Mean cat

[NicInNC]

I know nothing about cats since I'm allergic to them, but my grandma has got THE meanest cat! You can be petting her and she'll be purring away when all of a sudden, she just attacks you for no reason. My grandpa had a stroke 7 years ago and he doesn't fully understand that he can't play with her. So, he's got bruises and scratches all over him. Sometimes, all a person has to do is walk past her and she will jump onto their leg scratching and biting. She's vicious! Is it normal for some cats to act this way? They have been to several different vets and the vets just laugh and said that's her personality. I'm wondering if she could have some wildcat in her or something. She has been this way since she was a kitten. They found her on the side of the highway. She looks like a normal housecat, but like I said....I don't know much about cats. I stay outside when I go to my grandmas, but today I went in for a few minutes and the darn cat attacked my daughter, so I figured I'd see if others had a cat like this or know WHY she acted the way she does. The cat was acting like it was loving my daughter petting her, and then BAM! She started flailing those paws and scratched my daughters hand all up.

OH! Another thing! If you don't let her outside, she will attack you. She wants to be out all the time, but some days my grandma won't let her out and the cat will jump at her each time she tells it no. I think the thing is posessed.... LOL

[amber416]

How old is this cat now? You say she's been acting this way since she was a kitten, so my opinion is that she is not "vicious", she just never learned how to behave when she was younger, therefore she never grew out of the scratching, attacking people's legs, excetera, which is fairly normal kitten behavior. I have seen some adult cats who act like this, too, it is why people are urged not to let kittens play with their hands. It's cute when a tiny kitten is pouncing on you, not so cute when a full grown adult with adult teeth and nails is. You might want to try some of the methods people are encouraged to use to teach their kitten to play nice: redirecting their energy (and claws!) on toys, yelping when she gets rough and withrawing attention until she has calmed down, that sort of thing. That is just my non expert opinion though, maybe other's will have different thoughts.

Oh, also please tell your grandma to keep her inside, she'll get used to it...i have worked with several formerly feral cats that would get very upset being kept indoors, but with consistency and patience they all settled down. Good luck!

[NicInNC]

The cat is 6 years old. I'm going to forward everyones advice to her. Thanks!

[CyberKitten]

Unless yu are referring to a seriously feral cat - I am quite sure she is not "wild." Even most ferals started their lives as domestic pets or as the offspring of domestic pets. And I have never in my life met a cat who attacks for no known reason. There HAS to be a reason.

In this case, it may well be that it is learned behaviour. She may not have been corrected as a kitten and now she attacks to get what she wants. You will need to retrain her so that she does not engage in that behavious. Also, as Amber said an indoor cat is a safe cat. Outdoors is no place for a cat - there are too many dangers - automobiles, mean humans, other predators, poisons... - it is just not safe. Cats are go outside have a lifespan of only one third that of an indoor cat.

[NicInNC]

My grandma is a frail little thing and there is NO WAY she could restrain the cat. She gets scratched to pieces trying to get the cat off her. And of course my grandpa can't. And I can't help because I'm allergic to the thing. My uncle is over there often, so I'll tell him everything you all are telling me also.

What does Feral mean?

[Prin]

I remember working at the vet and a lady called in SCREAMING that her cat turned on her. It was like the scene from Shrek (thinking about that one makes me laugh). The cat was on her back and just clawing and attacking her. She managed to lock herself in the bedroom and called the vet. We, of course, were no help...

Are cats like dogs in that they do what you let them get away with?

From what I know, feral is wild.

[SnowDancer]

Sounds like my cat. Despite the fact that he loves me, he has been trying to finish me off for 14 years. Rescued from the streets with this darling - now deceased brother. This is a 22 lb. cat - who loves to make trouble. My vet has seen the cat in action - have to take some precautions - make sure cat isn't lurking by tub as you are about to get in; not standing at the top of the steps - or lurking in the shadows - as you are about to go down the stairs etc. He is like this only with me. And of course, with the dog. I have been trying to imagine what Mandy is like, as I have an Eskimo Spitz - trying to imagine the Cocker Spaniel Mix - but I am inclined to think the mix could be good - certainly better than the current craze for Eskie/Poo crosses. Must say though that Poodles do love my Eskimo.

[NicInNC]

Originally Posted by SnowDancer

Sounds like my cat. Despite the fact that he loves me, he has been trying to finish me off for 14 years. Rescued from the streets with this darling - now deceased brother. This is a 22 lb. cat - who loves to make trouble. My vet has seen the cat in action - have to take some precautions - make sure cat isn't lurking by tub as you are about to get in; not standing at the top of the steps - or lurking in the shadows - as you are about to go down the stairs etc. He is like this only with me. And of course, with the dog. I have been trying to imagine what Mandy is like, as I have an Eskimo Spitz - trying to imagine the Cocker Spaniel Mix - but I am inclined to think the mix could be good - certainly better than the current craze for Eskie/Poo crosses. Must say though that Poodles do love my Eskimo.

Oh, Mandy is WONDERFUL! We rescued her from my idiot sister in law. She moved and instead of taking the dog with her, she left it in the backyard with no water, food or shelter. When we found out, she said she was going to have Mandy put to sleep because she was "sick" and probably had cancer because she had a huge lump on her neck. I immediately went over and got Mandy. Mandy was not sick. Mandy was hungry, filthy and just needed love. She did not have cancer. She had an infected hair follicle and 2 fatty tumors that we had removed. She's so well behaved. Then again, she's 13. I can tell that she was neglected or abused because even to this day when we go to pet her sometimes, she kind of squints her eyes and falls to the ground. Breaks my heart.

Her and my sheltie do NOT get along though. My sheltie was here first and thinks she's queen of the castle. If one of my kids calls Mandy and is giving attention to Mandy, Cricket will growl and they've gotten into some HUGE fights. Blood and slobber justa' flying! The kids are finally learning not to call Mandy when Cricket in nearby. When they want to play with just Mandy, I put Cricket outside for a while.

[doggy lover]

I have a cat that is mean, not as bad as that but she has been known to scare a few people. Why she is like that I don't know, but when she wants attenshion she is a real suck.

[CyberKitten]

Prin, I never saw Shrek but there was a newspaper story a few years ago about a family in Halifax whose Siamese cat turned on them and they had to get out of their house. God only knows what they did to this kitty - Siamese, despite their reputation thx to that awful movie (The Lady and the Tramp,lol - I prefer DC from That Darn Cat as a Siamese role model) - are not at all nasty but more attached to their person than most cats.

That said, feral may mean wild but now it refers to cats who roam outdoors and the sad reality is that many started their lives as someone's pet or their parents or grandparents certainly did!!

Maybe a cat psychologist could help this kitty but I think someone (maybe not grandma is she is frail and elderly) needs to retrain the cat to act appropriately. It's like he throws temper tantrums to get his way and people aer giving into him. Just stop doing it - and he will learn that in order to be fed, play, get attention, treats, he needs to be nice!! It's not rocket science, <g>

[Prin]

Is the cat on a raw diet? Maybe it got the taste for bloooood. Just kidding. I know that's just a myth.

[CyberKitten]

Good try Prin, Does that nean I should stop feeding the kitties raw chicken hearts? <Kidding>

[Prin]

Here's a clip of Puss In Boots from Shrek 2. It's not the fight scene, but it's funny (it's right before the fight scene).
http://www.dreamworks.com/trailers/s...ip6_qt_240.mov