Aggression

Hello all

I am hoping you can offer me some reassurance or advice. I am having big issues with my cat (she is 8 years old) attacking strangers. She has made my partners sons room her zone and anyone other than me, my partner and his son that enters in there gets attacked (she will also attacked anywhere else in the house it is just worst in that room) On Friday she went for my partners sons friend who went in just to pick up a bag. It feels like the last straw, I don't know what I would have done if she would have got hold of him luckily my partner intervened. There is no where else in the house I can move her to, if we shut her in another room she goes crazy and it makes her distressed further. We are moving house and trying for a baby and I am scared to have a new born around her. I have spoken to cats protection who have adviced it might be in everyone's benefits for her to be rehomed with someone that can have one on one attention with her, the thought of rehoming her is killing me but I feel stuck. I am scared one day if will go too far and she will eventually get hold of someone and do some real damage. Any advice would be great, thanks x

I wonder why she feels her territory is such a small area? Has she been to the vet recently for a checkup? Is she spayed? Has she always been like this or is it something that happened all of a sudden?

She's always been a bit manny, and will give a swipe if you fuss her too much or get in her space too much. It has always just been me and her and we just lived simultaneously together, she would get a fuss when she came to me but we mostly just sat in each others company. X

Oh and yes she was spayed when she was little ), also she is an indoor cat x

She really does need to feel that the other parts of her house are hers as well. How old is your partner's son? Nervous cats can tend to be scared of young children as they tend to be unpredictable. You could try things like calming chews or feliway while you try to entice her out of the room. If you feed her in the room you may try gradually moving the bowl outside.

The reason why behaviourists advocate cat trees and the like is that they make cats feel confident, they can look down on their world and feel safe. If you don't have one already, maybe you could try a sturdy, mid level one that could be placed near a window so she can see out. 

 If she still plays, you could start to gradually move your play out the door of the room. 

She is quite happy in other rooms of the house, her litter is in one room and her food in another. She just prefers this room, she's taken to sleeping on the bed and in the sun.. she's little sun worshipper! I've tried her with cat posts but she never uses them and looses interest with playing rather quickly. She is quite a lazy madam ) x

Ok I'm at a loss. Your cat doesn't lack confidence she's just lived most of her life quietly with one person and is set in her ways. She hasn't attacked you, your partner or your son, though when you have strayed into her territory, it was a stranger. Maybe it's just a matter of watching to see how she is with your new child? Meanwhile you could just explain to guests that for their own safety the room is off limits. 

If you don't feel comfortable having your cat and a new baby in the same house it may be worthwhile trying a cat behaviourist. I know they cost a lot of money but I'm sure a good one could help you.   

how old is your partner's son?  maybe your cat is protecting him.