VICIOUS Cat Attack! HELP!

I hate to say this, I don't mean to sound rude or anything, but keep your cat and do not let that devil child into your home!!!! If that child, not your stepson, can not treat your animals with respect, than they should be banned from your home. Star was in your home before this rude kid started tormenting her! If the child's parents do not discipline their child and teach her how to treat animals, then they should be told their child is not welcome into your home. This cat attacked because that child has put fear into her! The reason Star attacked is quite simple. It is called REDIRECTED AGGRESSION. The child that torments this cat has caused this problem, it is NOT the cat's fault. That cat has had enough and is now letting it's agression out on someone else. If you put this cat into a shelter, more than likely it would be put to it's death. No one will want to adopt a cat that attacked a child, even though it is clear that the children were the root of the problem. If I were you, I would put Star in a room that is off limits to any child when they come to visit. Let the child's parents be aware that if their daughter goes into that room, they will be told to leave. Your baby will be fine once Star has had a chance to get over her fears. As for your stepson, even though he loves animals, he will just have to understand that at the moment, he will not be able to play with Star. Yes, I would also take Star to the vet to see if she has any injuries. Your so called devil child may have injured Star, she may be in pain and is showing redirected aggression due to the pain. Throwing the cat was not a good idea either. If you could find the cat a good loving home with no kids, that would be good too. But why should you have to give up your cat and why should the cat lose it's home, just because there is an irresponsible parent that does not know how to discipline their child and teach her HOW to treat animals. This child is going to be abusive to all animals if her parents do not teach her now. I know one thing, if a child comes into my home and abuses my cats, I would have swated that child's behind and then told the parent to remove their child immediately. I know this is hard for you and I am sure it was a terrible situation, but it is not the cat's fault. You said it yourself, "She hasn't scratched or bitten since she was a kitten". Please, take control and put your foot down. Do not welcome into your home anyone, including any child, that can not treat your cats with respect. Once the tormenting stops, Star should go back to normal again. I am not trying to sound or be mean to you, I know this is hard for you, I just feel bad for Star, it is not her fault. To me, my cats are just as important as any child or adult. I would not or will not give them up for any reason, that is, unless I lost my ability to give them the proper home.

I had a lady come over a few years ago. Her husband is a client of ours and I had never met her before this. She came into my house and I had the tag team (they were kittens) sitting in the living room on the cat condo.

The women ran over, picked up two kittens and dropped them on the floor on top of each other! She then proceeded to dance around them in a circle in some sort of tribal dance shouting "Kitty fight...kitty fight!" And clapping her hands in glee!

When I finally recovered from being stunned at such bizarre behavior, I rescued Kahuna and Barcardi from the circle, scooped up the rest of my kittens, shut them in the bedroom and ordered the woman out of my home! Her husband is still a knife client of ours, but she has been told, she is not welcome in my home.

Originally Posted by hissy

I had a lady come over a few years ago. Her husband is a client of ours and I had never met her before this. She came into my house and I had the tag team (they were kittens) sitting in the living room on the cat condo.

The women ran over, picked up two kittens and dropped them on the floor on top of each other!

She then proceeded to dance around them in a circle in some sort of tribal dance shouting "Kitty fight...kitty fight!" And clapping her hands in glee!

When I finally recovered from being stunned at such bizarre behavior, I rescued Kahuna and Barcardi from the circle, scooped up the rest of my kittens, shut them in the bedroom and ordered the woman out of my home! Her husband is still a knife client of ours, but she has been told, she is not welcome in my home.

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Wow.. people are really strange! I am never supprised at being supprised at how they will act, its just amazing.

Originally Posted by hissy

I had a lady come over a few years ago. Her husband is a client of ours and I had never met her before this. She came into my house and I had the tag team (they were kittens) sitting in the living room on the cat condo.

The women ran over, picked up two kittens and dropped them on the floor on top of each other!

She then proceeded to dance around them in a circle in some sort of tribal dance shouting "Kitty fight...kitty fight!" And clapping her hands in glee!

When I finally recovered from being stunned at such bizarre behavior, I rescued Kahuna and Barcardi from the circle, scooped up the rest of my kittens, shut them in the bedroom and ordered the woman out of my home! Her husband is still a knife client of ours, but she has been told, she is not welcome in my home.

