Sweet cat with redirected aggression, please help: euthanasia may be the only option.

[catluvs]

@susanm9006 meant a loud, obnoxious, startling abrupt sound that will break their mental/emotional focus

I know, I’ve tried. I’ve hit two pots together and even tried something a little more subtle like hitting a wooden spoon on the counter. It makes her go even harder and then usually makes me prime target. Anything that heightens the situation makes it worse, but I can bring it down with very slow, calm actions. Just enough to get her in another room at least so she can really calm down by herself

 

[Furballsmom]

I’ve hit two pots together

Gracious sakes, well, that is certainly loud. Bless your heart for determining how to get them to calm down!

 

[catluvs]

Gracious sakes, well, that is certainly loud. Bless your heart for determining how to get them to calm down!

I do appreciate her comment, it totally makes sense! I’m sure if Tuck and Lo were fighting, that’d work on them. But unfortunately Cc is just... a different kind of demon. I say that slightly joking because I love her (I’m sure you guys can tell, despite everything) but she is indeed crazy. Lol. I just do what I can

 

[Furballsmom]

I just do what I can

It appears to me that you're doing quite a lot

 

[catluvs]

It appears to me that you're doing quite a lot

Thank you, I really try. We were doing really good there for a while but I’m always on edge. Hopefully we can attain a longer peace streak next time

 

[Furballsmom]

Maybe some chamomile tea for you?

 

[catluvs]

Hi guys, I’m back. Please please, can anyone help me. I don’t know what to do. Tuck was playing and dove through his tunnel which made a loud noise (I was right there), and Cc started a huge brawl. I managed to shut my bedroom door and I thought that was it except she hit the door so hard it flew back open and she flew back in and started attacking me, but I managed to wrestle her a bit back out the door. I don’t know what to do. I’m bawling my eyes out, and I’m locked in my bedroom with Tuck and Lo. This is so hard and I don’t know how much more I can take. I’m not sure what can be said or what advice could be given that hasn’t already, but I’m just at the end of my rope. I’m so sick to my stomach. Tuck has bad cuts on his face. Just ten minutes before, everything was fine! I was holding her, she was licking my nose, and I had just thought to myself that they weren’t even pestering each other! I’m at a loss. This isn’t even what my foot/leg/side of arm looks like. I just don’t know I’m so heartbroken.

 

[tarasgirl06]

Hi guys, I’m back. Please please, can anyone help me. I don’t know what to do. Tuck was playing and dove through his tunnel which made a loud noise (I was right there), and Cc started a huge brawl. I managed to shut my bedroom door and I thought that was it except she hit the door so hard it flew back open and she flew back in and started attacking me, but I managed to wrestle her a bit back out the door. I don’t know what to do. I’m bawling my eyes out, and I’m locked in my bedroom with Tuck and Lo. This is so hard and I don’t know how much more I can take. I’m not sure what can be said or what advice could be given that hasn’t already, but I’m just at the end of my rope. I’m so sick to my stomach. Tuck has bad cuts on his face. Just ten minutes before, everything was fine! I was holding her, she was licking my nose, and I had just thought to myself that they weren’t even pestering each other! I’m at a loss.

Well, like everything in life, cats can be unpredictable. We can't always know what causes them to react. My Elvis has gone off at my Baby Su twice, resulting in rolling balls of unrestrained fury. Experts say, and I agree with them, NEVER to use hands or other body parts to intervene when cats are fighting, because claws, and teeth. Always use an inanimate object, such as a broom. I know time is of the essence and when things happen suddenly, one isn't necessarily going to think it all out/be near an object to use. But, well, I'm sorry you got hurt and they obviously did, too. In my/our case, rehoming will NEVER be an option because I adopt for life and my cats are beloved family members, not "pets". That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

[catluvs]

Well, like everything in life, cats can be unpredictable. We can't always know what causes them to react. My Elvis has gone off at my Baby Su twice, resulting in rolling balls of unrestrained fury. Experts say, and I agree with them, NEVER to use hands or other body parts to intervene when cats are fighting, because claws, and teeth. Always use an inanimate object, such as a broom. I know time is of the essence and when things happen suddenly, one isn't necessarily going to think it all out/be near an object to use. But, well, I'm sorry you got hurt and they obviously did, too. In my/our case, rehoming will NEVER be an option because I adopt for life and my cats are beloved family members, not "pets". That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

I don’t use my hands and I don’t get in between them. This was HER attacking ME after I had already saw prime opportunity to shut her out of my bedroom door, after which she busted back in. So yes I am going to maneuver her off me and out of the room, lest I need stitches (no health insurance!) and you say your cats have fought “twice” but this is usually a monthly or more occurance and has been for years. And it’s at EVERYTHING. It’s like she’s waiting for a perceived threat. I had someone literally ask me if I used to self harm due to my scars! I shouldn’t have to live this way and something has got to give and it has to be soon. I have had cats my whole life and I have NEVER experienced this. Even when my childhood cats used to fight. This is insane and I’m at a total loss, at the end of my rope, at the edge on insanity.

 

[tarasgirl06]

I don’t use my hands and I don’t get in between them. This was HER attacking ME after I had already saw prime opportunity to shut her out of my bedroom door, after which she busted back in. So yes I am going to maneuver her off me and out of the room, lest I need stitches (no health insurance!) and you say your cats have fought “twice” but this is usually a monthly or more occurance and has been for years. And it’s at EVERYTHING. It’s like she’s waiting for a perceived threat. I had someone literally ask me if I used to self harm due to my scars! I shouldn’t have to live this way and something has got to give and it has to be soon. I have had cats my whole life and I have NEVER experienced this. Even when my childhood cats used to fight. This is insane and I’m at a total loss, at the end of my rope, at the edge on insanity.

