Not sure what to do really. She just doesnt seem to be fitting in very well with others. She keeps attacking them and me. Just picked her up now and she has sank her teeth into me again and she is nasty with it. My old cat has stopped coming in all together as she is attacking her fur all stood on end and really hissing at her as she is getting older she is getting worse not better thought it might calm down but its not. I know the kids will be upset but im worried she might turn on them and make a mess of them. They will be upset for a while but at least we will still have others really worried that they will disapear if it carries on.I have bought a feliway plug in and that has done nothing other in regards to her attacking but has stopped roony weeing in house so at least its had it benefits . With not knowing her background its hard to say why she could be doing this . Need advice please

__________________

RIP Patsy ( the black cat )
http://lynsragdolls.messageforums.net/index.php

Cant remember which one Sophie is, but if yours are indoor cats like mine, they can be content to live in one room on their own only. Like your bedroom or spare room, providing you have enough toys, cat climbers and so on for them. I have a stud boy that has adjusted to being on his own all of the time (with loads of cuddles from his mum of course) its just like having their own pad. If Sophie is an outdoor cat that might be a different matterconfused:

They are all allowed out as they have a cat flap. Persians like to play out with kids when they are outside tried keeping them in but was impossible as kids dont know how to close a door . Even though persians have both just floated off to bed upstairs or they are in conservatory all night they like to be in garden during day when its sunny especially roony he is more like a dog.Sophie is the 1 that got left on my door step a few months ago.Really dont know what to do for best with her thinking she might be better off as a only cat

__________________

RIP Patsy ( the black cat )
http://lynsragdolls.messageforums.net/index.php

To be honest Kay, I think you are being a bit posh eek: Nice house, nice cats and one that is not quite fitting in. If it were me I'd have the cat flap sealed so you have control over who goes in and out, also that you dont lose any. I have took in an adult rescue cat and she has fitted in just fine with my Persians and they all stay inside together and get on just fine. I wouldnt consider parting with her personally, give her a better chance!

but she is at that age when she will be a little horror.. I'm sure she will grow out of it though. I remember my Mums Moggie being a right little sh*t when he was 6months old up to a yr.. he used to attack the dog and any one who dared walk past him!

He's now grown into a lovely cat how is really gentle with the kits.. so I'm sure your Sophie will mature also.. some kittens/cats can be like that.

First of all, it is all about risk assessment as to whether you let your cats have free roam or not.

I can quite understand how it might be difficult with children about especially if they are outside type kids.

That said, how old about is Sophie? I know you don't know for sure, but would she have past that maniac stage people say kittens go through?

Can you pinpoint any behaviour from you, your children, things going on in the house, your partner, other cats that might set off an 'attack'?


Is it worth ringing up your local Cat protection League and asking for their opinion?

Is the cat out and out agressive or is it a defensive position? See here:

CAT COMMUNICATION

This article gives face and body posture artwork about halfway down for aggressive/defensive.

You might be right - she may be better off as a lone cat, hence second opinion from CPL (maybe).

good luck with little sophie , i think it would be wise to do what saynamore suggested and put her in a room on her own , then sit in the room with her say in the middle of the room have some treats with you .. like prawns or chicken and everytime she comes up to you place a small treat on the floor next to you , let her eat it then once she is confident with doing this then introduce stroking her before you place the treat on the floor etc then add picking her up for just a second and then place her down and put the treat on the floor build her confidence up with you and then once you have gained her trust you can them move onto the other members of the family ....... if she has trust in at least one memeber of the family she is less likely to strike out and more likely to run to you for comfort when she fears something .......

sorry for the long reply (currently studying feline physgology ) shame you do not live local to me

but pleas do not give up on her otherwise she will just be passed on and the problem she has will just follow

You might want to read this too as it describes the aggression you are experiencing, gives a possible explanation and 'treatment'.

NERVOUS AND AGGRESSIVE CATS

This from the article (S Hartwell, 2004) reinforces what Staceycats1 says:

"Accepting being stroked has to be learned. Adult cats are naturally wary and some never learn to enjoy being petted by humans. Younger cats are more excitably, but luckily, many calm down as they get older. Some may have missed out on human attention during the socialisation period and find human attention threatening. They may enjoy being stroked (and may indulge in mutual grooming sessions with another cat), but have to learn to accept this attention from a much larger creature.

"First of all, you must learn to read your cat's body language so that you can stop petting it as soon as it shows signs of unease. This way you can build up its tolerance of being handled. Sit quietly and calmly with the cat and make sure there will be no interruptions. Keep petting sessions short and always stop before the cat reacts. Common signs of imminent reaction are twitching (especially the tail), backwards-facing ears, dilated pupils, sudden tensing of the body (especially if it pulls away from you in a sideways posture). As soon as you see signs of reaction, stop petting. If possible, reward the cat with food (it helps to keep a packet of treats nearby) and gentle verbal praise. The cat has been rewarded for accepting petting and, all going well, it will learn to accept longer and longer stroking sessions over time. Never punish the cat for its defensive aggression as this reinforces its view that you are a threat or are unpredictable."

It suggests a kitten pen or large dog crate too which can be positioned where you want it in the house.

Well worth a read.

Thanks for all your replies. Going to give it a bit longer and see how she goes.She has been asleep on my youngest sons bed all day. She adores him plays with him in garden all time. With the persians it is possibly pecking order. But with patsy my old moggy she has to be seperated when they are eating etc as she just wont tolerate her at all tail bushes out and she is hissing and spitting at her poor old patsy doesnt no what to make of her. My mum might possibly take her if not but she already has 2 persians a birman a mainecoon and 2 cross persians all of which go outside. Plus 2 dogs a parrot 2 guinea pigs and 2 budgies . Would have plenty to do there. We have a very large garden which the cats dont go out of hence why i have a cat flap as it is fenced the whole way round as well. She seems to have bonded really wel with my 5 year old son which is good .I had her in a seperate room when we first got her and she just wanted to be with other cats now she is a monster with them. Kids are back at school in a couple of weeks so will have more time to spend with her then and see how it goes.Hopefully it will work out for her as i am not 1 to give up easily on a animal . If i was to have her rehomed it wouldnt just be anyone that took her i would make sure it was right for her. She is aged around 3 1/2 months vet thinks she is also fully imunised etc.

__________________

RIP Patsy ( the black cat )
http://lynsragdolls.messageforums.net/index.php