I have a 12 year old neutered male. He was an outside cat who happened to choose my porch as refuge and eventually he came inside and stayed. He was about 2 when he came inside. A couple years later, he attacked my friend who was catsitting him for a night, I wasn't there, but my friend did need a few stitches. 3 years later he attacked me while I was wrapping some presents next to him sleeping. 5 years later he attacked me again after hearing a cat video on my computer. It has been 6 years since that attack. He has been up to date on shots and checkups. His vet believes it is a feral reaction that comes out when he is super scared. He said it's like a seizure and I just have to avoid it. I have spent years reducing known triggers and isolating him from new people. I love this cat like a son... but this week he attacked me while I was holding my nine month old son so I need to seriously consider putting him down. I am heart broken and I don't take this decision lightly.
We were all sleeping in my bed, something I don't allow very often. Unfortunately my son woke up in the middle of the night and started crying loudly. My cat doesn't like babies crying so when he jumped off the bed I thought he was just leaving the room. I was wrong. In a matter of less than 2 minutes he bit me 7 times and left several scratches. My roommate had to chase the cat off, but the cat bit him twice too.
This attack was by far the worst ever. My son was not harmed but I feel awful realizing he could have been bit too.
My cat was back to normal minutes later and doesn't seem to understand he caused my wounds. He wants to lay by me and tries to rub against the baby as if nothing has changed. I have mostly kept him isolated since the attack, I let him out just before we go to bed. He's lonely and I'm overwhelmed with an impossible decision.
I know many people give away their cats when they have children. I dont see that as an option knowing he is capable of such a vicious attack. The vet did not think medication would change his need to attack under fear. On a daily basis, he follows me around, plays, eats, and sleeps near me. I am most certainly his mom and his only human. Besides these attacks he is a really good cat.
Have any of you experienced this? Did anything work? Can my cat be happy isolated to one room of the house? Is it time to put him down so he can'take hurt me or my son?
We were all sleeping in my bed, something I don't allow very often. Unfortunately my son woke up in the middle of the night and started crying loudly. My cat doesn't like babies crying so when he jumped off the bed I thought he was just leaving the room. I was wrong. In a matter of less than 2 minutes he bit me 7 times and left several scratches. My roommate had to chase the cat off, but the cat bit him twice too.
This attack was by far the worst ever. My son was not harmed but I feel awful realizing he could have been bit too.
My cat was back to normal minutes later and doesn't seem to understand he caused my wounds. He wants to lay by me and tries to rub against the baby as if nothing has changed. I have mostly kept him isolated since the attack, I let him out just before we go to bed. He's lonely and I'm overwhelmed with an impossible decision.
I know many people give away their cats when they have children. I dont see that as an option knowing he is capable of such a vicious attack. The vet did not think medication would change his need to attack under fear. On a daily basis, he follows me around, plays, eats, and sleeps near me. I am most certainly his mom and his only human. Besides these attacks he is a really good cat.
Have any of you experienced this? Did anything work? Can my cat be happy isolated to one room of the house? Is it time to put him down so he can'take hurt me or my son?
