Hi all,
Got a troubled one. Fostering a very sweet and wants-to-engage-lovingly older female (maybe 3-5 years) but she came from an abusive household (husband abusive to wife, kids, and most likely the cat as well) and while she wants to be super sweet and loves being held, she consistently, every time turns on a dime and will attack (hard, breaks skin).
I'm sure her behavior is directly related to the abusive male figure from her former household and I know to try to not react angrily. Doing so would only reinforce her fear. I'm assuming she was probably hit many many times during her life and so she's developed an instant reaction to protect herself, even when not provoked.
She atracks when petting, after putting her down after holding, when filling food or water dish, picking something up off the ground within her reach, even just taking a step near her. She's on a hair-trigger to attack no matter what the interaction is. She is just as aggressive towards female humans as she is with me. She hates other cats (but that's normal).
She's also super sweet and loves being held (upright against chest like a baby) and I know she could be an awesome cat if she could get this behavior worked out. While being held she purrs, drools and nurses. It's the putting down that's the tough part.
I've been in cat rescue and fostering for many years now and have had the full range of cat behaviors come through but I'm kinda stuck on this one. Internet is not much help yet (this isn't play-bites or love bites or even over-stimulation, it's fear-based).
I have a good bond with her and she has better stretches when the bites are less severe and I try very hard to form my reaction with empathy and understanding. I know it's not her fault.
Problem is, she's not adoptable and I don't know if she'll ever stop this behavior. I can't give her to animal services (I would never give them anything anyways) and I can't send her to a different rescue group or shelter. First bite and she'd be euthanized. Can't even integrate her into my feral colony for fear she'd be sweet to someone or worse, some kid, and then bite them. Another instant euthanization. Plus could spell disaster for the other cats in the colony because of irate humans.
She's a very special, lonely, scared soul and could be such a wonderful cat.
I'm just out of good ideas atm.
Suggestions? Links? Resources?
TIA,
-Art
Got a troubled one. Fostering a very sweet and wants-to-engage-lovingly older female (maybe 3-5 years) but she came from an abusive household (husband abusive to wife, kids, and most likely the cat as well) and while she wants to be super sweet and loves being held, she consistently, every time turns on a dime and will attack (hard, breaks skin).
I'm sure her behavior is directly related to the abusive male figure from her former household and I know to try to not react angrily. Doing so would only reinforce her fear. I'm assuming she was probably hit many many times during her life and so she's developed an instant reaction to protect herself, even when not provoked.
She atracks when petting, after putting her down after holding, when filling food or water dish, picking something up off the ground within her reach, even just taking a step near her. She's on a hair-trigger to attack no matter what the interaction is. She is just as aggressive towards female humans as she is with me. She hates other cats (but that's normal).
She's also super sweet and loves being held (upright against chest like a baby) and I know she could be an awesome cat if she could get this behavior worked out. While being held she purrs, drools and nurses. It's the putting down that's the tough part.
I've been in cat rescue and fostering for many years now and have had the full range of cat behaviors come through but I'm kinda stuck on this one. Internet is not much help yet (this isn't play-bites or love bites or even over-stimulation, it's fear-based).
I have a good bond with her and she has better stretches when the bites are less severe and I try very hard to form my reaction with empathy and understanding. I know it's not her fault.
Problem is, she's not adoptable and I don't know if she'll ever stop this behavior. I can't give her to animal services (I would never give them anything anyways) and I can't send her to a different rescue group or shelter. First bite and she'd be euthanized. Can't even integrate her into my feral colony for fear she'd be sweet to someone or worse, some kid, and then bite them. Another instant euthanization. Plus could spell disaster for the other cats in the colony because of irate humans.
She's a very special, lonely, scared soul and could be such a wonderful cat.
I'm just out of good ideas atm.
Suggestions? Links? Resources?
TIA,
-Art
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