Aggression - but not sure what it's from

I have a 12 year old female cat that use to be the sweetest thing ever. She would allow herself to be pet for hours upon end and would snuggle up with me. Over a period of months (a couple of years ago) this changed and she no longer wants to have anything to do with anyone. It's very strange behavior. She will continue to meow and jump on your lap to be pet as she use to, but it only lasts a couple of seconds then she attackes. She allows herself to be picked up and snuggled, but will growl and hiss when we put her down and attack us. Almost as if it's a delayed reaction to being picked up. She will meow and rub against us while she is walking around the floor, but god forbid we approach her while she's on the floor - we get hissing and spitting even. Although she's attacked us, it has not been violent (I've been violently attacked before by a cat and it's not pleasant). It is definitely aggessive behavior, but almost more for show. She'll spit a lot and swat angrily, but the claws very rarely draw blood. It's very strange. As I said, this started a few years ago and she's been this way ever since.
She's got a clean bill of health from the Vet and she doesn't seem to be in any pain from anything. We did not introduce any new animals or people to the home when this started. We did not move or change anything in the home. I just can't put my finger on anything that would trigger this change and if now (after some time has passed), if this is permanent.

This reminds me of somethign I read in a behavior book. A cat developed a hypersensitivity and would attack the owners. I don't think thats the correct term because I can't find the right article on the web. But its where the cat becomes over sensitive to stimulus.

Not sure if that is it but I thought I'd throw that out there.

I've read so many so I can't be sure but I think it was Don't Pet Pickles in Psycho Kitty by Pam Johnson-Bennet. I could check the name she gave the condition when I get home if you are interested.

I just ordered one Pam Johnson-Bennet's books called "Think Like a Cat : How to Raise a Well-Adjusted Cat--Not a Sour Puss" . I haven't gotten it in the mail yet, but it was rated highly on Amazon.com.

My little Seth-chan has quite the temper and dislikes being approached in certain situations. I don't know much about her past with the shelter and beyond, but I know she is probably doing this out of some kind of fear. I just want to be there for her and help her be a more loving, happy kitty!

I hope you can find a way as well!

Anything at this point. It might not help at all and we've kinda learned to live with her, so it's not a tragedy in the house, but if we can change it, it would be nice. I've heard of the over stimulation thing as well. I wonder if that's it.
I've had her since she was a kitten, so it's not something we may not have known about.
Thanks!

I'm pretty sure this is an actual condition that developes over time but some cats might be predisposed to it. Its not like the usual cat that just gets tired of being pet, its more like nails on a chalkboard feeling/pain to them. Again this might not be it but I'll look up more info when I get home if the book is unpacked (it should be). I can't even remember what she did with the cat so I'll look that up too. It was a very interesting story though.

How is her vision/hearing? Animals can be unpredictable if they start losing a sense they usually rely on.

She can see and hear just fine. That I know. She is overweight though (but always has been). Maybe it is exactly what you're describing. Definitely worth a try.

I would disagree with Solarity, the affliction that Pam talks about is feline hyperesthesia and I had a cat with that affliction. It does not even sound close.

Here is an article I wrote about it

http://www.thecatsite.com/Cats/Cat_H...resthesia.html
I would take your cat back to the vets and ask for a senior panel to be done on her. When cats get into their double digits many things can and do start to go wrong.

Originally Posted by hissy

I would disagree with Solarity, the affliction that Pam talks about is feline hyperesthesia and I had a cat with that affliction. It does not even sound close.

Here is an article I wrote about it

http://www.thecatsite.com/Cats/Cat_H...resthesia.html
I would take your cat back to the vets and ask for a senior panel to be done on her. When cats get into their double digits many things can and do start to go wrong.

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Oh ok. I couldn't remember the name so I couldn't look up the symptoms and its been a long time since I read the book. I just thought the aggressiveness with the stimuli might be a symptom.

Doesn't sound like those symptoms does it? She doesn't go after her tail at all, she's not obsessed with it, she's never ripped out fur and doesn't seem disoriented or anything like that. It's also not only her back that sends her snapping at us and we can pet her, just for short periods of time. Also, she's been like this for going on 3 years now with no additional symptoms. I know that sounds terrible - 3 years, but I never thought it could be a disease or anything like that. I just thought she was crabby suddenly and the vet said she was fine everytime we brought her in. I have mentioned it to them as well and they don't see anything wrong with her.
I can ask the next time we are at the vets again though.
I thought solarity was talking about a syndrome or disease where the cat basically has a problem with being touched. It's almost like an over stimulation. I thought that was possible because I've looked into it a little further here, but I still don't know. Other than being touched she's fine - plays, runs, cuddles still, eats fine, etc