Hypersensitive Cat? Always Has Attacked Me

Ladyrosee

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Hi! I have a 10 year old food obsessed overweight little orange guy named Lucky. Long story short my dad found him when he was camping. He might have been 6 or 7 weeks and Lucky decided I AM COMING WITH YOU. He ended up choosing me to be his human. The only problem (aside from his food obsession which is currently being treated) is his attitude! Hes done this for so long my mom even says "oh I always am looking right at him when I touch him I know to never look away".

Lucky bites me the most. It seems like he takes anything and everything out on me even though he is absolutely unhealthily obsessed with me. For example I went out of town for 3 days and left him with his kitten friend and husband (he likes them both). I come home and Lucky developed an inflamed bladder and was peeing blood a little. Nothing serious came out of it at all but very scary he returned to normal quickly. He also vomits when stressed. Especially if I close him out of the bedroom or I go on a trip (he chose the couch last time I left to puke on). He is high stress. He bites me every day. He really really wants attention but its almost like he doesnt even like being touched. He will even bite my leg or arm hard when I'm just texting or something.

The vet hasnt said anything other than Oooh we have a sensitive one.

I'm just not sure if anyone has a cat who loves you but constantly draws blood.

A lot has changed in the last 5 years or so. His best friend died. I moved out shortly before that without him because it was just a tiny apartment without his animal friends he grew up with. My parents moved and I took him back since I really missed him and hes been with me almost 2 years back as my kitty. He seems a lot more happy but hes extra dependent on me but also is so mean and hurts me
 

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sargon

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My cat was a bit like yours.. Very needy, but also she would attack me and drew blood several times a week.

here's what helped:

1. time outs. they weren't always effective, but they did help, since the ultimate punishment possible was removign her access to me ( duration is 5 minutes.)

2. clicker training. It sounds weird, but having her perform tricks for treats ( I use DR Elsey's salmon kibble, and my cat loves it.), helps to make your cat see you as a benevolent dictator who rewards them when they are good. It didn't completely fix it, but it helped.

3. calming thigns and places ( cat shelves, a nice scratcher, etc). if your cat feels more comfortable in their environment, then they will be less inclined to attack.

4. After a little under 2 years of behavioral treatment only, I talked to my vet and had my cat put on kitty prozac. It took a couple of months, but it probably cut her attacks down by 80%, and it hitting 90-maybe 95% reduction in frequency and intensity now. It doesn't work for and isn't appropriate for all cats, but it can help in extreme cases ( and regularly being attacked to the point of blood *IS* extreme...), so don't be afraid to talk to your vet about it...
 

Maria Bayote

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Lucky is already a senior cat. have you checked with the vet lately to verify if he is having some health issues?

Some cats, even when they do like to be petted, suddenly attack or bite if the petting has become too much for them. You may not notice it, but there are subtle signs that he is getting uncomfortable or your petting/stroking gets too excessive for him, like tail trashing or his eyes are getting wide and follows your hand movements.

My cats also do attack me at times, especially when I brush them. At first they would seem so content then all of a sudden - just boom! Initially they always draw blood. But soon I managed to know when they seem to ask me to STOP petting or brushing them, or I would stop at the nick of time. I guess when you get so familiar with your pets that you also would know what they "think".
 

di and bob

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Yes, I have had a cat just like that. She had overstimulation syndrome and attacked after two strokes. so give a pet and quit, don't overstimulate him. He has gotten away with this for so long it is going to be difficult to break him of the habit. The next time he bites you, look him in teh eye, say NO! very loudly and sternly and leave the room, shutting the door. It only has to be for a few minutes, but eventually he will associate losing your company to him being mean to you. Physical punishment does not work with cats, so don't go there, it just makes them afraid. Another way is that when he bites you, take him by the loose skin on the back of the neck, and hold him still to the floor for a few seconds (difficult sometimes, they squirm and are pretty strong!) Saying NO! loudly and even hissing at him, this is what mama cats do to discilpline, and is in his language. But to be effective and teach him, it has to be done EVERY time. If he comes back at you, do it for a little longer. Not very long, or they forget what it is for and become afraid, but long enough to quiet them. If he squirms too much pick him up by teh loose skin until his front feet come off the ground. I highly recommend a kickeroo, a long catnip filled toy I buy on Amazon, because you can throw it towards him and it is vERY distracting. it gets rid of a LOT of excess energy through 'bunny kicking'. Good luck, and remember he has gotten away with this for years, so it will take a while!
 

