5 months ago, I adopted a two year male old cat from a neighbor. He is up to date on his shots and neutered. The neighbor has had him since he was a kitten and there is NO history of abuse.
When I first got the cat, I set up a room for him to have his own space with a litter, food, cat scratch post, toys, and plenty of hiding spaces. Regardless, whenever I entered the room (slowly and quietly) he would yowl and hiss at me from wherever he was hiding and kinda run at me. Whatever. I avoided eye contact and let him have his space.
Within the last two weeks, he ventured from the room to under the living room couch (where he growls at us and tries to attack whenever we sit). He's eating normally and using the litter normally (he has a litter box in the room, the kitchen, and the bathroom). He does it either when we are asleep or not home.(I'd like to throw in I tried a Feliway diffuser for TWO months and it had no affect on his behavior)
A few days ago, his aggression spiked. He's scratched my 4 year old before if she accidently wandered too close to where he is hiding(she does NOT pet him or go near him. She is terrified of him). Now however, if I'm not in the room with her, he will slink out of his hiding spot and run at her and attack her screaming even if she is across the room watching TV quietly. He has made her bleed on THREE occasions now and deep scratches from him. This is clearly not playful behavior.
I do not understand. The previous owner had a son (6) that got along great with the animal. I witnessed with my own eyes him rubbing against the child, purring, and sleeping in his lap. What more can I do with this cat? Since having him, I have not been able to pet him ONCE.He has show ZERO signs of reaching out. He is NOT sick. He is NOT abused. This is NOT my first time adopting a cat.
When I bought this animal, it was with the understanding that I would have a pet, not a menace that I lavish money and affection on while he terrorizes my household.I've considered rehoming him, but the few people I've discussed his behaviour with wanted nothing to do with him.
What are my options. I've tried giving him time, I've tried reading to him (but he tries to attack me), I've tried treats, I've tried catnip (never again. He went psychotic), I've tried feliway, I tried switching foods, switching litters, playing classical music in the background. Help.
When I first got the cat, I set up a room for him to have his own space with a litter, food, cat scratch post, toys, and plenty of hiding spaces. Regardless, whenever I entered the room (slowly and quietly) he would yowl and hiss at me from wherever he was hiding and kinda run at me. Whatever. I avoided eye contact and let him have his space.
Within the last two weeks, he ventured from the room to under the living room couch (where he growls at us and tries to attack whenever we sit). He's eating normally and using the litter normally (he has a litter box in the room, the kitchen, and the bathroom). He does it either when we are asleep or not home.(I'd like to throw in I tried a Feliway diffuser for TWO months and it had no affect on his behavior)
A few days ago, his aggression spiked. He's scratched my 4 year old before if she accidently wandered too close to where he is hiding(she does NOT pet him or go near him. She is terrified of him). Now however, if I'm not in the room with her, he will slink out of his hiding spot and run at her and attack her screaming even if she is across the room watching TV quietly. He has made her bleed on THREE occasions now and deep scratches from him. This is clearly not playful behavior.
I do not understand. The previous owner had a son (6) that got along great with the animal. I witnessed with my own eyes him rubbing against the child, purring, and sleeping in his lap. What more can I do with this cat? Since having him, I have not been able to pet him ONCE.He has show ZERO signs of reaching out. He is NOT sick. He is NOT abused. This is NOT my first time adopting a cat.
When I bought this animal, it was with the understanding that I would have a pet, not a menace that I lavish money and affection on while he terrorizes my household.I've considered rehoming him, but the few people I've discussed his behaviour with wanted nothing to do with him.
What are my options. I've tried giving him time, I've tried reading to him (but he tries to attack me), I've tried treats, I've tried catnip (never again. He went psychotic), I've tried feliway, I tried switching foods, switching litters, playing classical music in the background. Help.
