I've posted on behaviour about my cat attacking me.

I'm feeling very very scared for myself and my children, so I'm after som advice om how to handle it, what to do next etc...

If anyone could help I'd really appreciate it.

__________________

Can I have some more info?

Age, breed, usual temprement, when started, when it happens, when u got him, age you got him, temprement with other animals etc etc.

How is she today? It sounds as if she has been through quite an ordeal (reading your previous posts it seems she's recently had an op & was chased by your dog).

Personally, I would give her a bit of space for a few days & let her come to you she wants a cuddle or a stroke. Also don't let your dog have another opprotunity to chase her of cause her any stress as this could make her worse.

I would just see how things go, make sure your children don't crowd her & understand she's had a bit of a scare. Animals do react in such ways when they are firghtened, it's not unusual.

She's 21months, Norwegian forest cat. We've had her since she was 12 weeks. She's a timid cat but friendly. Indoor cat.

She became jumpy and occasionally scratched us after wr got Angelica our British blue. She's 7 months now and they get on so well but there was a while when we thought they'd never be nice to eachother.

She had her lump removal last Friday and been a little quiet ever since, but very friendly.

All her jumpy and occasional scratching moments stopped a while back.

Then Wednesday night my border chased her up the stairs. We don't really mix her with the cats as she does tend to chase and scare them. She's a madam

Yesterday was just so bad. She prowled after me around the room as I tried to walk away, then she went nuts and attacked me like a wild possessed thing. I could get her off me, I kept thinking when will she stop((( eventually I shook her off my leg and I ran into another room and I shut the door but she was coming back for more. She put her head and foot around the door hissing and trying to gets again. I thought she might get back in but I managed to shut the door and she went onto the landing and sat scratching the door.

I saw the vet who gave me the feliway but said to keep her on her own for a couple of days. So she's in a big room with her bed, water, food, tray and toys. Hubby let her out last night, she saw me at the top of the stairs and just charged for me(( luckily I got into the bathroom quickly and shut the door.

I'm petrified. I know she's on her guard and stressed but that attack on me yesterday was so nasty(((( It wasn't like her to do that and I'm now left a nervous wreck(( My leg is very sore too. I panic and cry everytime I think about it. I've 3 young children, I'm worried for them. She's fine if Hubby goes in to see her. I have no idea why she suddenly is attacking me( I know she's stressed and nervous but why do that to me?(

I don't know what to do.

__________________

I've had some success with homeopathic products for behavioural problems, especially aggression like this. If you want to pm me we can discuss it. There's no miracle cure once a cat has been frightened into reacting like this but it can be turned round with a little patience.

You are petrified because your cat attacked you, and as a result you don't know whether you can trust her or not around you (who she attacked) or your children (who she didn't attack)

Now see it from her point of view. She was attacked by your dog, and she is petrified. Add to that her recent surgery and she is all over the place emotionally. She needs time to resettle herself and learn to trust the dog, you (humans), and her environment again. She is associating her panic with you, which may explain why she goes to your husband.

You said you are using Feliway so give it time to work to calm her down. I am sure she will calm down and be herself pretty soon, but it will have to be done in small steps I'm afraid as cats, once trust is broken, may take a long time to re-adjust.

How about going into the room later today and just stay on one side of the room without saying anything, like you would have done when she was a kitten. See if she comes to you. Let her feel like she is in control and she won't see you as a threat or someone who wants to harm her. How about taking her favourite toy or treat and just putting it in front of you but without interfering when she approaches.

See how it goes but that might be all you do for the next few days.

Sorry about your injury and I hope it gets better soon. i am sure it was a one off though and not a long term problem, but how you handle it from now will make all the difference to her and you.
x

__________________

You say the lump was removed to have a biopsy? is there any chance that whatever caused the lump could be causing her pain anywhere else?

__________________

she sounds like an extremly stressed cat to me. She's been through an awful lot in a very short space of time. She can probably smell your dog on you which probably terrifies her. I had a much loved raggie that hated being in a multi cat home that would scare the sh*t out of me with his attacks he was so very vicious. He would attack my face and bite me on the chest etc. Tried feliway, bach remedies and zyklene and none of it worked. We rehomed as a single cat and he became a typical raggie.

Just adding on to everyone else's helpful comments here: Remember to only go and see her when you are in a calm state of mind. She is going to also be picking up your feelings of stress/fear ontop of her own.

Best of luck and I hope she feels better soon.

__________________

Two cats: Maia & Moth, Siamese. One dog: Harley, Lurcher.
RIP Lily my darling pirate cat.

Thank your for your reply.

Of course I totally understand she attacked due to stress and anxiety, she has been through alot with her operation and then my dog confronting her. I am not thinking just of myself. It is hard to not feel very scared and upset after the way she attacked me, it was really scary being alone in the house and having a cat suddenly turn when I had not really done much to deserve it. I really do sympathise with my cat, I love her very much.

She saw the vet again tonight, she was as good as gold, they told us to leave her be for a few more days, in a room as she is highly stressed. He said we are doing everything we can.

We never mix our Border Terrier with our cats as we have tried alot in the past and she is a bugger, she just does not like cats at all, and I do not like to see my cats stressed by her. So when we let her through the cats are usually in a different part of the house anyway, we have a biggish house to do that.

I went in to see her today, my friend held her and I stroked her. I was a little anxious still but tried not to show it. It is scary after being attacked like that.

My fear is if she was to turn on me like that again suddenly in the future, how could I stop it?? She just suddenly turned on me,. I know I lifted her off the bed to take her downstairs to the vet but she then wriggled so i popped her on the floor, she then suddenly was prowling around me and i walked away but she followed me really fast and then just went beserk:-( It was really very frightening and I was alone, thank goodness my children were not around.

Thank you for your help.

__________________