My back is against the wall. I so greatly would like advise. October 2005, DH found baby alone on a roadside, from obvious feral litter and maybe 3 weeks of age. As I recovered from cancer surgery, we hand-raised and hand-fed the foundling, tending his every need. He had the run of the house except for when we were gone, and then he had master bedroom. One other kitty, almost 15 and ailing, was kept for the most part apart, for fear that he may do harm. Somehow one day in our absence, at maybe about 6 weeks, he injured irreparably his wee little foot -- X-rays confirmed compound fracture (there was no external rupture; we believe that in play, he'd caught it inside the leg of a vanity stool). Over the years, he has become increasingly unpredictable in how he expresses aggression, and always seems on the edge. Within the last year we've acquired 2 females, ages 2yrs and another 8mos. Sometimes it escalates to something so fierce it almost defies description. We did have him neutered while he was still quite young. He now is almost 4 years of age. The sight of bare ankle often has prompted rapid attack, resulting in hard, deep bites. I am diabetic and this is a life-threat for me. One day while running the vacuum, it sucked up a string, emitting a high-pitch sound. He ran from a distant and separate room, leapt on my back, instantly sinking his teeth into the top of my arm. I never saw, nor with the sound of the vacuum, hear, him approach. On yet another occasion, I'd lost my footing descending a very long stairway and caught myself on the rail. In the process I yelled in pain. Before I could get back up, he was on his way up the stairs -- enraged and all too prepared to do what he'd done before, yowling as he approached. He had made smaller attacks on those who have come to visit until we determined to lure him to the garage until such time as they'd gone. I just do not understand any of it whatsoever. We always have been attentive, and to the extent he wanted, there to provide affection. A little background: this kitty has wanted for nothing, although I concede that while I was still quite weak when he had hurt his foot, ongoing discomfort from this I fear may play into the problem. Please note that while I've never thought well of declawing (have had MANY many kittys -- no other have been declawed), I felt that there was no choice in his case as they were so often caught in fabrics/rugs it had to exacerbate pain ... retracting could not occur due to effects of the injury. Does anyone know if dried catnip toys offered early in life can alter a kitty's disposition in any way similar to illicit drugs on humans? Drawing at straws but desperate. Any help much appreciated.