Crazy feral cat

I have a beautiful calico that I rescued and medicated until she is very healthy now, but she pounces my other cats. Biting them and chasing them constantly. She is about a year old now. She is very vocal so we can't sleep.I have a 2 year old baby she wakes up all the time.She runs through the house knocking stuff off cabinets and shelves. When you walk through the house she bites your ankles. I mean blood runs when she does this. I usually put her in her own room at night but I have a tiny sick kitten in her room. I can't let my 5 other cats around the sick one. I don't want them to get sick too. 2 of my cats are diabetic and one has had 2 surgeries from wounds that got infected. They have very long hair so you can't see the bites on them until they are swollen. I will keep her. I love her so much, but I have to find something so my other cats can have a life too.

Advice anyone?

Originally Posted by Darla S

I have a beautiful calico that I rescued and medicated until she is very healthy now, but she pounces my other cats. Biting them and chasing them constantly. She is about a year old now. She is very vocal so we can't sleep.I have a 2 year old baby she wakes up all the time.She runs through the house knocking stuff off cabinets and shelves. When you walk through the house she bites your ankles. I mean blood runs when she does this. I usually put her in her own room at night but I have a tiny sick kitten in her room. I can't let my 5 other cats around the sick one. I don't want them to get sick too. 2 of my cats are diabetic and one has had 2 surgeries from wounds that got infected. They have very long hair so you can't see the bites on them until they are swollen. I will keep her. I love her so much, but I have to find something so my other cats can have a life too.

Advice anyone?

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Have you tried Feliway spray or plug ins??

Katie

I have never heard of either one of those. She is really sweet most of the time,but she just flips out sometimes. She was purring and loving one minute, then bit a chunk out of my face. I will check into the products more. I asked my vet and he told me she might just be moody, you know like most females. That is his words. ha ha

Here is information regarding Feliway:

http://www.catfaeries.com/feliway.html

thanks very much

If she isn't spayed get her fixed. If she is spayed she sounds like a typical calico to me- they have an attitude-

When you say she is feral, what specifically do you mean by that? Based on your description she does not sound feral to me. Can you give more information on her background?

Yes, I have about 20 wild cats in my backyard. I have fed them for a long time. A neighbor lady fed cats way before I ever thought about this, but she never medicated them or spayed and neutered them. I called her crazy, but over years I figured out she thought she was helping. When she died several of her cats began roaming and had litter after litter of kittens. I probably have 12 kittens and 20 full grown cats now, but I am trapping all of the kittens to give them away. I take the kittens in a room I set up and tame them over time and then find someone who needs a friend. I won't give any away in October because of Halloween. The cats watch me in my house, but I can't touch them. They have definitely made their babies scared of humans too. Oh and I am also trapping the adult cats and spaying and neutering them.

Yes she has her shots and has been spayed. She is a beautiful cat, as well as all my others. I have never seen an ugly cat.

Maybe she needs a "time out" place. Just like a little kid who is over excited, a quiet time to settle down can work wonders. Do you have another bedroom or bathroom besides where the kitten is located? Or even a large dog crate with a blanket thrown over it.

Maybe if when she is out of control you place her gently in her quiet spot, and tell her to settle down, then come back to get her out later, it will help her regain control of herself. Use her as your guide to how long she stays separated. With kids its one minute per year, so a five year old gets 5 minutes. I would guess cats would need longer, like maybe 15 minutes for her. Then just open the door, without coaxing her out. If she still wants some alone time, she can stay in the room or cage, but with the door open.

If you find she needs longer, just let her stay longer the next time. Sometimes animals and kids just need the security of knowing if they need help behaving right, we will help.

She sounds more like she just wants to have fun, than that she is trying to be mean. My Garfield is a wild-child sometimes, and Festie needs time away from him. I'll post a link to ankle biting help in a minute!

Here's a link about strategies for avoiding ankle biting. Don't be scared by the title, she is a catlover, too!
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=64905

I tried time-out but it makes her worse. She has gotten a lot better. She hasn't nipped or bit anyone for a week now. But I have tried the love angle, which is how I got a chunk bit out of my face before. But the pain only lasts for awhile. Anyway she did fine. She has tried to rub on my face and just kinda stare you down, but I was afraid to let her. But I thought I would give her another chance. For the last few months all I would do is hold her in my lap and play with her and pet her. I think part of it is she wants all of the attention. She has to share me with 4 other cats, 4 kids, one a 2 year old and all my feral cats. She is very jealous. You can see it in her eyes. But we are doing better. Thank you for all the advice.

When she tries tostare you down do you stare back? SHe could interpret that as aggression. Look away, or blink at her, then it will defuse te situation. Just an idea.

No I don't stare at her. I have to keep an eye on her to see if she is going to attack. She bit my mom yesterday. Not hard, but she was mad. Mom was only petting her.Then later the same day she nipped my little girl. She was just playing with her toys on the couch. Nothing really happened to coax her. I think she does it out of boredom. She fought with my other cats half the night last night. She is way too hyper.