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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2016 15:00:10 GMT
We have a 2 year old cat, Tiger who for the most part is sweet as can be. However, every time I change/scoop his litter box he attacks me, nails out, biting, the whole nine yards. I try to talk to him sweetly while I'm doing it and it still hasn't stopped him. I have resorted to putting him in the bathroom during litter box cleaning times. Also, I babysit a 10 month old baby 5 days a week. Tiger has proven to be quite protective over this little guy and previous kids I've watched. The baby just started crawling and is now getting into things, as babies do. I'm trying to teach him "no" when he starts touching things he shouldn't. This morning the baby was playing in his diaper bag. I went over, picked him up and nicely said, "no, no" to him. The cat viciously attacked me. A few minutes ago, he was digging out the DVD's. Again, I went over to him said "no, no" and picked him up to redirect him to something else and the cat attacked again. He's not playing, it's all out for blood. I'm not sure what to do to correct this behavior. Outside of those 2 things, he is the sweetest guy and is even a bit of a mamas boy, needing to lay with me during the day, and it's ONLY me he attacks. I've tried to be stern and be the "alpha" cat with him, but that just makes him attack more. So I tried to be sweet and use the "nice" momma voice and that doesn't seem to calm him either. We've had Tiger since he was a kitten so it's not a previous abuse situation or anything like that. The funny thing is I can yell at my boys "no" all day long and the cat could care less...it's just with the kids I babysit that he is protective of. Any suggestions on how I can stop this behavior? I really love this cat, but I'm getting a bit tired of having to worry about him attacking me. Thanks!  DSC_5638_edited-1 by mom2patrickncolin, on Flickr |
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psiluvu
Pearl Clutcher
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Location: Canada's Capital
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Post by psiluvu on Jun 16, 2016 15:14:39 GMT
I have no advice but that is one BEAUTIFUL cat!! Looks just like my whiskers, who was also known to attack spontaneously.
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Belle
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by Belle on Jun 16, 2016 15:22:14 GMT
Have you tried spraying him with a water bottle? My cat HATES that and it usually corrects unwanted behavior. There a pheromones air fresher-type things you can use in your home to see if it relaxes your cat.
Is your cat 100% indoors?
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kelly8875
Pearl Clutcher
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Location: Lost in my supplies...
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Post by kelly8875 on Jun 16, 2016 15:25:13 GMT
Keep going with you being the alpha cat. But you have to be consistent. And I would also try the water spray as well
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Deleted
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May 4, 2024 6:23:31 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2016 15:29:19 GMT
Have you tried spraying him with a water bottle? My cat HATES that and it usually corrects unwanted behavior. There a pheromones air fresher-type things you can use in your home to see if it relaxes your cat. Is your cat 100% indoors? Yes, he is an indoor only cat. I was kind of afraid the water bottle might set him off more, but I will try it. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2016 15:31:28 GMT
Keep going with you being the alpha cat. But you have to be consistent. And I would also try the water spray as well I'm going to keep up with it. No matter what, I show no fear towards him. Even when he's attacking. I am going to try the water bottle. We have one that we use for our other cat because she likes to scratch the furniture...it worked with her and I can't even remember the last time I had water in it. I will try with him. He's just lucky he's cute and I'm quite smitten with him! |
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Post by chaosisapony on Jun 16, 2016 15:34:36 GMT
I have a cat that, as a kitten, started to retaliate when I punished him. He was feral and an orphan and I started to really wonder what would happen as he got older. Luckily for me he mellowed out once he was neutered. Has your kitty been neutered yet? I also highly recommend the pheromone collars for cats. They worked wonders for my cat with anxiety.
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Belle
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by Belle on Jun 16, 2016 15:45:27 GMT
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Deleted
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May 4, 2024 6:23:31 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2016 17:45:12 GMT
I have a cat that, as a kitten, started to retaliate when I punished him. He was feral and an orphan and I started to really wonder what would happen as he got older. Luckily for me he mellowed out once he was neutered. Has your kitty been neutered yet? I also highly recommend the pheromone collars for cats. They worked wonders for my cat with anxiety. Yes, he was neutered over a year ago. Honestly, for the most part he is a very mellow cat. Easy going and laid back. It's just on these few occasions that he gets riled up. I just can't figure out the triggers other than he obviously doesn't want me stealing his poo and he's protecting the baby...who doesn't need protecting...LOL. But I will also check into a pheromone collar. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2016 17:47:19 GMT
Haha! as big as he is (21 lbs last vet visit). He doesn't overeat. He does have an addiction to cat treats, but I stopped buying those. Other than these few things, he's quite laid back and tolerates most things and people. I will check into the interactive pet feeder...just for the sheer fact tht he's a tub and could lose a few :-) |
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QueenoftheSloths
Drama Llama
Member Since January 2004, 2,698 forum posts PeaNut Number: 122614 PeaBoard Title: StuckOnPeas
Posts: 5,955
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Post by QueenoftheSloths on Jun 16, 2016 22:03:08 GMT
Wow, he is a big boy! Would he leave you alone if you cleaned the box at his feeding time? Maybe he would be distracted by the meal and not notice the bad lady stealing his poos!
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Post by LilyRose on Jun 16, 2016 23:03:06 GMT
If the water doesn't work, another deterrent I've heard of is a soda can with some pennies in it. Shake it for a loud and annoying noise.
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Jun 16, 2016 23:07:13 GMT
another vote for a spray bottle with water. Our cats and dogs know it just by sight, now, lol!!
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Post by mlynn on Jun 17, 2016 5:51:38 GMT
If this is a recent behavior, he could be sick. Has he been to the et recently?
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Post by mirabelleswalker on Jun 17, 2016 6:09:34 GMT
Aren't you worried that he might go after the child you babysit? If he'll go after you and he's "out for blood," I would be concerned about an infant setting him off.
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Post by christine58 on Jun 17, 2016 10:03:52 GMT
Aren't you worried that he might go after the child you babysit? If he'll go after you and he's "out for blood," I would be concerned about an infant setting him off. I have the same concern. Is this new behavior with the cat?? Might be time for a trip to the vet. If he goes after that child, you're going to feel horrible. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2016 13:56:05 GMT
Wow, he is a big boy! Would he leave you alone if you cleaned the box at his feeding time? Maybe he would be distracted by the meal and not notice the bad lady stealing his poos! This is a good idea. They always have dry food out, but maybe I can give them some wet food at litter changing time. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2016 13:57:46 GMT
If this is a recent behavior, he could be sick. Has he been to the et recently? This is not recent behavior. He's done it with every baby I've watched, that he's been around for. He's very protective over them. The litter box isn't real new either, he's been doing that for about a year. It makes no sense to me. He was at the vet in March for his vaccines and check up. Other than being a bit pudgy he is in good health. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2016 14:08:04 GMT
Aren't you worried that he might go after the child you babysit? If he'll go after you and he's "out for blood," I would be concerned about an infant setting him off. I'm not completely worried about it. I had another baby last year that I watch and he had similar behavior up until she started walking. Once she was able to "fend" for herself in his eyes, he was good to go. Obviously I'm cautious and don't let the baby touch him or anything of that nature, but he's never shown aggressive behavior to anyone in the house but me. My boys can pick him up, move him around, kiss him, play with him or what have you and he just goes with it, same goes for DH. I can to for the most part. It's only when I change the litter box or he thinks I'm being "mean" to the baby. It's not every day...just every now and again he reads something that isn't there. I have RA and some days I'm in extreme pain and that really stresses me out. While I never take it out in the children, maybe he can sense the stress is "there" and is feeding off of it. I don't know. |
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