Sassy cat

We have recently saved a cat from a neighbor that was throwing her outside and letting her freeze out there for hours upon hours. She would literally scream to go back into their house. I got fed up with it. I kidnapped the cat and put it in my room. I noticed that the cat has a slight attitude. She has always had this even when I would pet her outside. It seems that she would be friendly and then all of the sudden she became a devil cat and wanted to take my hand off. I have been working with her and her attitude has gotten better. It still seems that she gets in these attitudes though. I was wondering if it will ever get better or will she always be sassy? Also is this a sign of past abuse? When I saw her with my neighbor she even wanted to attack him. Every cat that I seen act this way was either teased or abused so it makes me wonder. Any advice that I can do to gain trust would be preciated. Thanks.

1) is the cat spayed or neutered? That often leads to more of a "catitude"

2) Does this attitude often happen after you've been petting, and petting, and petting? Some cats get overstimulated easily, and they will just turn and bite when you least expect it. Your mission is to try and pick up signals they give off right before this happens. Other things to try - spray Feliway - it's a pheremone that calms kittys down, or get a plug in.

Also - remember she must have a skewed vision of humans. Thanks for taking her in!

Thanks for your reply. I have learned to pick up her body language. I am really careful. I think that it might be partly from overstimulation. So then what I need to do is stop petting her when I feel that she is starting to get ticked off. At least I can talk to her now without her growling each time. The only thing that I am worried about is if I tame this cat and she goes to a new home (because I have 5 cats already and can't have 6) will she go back to being aggressive? I just want her to act normal. She acts like a bipolar kitty.

Well, you don't really know what happened inside that home. It's very likely she had to protect herself, and she will need someone special to adopt her if that is the case. But it's not been that long. My Elsa still does that when she gets really playful. I just say "No Bite!" and shake my finger at her and she knows not to.

There's probably a way to use rewards to get her to realize that behaving nicely will get her a treat, etc. Although it's not that easy to "train" cats - they're probably training us at the same time!

Oh, and you could spend time with her - reading to her - that's what they do to gain feral cats' trust. And just let her get to know your voice and that she can interact with you without contact, as well.

Originally Posted by kluchetta

Well, you don't really know what happened inside that home.

It's very likely she had to protect herself, and she will need someone special to adopt her if that is the case. But it's not been that long. My Elsa still does that when she gets really playful. I just say "No Bite!" and shake my finger at her and she knows not to.

There's probably a way to use rewards to get her to realize that behaving nicely will get her a treat, etc. Although it's not that easy to "train" cats - they're probably training us at the same time!

Oh, and you could spend time with her - reading to her - that's what they do to gain feral cats' trust. And just let her get to know your voice and that she can interact with you without contact, as well.

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I agree with you. I have only seen cats act like this if they have been abused or teased. I just have one question. When she growls and hisses and I leave her alone will that teach her that if she growls and hisses that people won't bug her. How do I eliminate the aggression? I have read about over stimulated cats but sometimes she is just in one of her attitudes without any stimulation to act that way at all.

Now that I hadn't thought of...that leaving her alone would be positive reinforcement. Let me think on that a while...

I think if she growls and hisses at you when you are talking you may need to continue talking in a low, quiet voice (maybe read outloud to her) without making eye contact. She needs to come and realize that voices aren't a bad thing...but also that hissing and growling isn't the way to make people leave her alone. Make sure she has some where to keep her distance from you when you do this so she doesn't feel cornered.

Just a thought

Our cat Wowzer came from a feral community next door, although she did have some human contact, so she might be considered more of a stray.

Anyhow... when she first came to our house (on her own) she was pretty shy at first and when we were able to first pet her, she was very 'bitey', not mean hurtful bites, gentle - but still bites 'nibbles'. She also had/has a very sassy attitude.

That was a year and 1/2 ago and she's pretty much still the same - not quite so bitey, but it certainly hasn't dissapeared. This morning for example, she bit/attempted to bite my arm three times in just one petting.... and I know with her it is not overstimulation... she'll do it on the first pet. Like I said, these are very gentle bites - not out of anger.

Believe me this cat bites out of anger. She is aggresive and I am paying for anything that my neighbor has done to her in the past. I am still working with her she is not as bad as when we first brought her in, but I wish that she would act like my other cats, that is normal. Thanks for all of the suggestions. I think that I am also going to talk to the vet. I have to take my ferret in so I will be right there. Maybe he can give some advice. Again thanks to all that helped me before.

Don't forget to check out Feliway - I've heard it's quite effective at calming them down.