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Of all the mindless things to do! Id have reacted exactly the same!, she would have been out the door quicker than she came in if that happend to any of mine!.

Originally Posted by hissy

I had a lady come over a few years ago. Her husband is a client of ours and I had never met her before this. She came into my house and I had the tag team (they were kittens) sitting in the living room on the cat condo.

The women ran over, picked up two kittens and dropped them on the floor on top of each other!

She then proceeded to dance around them in a circle in some sort of tribal dance shouting "Kitty fight...kitty fight!" And clapping her hands in glee!

When I finally recovered from being stunned at such bizarre behavior, I rescued Kahuna and Barcardi from the circle, scooped up the rest of my kittens, shut them in the bedroom and ordered the woman out of my home! Her husband is still a knife client of ours, but she has been told, she is not welcome in my home.

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was she some what mentally imbalenced?

Jim Morrison of the Doors said it right when he wrote the song, People are Strange

I had some success with catnip extract IMMEDIATELY stopping a potential attack. I was about 14 years old. Lancelot must have been about 4-5. He did not like most people, and had hissed or growled in the past, but never appeared dangerous. He and I always got along well. He didn't hiss or growl at me.
I went upstairs to my bedroom one day and Lance was on my bed. He walked to the edge, looked straight at me and let meowed very angrily at ME. I still don't know why. Wherever I moved in the room he followed me on the edge of the bed looking like he would attack any second. The ear piercing meows didn't stop. I carefully reached into my dresser drawer and found a can of "Hartz Catnip Extract Spray." I sprayed this on a pair of rolled up socks and tossed it to Lance. He IMMEDIATELY calmed down - like it never even happened.
He had another episode just like this a few weeks later. The extract worked again.
Years later Lancelot was diagnosed with a brain tumor and was put to sleep. I'll never know if he was affected by the tumor when he behaved this way. I pray he didn't suffer with it long.

I guess the whole thing I'm trying to say is - Maybe try the catnip extract in a pinch and Have your kitty checked out. Although it appears to be caused from the Demon Child, it is still possible theres a physical problem.

Sadly, I have no one else to baby sit my son. She baby sits him at my house otherwise he cries the whole time I'm gone. The situation with the D.C. will not last longer as I am almost done with training. Today I put Star in her favorite room and I put a child proof knob on the door so D.C. could not get in. I have discaplined D.C. but you see....D.C. laughs when you discapline her.......YES my son is picking up habits but I am hoping that a good firm stable hand can weed those bad things out...besides this is not a parenting site LOL.

I want to ask you all if you know if the following ingredients can cause behavioral reactions in cats. Camphor, Menthol, Cajuput Oil, Cassia Oil, Clove Oil, Dementholized Mint oil (mint is related to cat nip right?). I have been using an ointment called Tiger Balm on my shoulder. It gets on my clothes....Star lies in my clothes. Today I caught her rolling all over my coat and now she's bouncing around like she's on a serious cat nip high. Could one of those ingredients along with the D.C. trigger, made Star a little more apt to attack?

I want to keep her. I am fighting to keep her. Other than being a little jumpy (who could blame her) she's fine. She's even talking to me right now, Star, who is not a vocal cat is meowing at me in a questioning tone.

I appreciate all you're advice and input. I agree NO one should abuse animals. I have let the mother of D.C. know who is to blame. She agrees. I've told her no more yelling at my house. I've told her to leave my cats alone.

As far as my stepson and the cat go, I'm not sure what to do. I can't use treats as a way to help her associate his smell with something good, because she won't eat treats....even if I put them in her food bowl. She and her brother will only eat cat food...and ONLY if it's in their bowl. They will not eat scraps of meat in their bowl. Weird cats. I am taking her to the vet this week...but I'm wondering if my muscle ointment affected her in some way.

Starsowner,

Try "Kitty Kaviar" as a cat treat. It's the ONLY cat treat my cats will eat and I have never heard of a cat that turned it down. It's expensive but might be worth it for behavior therapy for your cat.

You can get Kitty Kaviar on-line or at specialty vet stores.