tarasgirl06

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Hi! I have a 10 year old food obsessed overweight little orange guy named Lucky. Long story short my dad found him when he was camping. He might have been 6 or 7 weeks and Lucky decided I AM COMING WITH YOU. He ended up choosing me to be his human. The only problem (aside from his food obsession which is currently being treated) is his attitude! Hes done this for so long my mom even says "oh I always am looking right at him when I touch him I know to never look away".

Lucky bites me the most. It seems like he takes anything and everything out on me even though he is absolutely unhealthily obsessed with me. For example I went out of town for 3 days and left him with his kitten friend and husband (he likes them both). I come home and Lucky developed an inflamed bladder and was peeing blood a little. Nothing serious came out of it at all but very scary he returned to normal quickly. He also vomits when stressed. Especially if I close him out of the bedroom or I go on a trip (he chose the couch last time I left to puke on). He is high stress. He bites me every day. He really really wants attention but its almost like he doesnt even like being touched. He will even bite my leg or arm hard when I'm just texting or something.

The vet hasnt said anything other than Oooh we have a sensitive one.

I'm just not sure if anyone has a cat who loves you but constantly draws blood.

A lot has changed in the last 5 years or so. His best friend died. I moved out shortly before that without him because it was just a tiny apartment without his animal friends he grew up with. My parents moved and I took him back since I really missed him and hes been with me almost 2 years back as my kitty. He seems a lot more happy but hes extra dependent on me but also is so mean and hurts me
Well, looking at it from his perspective, he is bonded to you and yet you have left him. Others have left him, too. He feels very insecure, and doesn't know why these things are happening to him, but they make him unhappy, stressed, and anxious, as they would most anyone.
My Baby Su, who was born feral, has only ever bonded to me, but she bites me, hard, sometimes. It's never a big deal to me. I was born and raised "with cat" and there's really nothing a cat can do that would make me mad.
Have you looked at any of cat behaviorist, Jackson Galaxy, The Cat Daddy's videos on YouTube or his wonderful show, MY CAT FROM HELL on Animal Planet? He may be able to help. He does in-home consultations for a living, but is based here in L.A., though he does travel quite a bit. He's on all the major social media platforms.
 

basscat

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I'm just not sure if anyone has a cat who loves you but constantly draws blood.
I'm sure you're not alone. Not sure what the answer is aside from half of a Dramamine. I've found that I need fewer transfusions if I just ignore my cat, and only pet him when he comes asking for pets. AND, even then. NEVER the belly or the haunches. Actually, it's best just to stick with back of neck scrubs. Anything else and you stand a good chance of losing a finger.
 

tarasgirl06

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I'm sure you're not alone. Not sure what the answer is aside from half of a Dramamine. I've found that I need fewer transfusions if I just ignore my cat, and only pet him when he comes asking for pets. AND, even then. NEVER the belly or the haunches. Actually, it's best just to stick with back of neck scrubs. Anything else and you stand a good chance of losing a finger.
Well, in YOUR case, basscat basscat that would definitely be a PAWSibility :lolup::shocked::running:
 

Hellenww

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He might have been 6 or 7 weeks and Lucky decided I AM COMING WITH YOU.
Lucky bites me the most.
The vet hasnt said anything other than Oooh we have a sensitive one.
He was very young when your Dad found him so didn't learn from Mom and siblings how to play bite. Nobody ever bit him back so he doesn't know how much it hurts. di and bob di and bob gave some great advise. Also try high pitched "owe' and then ignore him completely for 5 min. He might see you as a littermate so bites you the most.

Is the vet able to do a complete exam? If not talk to the vet about giving something so they can. If he gets sick and as he gets older you'll be glad you tried out things now. Feliway calming products come in sprays. Bach's Rescue Remedy has relaxed my nervous boy some but I haven't been to the vet since starting it.
 
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