I am so sorry about this. But I pray that no lives will be at risk.

 

[shadowsrescue]

In my opinion this was something that just happened. It was unpredictable. Isolated incidents like this will happen. They happen to all of us. Cats react. Often there is redirected aggression to whatever or whomever is nearest. In this case it was you. I am very sorry that this happened. Yet if it was me, I would do my best to calm everyone down. Chamomile tea, composure treats or liquid, zylkene or whatever calming supplement you can find. Then move forward.

Rehoming for me is also not an option. I adopt and do the very very best I can for my cats. There are always ups and downs. Always. I have 6 cats. 5 are former feral cats. They react on a dime. Every little sound can set them off. Yet this does not mean that I cannot continue to move forward with them. I get frustrated, angry and sad, but I keep doing the best I can for them. Even if it means some cats are separated from others.

I do hope that you can find a solution that works best for both you and the cats.

 

[susan denning]

How's your hand doing? That does look like a rather nasty injury.

 

[catluvs]

In my opinion this was something that just happened. It was unpredictable. Isolated incidents like this will happen. They happen to all of us. Cats react. Often there is redirected aggression to whatever or whomever is nearest. In this case it was you. I am very sorry that this happened. Yet if it was me, I would do my best to calm everyone down. Chamomile tea, composure treats or liquid, zylkene or whatever calming supplement you can find. Then move forward.

Rehoming for me is also not an option. I adopt and do the very very best I can for my cats. There are always ups and downs. Always. I have 6 cats. 5 are former feral cats. They react on a dime. Every little sound can set them off. Yet this does not mean that I cannot continue to move forward with them. I get frustrated, angry and sad, but I keep doing the best I can for them. Even if it means some cats are separated from others.

I do hope that you can find a solution that works best for both you and the cats.

So two years being one big isolated incident...? I’ve spoken with one vet in person, one over the phone, and one on a veterinary site, and none of them agree that this level of aggression is normal. The lives here at risk are Tuck, with his FLUTD, me, with my declining mental health, and Lo now has a big gash on her cornea that I’m hoping isn’t going to require a vet visit. It’s heartbreaking that I’ll never have another cat after this, ever, when I’m known for my love of cats. Now I guess I’ll live in misery for the next several years until I can figure out what to do with her, and put her in her own isolation space.

 

[catluvs]

How's your hand doing? That does look like a rather nasty injury.

It’s pretty bad. I can’t open my right hand up all the way because the skin is so torn, I ran out of bandaids, and after Tuck and Lo calmed down I quietly exited my room while keeping them shut in there, I calmly stood there (I’ve been down this road before! Many times) but it didn’t matter because she visciously attacked me again, yowling and howling while doing it, while I could do nothing but stand there and let her finish and walk a ways away, while waiting to attack me again. I now have probably an even worse injury on the back of my legs. I managed to get to the treat back in the cabinet, slowly distract her with treats, and lead her to another room by herself, where she now is (scratching and destroying the carpet, might I add, that I’m going to have to pay for). I’m having an extremely rough time.

 

[sweetblackpaws]

What about Fluoxetine tablets (generic Prozac) put in a pill pocket?

My aggressive boy is on gabapentin; it helps a lot. Don't give up yet, you have some options here.

Also, maybe tranquilizers (alprazolam or lorazepam)? This is quite a serious case you are dealing with. I am sorry

 

[susan denning]

Have you checked the different organizations in your area to see what kind of options are out there? It doesn't sound like this is working well for either you or your cats.

 

[susan denning]

It’s pretty bad. I can’t open my right hand up all the way because the skin is so torn, I ran out of bandaids, and after Tuck and Lo calmed down I quietly exited my room while keeping them shut in there, I calmly stood there (I’ve been down this road before! Many times) but it didn’t matter because she visciously attacked me again, yowling and howling while doing it, while I could do nothing but stand there and let her finish and walk a ways away, while waiting to attack me again. I now have probably an even worse injury on the back of my legs. I managed to get to the treat back in the cabinet, slowly distract her with treats, and lead her to another room by herself, where she now is (scratching and destroying the carpet, might I add, that I’m going to have to pay for). I’m having an extremely rough time.

I'm sorry to hear that. I might be worth keeping an eye on the scratches in case they (hoping they won't) get infected.

 

[catluvs]

What about Fluoxetine tablets (generic Prozac) put in a pill pocket?

My aggressive boy is on gabapentin; it helps a lot. Don't give up yet, you have some options here.

I’ve tried both. I’ve tried the pill form in a pill pocket, cheese, she doesn’t eat tuna or canned food but I tried anyway, baby food, I even made my own temptations treat pockets which she ate for like 2 days and then wouldn’t touch again. I tried to simply syringe it to her and not only was that near impossible but it made her general mood angry, which I was afraid will make it easier for fights to start. The vet said not only is the transdermal cream wishy washy in effectiveness, but it’s also expensive, and she’d get agitated at that being on her skin as well. I even separate them a lot of the time, always on the days that I work. I’ve tried literally everything.

 

[sweetblackpaws]

You have been dealing with this for many months and it sounds like you are going above and beyond as far as trying different solutions.

So she won't eat pill pockets, so I guess you can't give her alprazolam (unless you already tried that).

I wish I could help - short of all the meds you tried, I am not sure what else to do.

I understand you are concerned for your FLUTD kitty, and I totally understand (I have a FLUTD kitty). You have a lot to deal with. Whatever you and your vet decide, your efforts have been 200% for her.

 

[susan denning]

Anything in CC's history you can think of that might be helpful? I was wondering if she had ever been an only cat, but then I saw where you said they are littermates.