Mr. Big Attacked Me

Tonight, Mr. Big came for his dinner...just like he always does. He was so excited to see me.....was rubbing all over me...purring....meowing. I squatted down to pet him and he was rubbing his head on my hand and stuff....like he always does. Then suddenly, he just attacked my arm for some reason. It happened so quick, that I barely had time to jump up. He bit me and scratched me on the arm.

Fortunately, I had on a large sweatshirt....so I think he got mostly shirt in his mouth.....but he did leave one heck of a bruise on my arm from the bite. It's swollen now and there's one small place where the skin was broken. Where he scratched me, I have two punctures and a bruise in that area too. I came in and washed my arm really good with hot water and antibacterial soap. I can't find my Neosporin right now....but I'm still looking.

I'm just totally amazed at the strength of that cat. To put these kinds of bruises on my arm THROUGH a sweatshirt just blows me away. If I had been wearing a short sleeved shirt......I have no doubt that he would have done serious damage to my arm and I'd probably be at the emergency room right now. I've never seen a cat that could cause a bruise WITH the scratch and bite through fabric like he did.

He had kinda done this once before but he didn't actually bite me that time and I thought it was because I had rubbed a sore spot on him or something. This time....it was totally unprovoked.

aww... Robin, I'm sorry.. that sucks... Kai does that too.. he'll be all sweet and gentle one minute and the next minute he'll just bite my face for no reason... I dont quite get it...

OUCH Robin!!! Make sure to find that Neosporin and clean it up well. I'm sorry Mr. Big went bonkers on your arm. Did you have an odd scent on you that could have set him off???

Mac will sometimes lash out for no apparent reason. Did you find your ointment?

Originally Posted by Ali012281

OUCH Robin!!! Make sure to find that Neosporin and clean it up well. I'm sorry Mr. Big went bonkers on your arm. Did you have an odd scent on you that could have set him off???

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I have no idea. I had just come home from getting the oil changed in my car. But I didn't even get out of the car.

Originally Posted by Malakai711

aww... Robin, I'm sorry.. that sucks... Kai does that too.. he'll be all sweet and gentle one minute and the next minute he'll just bite my face for no reason... I dont quite get it...

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I wonder why they do that? Chris sent me a PM and said that she read something about aggressive behavior when they get too stimulated. Maybe that's what happened....because he sure seemed to be happy at the time.

Originally Posted by Emma's Friend

Mac will sometimes lash out for no apparent reason. Did you find your ointment?

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No...haven't found the Neosporin yet. I have a feeling that one of my lovely babies has swatted it off the desk and it's hiding under something.

Where's Mary Anne when ya need her.....our resident cat behavior specialist.

Oh no, what a let down! You were making such progress too... I'm sure it was a fluke! Take care of your wounds!

Originally Posted by pinkdaisy226

Oh no, what a let down! You were making such progress too... I'm sure it was a fluke! Take care of your wounds!

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Yeah I felt a little betrayed by him after we've come so far. But I did read a thread that Chris sent me that someone posted who had a very similar experience.

It sounds like maybe it was overstimulation.....I petted him too long...and he was ready for dinner. I don't know. He IS very sweet and affectionate.....but you know....he IS also a stray and nobody knows his history or how long he's been living on the streets. Maybe all he knows is aggression right now because he's never had a family to show him love. Maybe he's kinda like an orphan child who acts out because he doesn't know how to react when he is receiving affection because he's never had it before. Or maybe he just doesn't trust me just yet.

Anyway.....I'm not going to give up on him. I'll just make sure I always have on long sleeves when I'm interacting with him.

I am so sorry that happened to you. My first thought was over stimulation. I have to keep an eye on Pepper when I pet her. I have had her since she was about 4 weeks old, so I know it isn't that she has ever been mistreated or hurt, but she is easily over stimulated. She is a really strong girl, and has bruised me several times. I can't always tell when it is about to happen, but sometimes she twitches her tail a little.
I am so glad you are not holding this against him, or giving up on him. That says a lot about you, and it is all good.

Originally Posted by krazy kat2

I am so sorry that happened to you. My first thought was over stimulation. I have to keep an eye on Pepper when I pet her. I have had her since she was about 4 weeks old, so I know it isn't that she has ever been mistreated or hurt, but she is easily over stimulated. She is a really strong girl, and has bruised me several times. I can't always tell when it is about to happen, but sometimes she twitches her tail a little.
I am so glad you are not holding this against him, or giving up on him. That says a lot about you, and it is all good.

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No I'm not holding it against him......I've come too far with him to just give up. It did scare me though......and hurt like crazy!

I guess I haven't been around a cat that gets overstimulated and attacks like that. My kitties are so used to all my hugs and kisses.....it's just a way of life at our house. In fact, all of them except Abby, will actually raise their faces to me for a kiss anytime I walk by them.....and they will initiate the kisses if I'm laying in bed or sitting at the computer.

So I need to read more on dealing with more aggressive cats so I can learn what to do and what not to do.

Yeah, I'd bet on over stimulation, too, especially as he may not be accustomed to demonstrations of affection, so perhaps it wouldn't take too much to tip the balance.

I know I'm occasionally guilty of overstimulation with Cindy, who is a real love bug, but there we are mushing and next thing she's biting. Same with the kitty who lives at my Dad's care facility -- Shaughna and I are good friends, but occasionally the same thing happens.

That he did that much damage is probably because of his checkered past -- you know, shoot first and ask questions later. I'm glad you're not holding it against him, but just planning on taking appropriate precautions.

Oh no! That's gotta be disapointing! I'm really sorry that he hurt you. He was doing to well, with trusting you and all, too. I hope it doesn't happen again. I hope your arm feels better.

Oh, Robin, this must be so upsetting for you. Mr. Big has been making so much progress. I would agree with you that it is possibly a case of overstimulation. This, however, does not make your arm feel any better, or your heart for being attacked by this kitty you care so much about. Please do take special care of your wounds and watch them carefully for any signs of infection. You realize how dangerous a cat bite can be. I myself have had cellulitis from what at first seemed like a simple bite.
Keep up the good work with this little boy. Your love and patience will certainly pay off.

Maybe this problem is the reason he's a stray. You did say he didn't act like a feral, which means he's probably had a home. Maybe he got over stimulated and attacked his owners and they gave up on him and sent him packing. I do remember Hissy telling people how to deal with cats that have this problem.

Oh Robin - I'm sorry you had this bad experience with Mr. Big. I'd go with the over-stimulation theory too. Tippy our eldest (now 9 years) was under-socialised as a kitten. She was found at approximately 12 weeks alone at the bottom of a rubbish chute in an apartment block. It seemed she had been alone for some time. Because of her difficult start she has always been prone to over-stimulation and does exactly that kind of thing - going for the person's arm - when it happens. The rest of the time she is a perfectly sweet, loving cat.

I hope your arm gets better soon.

Robin if i stroke Rosie too long she lets me know that she's had enough by turning round and batting my hand along with going to give me a quick bite.

She doesn't actually bite me, she just snacks her mouth as if she's going to.

Robin, I'm so sorry that you are suffering, both physically and emotionally, from this incident with Mr. Big. You are an amazing person to try and understand what is going on here, and to not give up on him.

Oh Robin.....sorry to hear this. Believe it or not, all 3 of my babies get over stimulated and bite......Petals the most, then Tiggy, then Trixie. I've learned how far and how much to rub them.....then I continue at my own risk......

Robin, how is your arm?