively this could be used as a deterrant if there is something she dislikes).

Are there choices about where you sit and where the other cats will settle with you, so maybe you can control access to the back of your head and keep her from getting in to position?   Or as soon as you see her approaching that you can use as a distraction?

Thanks so much for your reply. I know she was at the vet about two weeks ago and there was nothing amiss. I can sit away from her preferred spots and maybe keep a pillow on the top of the sofa behind my head. I didn't think about the distraction though. Maybe I'll pick up a feather wand (removing the bell to not disturb the sleeping lap kitty! He's the sweetest.) and have it at the ready if she needs something to "kill".

I really like all four of the cats. It's so odd to even have to think about this. She's usually the easiest!

Thanks again,

Kelly

It is always worrying when behaviour changes suddenly and it does sound strange.  Glad to hear this cat has been to the vet recently for a check up - make sure you have all the vet details and whether there is any situation relating to this where they might want you to take her back in - just in case there is something which has been underlying the change.

These people and their cats are very lucky to have you as a willing sitter trying to figure out how to manage the situation.  

I found from a friend with the same breed cat as mine, a Maine Coon, that they are very hot to trot, meaning they need something to work off their need for stimulation.

Maine Coons take awhile to mature and he's only 1yr old.

In place of giving  him stimulation I was keeping him in a bathroom most of the time due to my resident cat who hasn't accepted the new one and growls and hisses at him a lot. The new cat began to bite me, sometimes playfully, sometimes aggressively because now I see he was cooped up too much. When he bites to mean it he MEANS it. I have an infected cat bite on my arm. Just one tooth went in but it was infected quickly.

So I started to let him out more and play with everything I thought he liked. He really likes a red ball he can carry around with his mouth. He then swats it and runs after at 100mph. He also likes to jump at toys that dangle above him. He loved the laser for two days but he's smart, he sees through it and knows there's nothing really there so that wore off already.

I'd suggest you too Up the level of energetic play and see what happens with yours. If that doesn't work at least you'll know - and maybe it will work.

Best

So far, so good. She has tried to sit by my head but I move. She seems slightly frustrated by this but keeps me free of scratches and I do pet her a bit.

The other girl is in heat and also drving me crazy! Don't worry, she is fixed but apparently poorly, leaving tissue behind that causes this. Ugh! I feel bad for her. She just can't settle down. They have had her on medication with very little difference. Hopefully age will male things better for her. She's 10 as it is!

Glad to hear you are staying safe for now and managing to keep things reasonably calm.  Oh that poor girl having to go through heat cycles.      

Sounds like you are earning you pet-sitting rewards for this job.