I am not sure if those oils have an adverse reaction, but I would just say to exercise caution if you use catnip in the event she attacks again. Nip can make cats aggressive, or playful, but until you know for sure, don't use it as a tool on an aggressive cat-

Originally Posted by Starsowner

Sadly, I have no one else to baby sit my son. She baby sits him at my house otherwise he cries the whole time I'm gone. The situation with the D.C. will not last longer as I am almost done with training. Today I put Star in her favorite room and I put a child proof knob on the door so D.C. could not get in. I have discaplined D.C. but you see....D.C. laughs when you discapline her.......YES my son is picking up habits but I am hoping that a good firm stable hand can weed those bad things out...besides this is not a parenting site LOL.

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I am thrilled you have put a child proof handle on the door, taken steps to seek advice and a support network (here) and are trying obviously. Please try to find a new babysitter. There must be alternatives that are "safe" besides that lady and her kid coming over to babysit. Perhaps invest in a webcam that comes with motion activated software (or download some seperatly) and use that as a "nanny cam" while your gone. At least you could see what's going on when your not there. Hoping someone will come along later and fix a lack of disclipline or structure or fill in some missing parenting skills.. is a pipe dream. You have to be responsible for your child, their safety, their upbringing and everything they do. If you KNOW .. and you have said a bit about this lady's inability to control her own child... KNOW that there is a problem and choose not to resolve it properly, it might as well be you causing the problem in your child not her. I know.. its not my life, not my kid and not my home.. and after all this is just a forum where people spurt their ideas, opinions, and everything else that comes to mind.. but I say these things out of concern and hopefully to motivate you to find a way to make a change for the better. Never accept anything less then whats best for your children please and this situation does not, from this side, sound good for your child.

God bless and best of luck with it all.

I wasn't able to find information on the toxicity of the ingredients you mentioned, but camphor and menthol are strong substances and should be kept away from cats. Cats are extremely sensitive to chemicals, fragrances, etc., so it's best not to take any chances by preventing exposure to them. Star is probably reacting to the mint ingredient. It's impossible to say how this will affect her behavior - she may just react to it as she would to catnip, but again, since there are so many other ingredients, I would not let her be exposed to it.

I agree with what so many other members have already said - this woman and her child and bad for your son and your cats. I know this seems easy for me to say, but I'd no longer allow her or her child in my house. Finding responsible babysitters is always a headache and a challenge, but I'd move heaven and earth to find one rather than let that woman near my family. She's caused too much damage. A person who is unable to discipline her own child and shows no respect for animals is unfit to care for someone else's child.

I appreciate that you love Star and don't want to give her up. I hope you won't. What happened to Star occured because of poor judgment on the part of humans, and she should not be made to suffer because of it. There are many things you can do to help Star get past her trauma and again become the sweet friend you've known, but it will take time, patience and determination. An animal behaviorist, and/or the temporary use of anti-anxiety drugs could help tremendously. The first and most important step is to eliminate the cause of Star's trauma ASAP.

I'm rooting for you and Star. I hope someday soon you'll post that all is back to normal for your two and four-footed babies.

Originally Posted by hissy

I had a lady come over a few years ago. Her husband is a client of ours and I had never met her before this. She came into my house and I had the tag team (they were kittens) sitting in the living room on the cat condo.

The women ran over, picked up two kittens and dropped them on the floor on top of each other!

She then proceeded to dance around them in a circle in some sort of tribal dance shouting "Kitty fight...kitty fight!" And clapping her hands in glee!

When I finally recovered from being stunned at such bizarre behavior, I rescued Kahuna and Barcardi from the circle, scooped up the rest of my kittens, shut them in the bedroom and ordered the woman out of my home! Her husband is still a knife client of ours, but she has been told, she is not welcome in my home.

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Wow that is strange!

would they eat tuna? i think bonito flakes are the same thing as kitty caviar and cheaper. you can get then at asian supermarkets.

why not get your stepson to wear and old shirt a lot, even sleep in it so it will smell of him then put stars food bowl on top of it. she will associate his smell with nice things.

maybe even get him to put the food in the bowl?

You can still use your stepson's clothing in association with food. Just lay a worn shirt (or pajamas, since those are worn for a longer time in an enclosed area, under the blankets) underneath the kitties' food bowl.

Re: Kitty Kaviar, my cats are strange too. They didn't want anything to do with it. And my Trent doesn't really like treats much either, or wet food for that matter. Star isn't the only strange one when it comes to special kitty foods!