Please help with my Adopted Cat and His Attacking.

[Sarah David]

Hi there,
I’m looking for some advice about my 4 year old adopted male ginger cat. We adopted Ozzy in March 2024.

What we know of Ozzys background is he was given up by a man and wife couple who were moving to London and wanting a baby. They felt like Ozzy wasn’t going to fit in. Ozzy was then adopted by two young men, he lived with them for a year. During that time they had building work done on their home and it is believed that

Ozzy was locked in a room whilst it was happening. We do not know the full details of both of these homes. We don’t no if the first couple where telling the truth or if the second couple locked him away for days or hours etc.

Unfortunately one of the men then had a stroke and so they had to give Ozzy up because of the medical people needing to come in and out the house.

Ozzy is then fostered out and lived in a flat. He was great and finally relaxed.

Then after 6 months in this flat myself and my boyfriend adopt Ozzy.

Ozzy has been living with us for 6 months now and last Monday he violently attacked me and my boyfriend.

The Attack

I was playing with him on the couch and he had clawed my hand whilst playing, in which case I stood up and then walked to the kitchen to clean my hand. My boyfriend walked after me and after he did Ozzy came running towards us leaping on our legs and trying to attack my boyfriend. Running after him up and down the kitchen. He would not stop chasing him for an hour. Jumping up at the door in between them, hissing and crying.

We were both locked in different rooms. He caused so much damage to my boyfriends leg, cut in several places.

Eventually we were able to lock him in the kitchen and let him calm down. After 5 hours I went down to let him out and he went to attack me again.

I didn’t want to but for our own safety we had to lock him in over night. It’s been a week now since the attack and he’s definitely still odd, he seems more anxious than before and has only just stopped hissing at us. He will not follow my boyfriend anywhere (he used to do this) and is sleeping more and I've played with him once or twice but he's hardly bothered.

After I informed the fostered people what had happened. The foster women told us that before we picked Ozzy up from her flat he had done the EXACT same thing to her. She had stood up next to him and he attacked.

I’m confused as to why she didn’t tell us this before.

We are at the moment doing everything we can to keep Ozzy calm and the house calm. But we are really struggling because we feel like we can’t trust him. We know he is an anxious cat but we don’t no what is going to tigger this again.

He is by nature anxious and I can deal with that but I can’t deal with a fight or flight attack. I have anxiety myself and the unknown is too much. We are trying to act normal around him but it’s hard because we don’t wanna spark another attack situation.

For me I'm 26 and I thinking about my future, I want to buy a house and I'm now thinking if I try and move him to a new home will he attack like this. If I have friends over will he do it? I'm living in a rented home and I will need to move at some point.

I love this cat, he is so special and I feel so so sorry for him. I know he doesn’t mean it but I’m worried for him. I’ve read that the more these fight or flight attacks happen the more likely they are to happen again.

I’m not sure I could keep him if it happens again, but if we give him up that would be his 5th home and I can’t do that. For 99% of the time he is amazing but that 1% he is insane.

Does anyone have any advice on what could be happening to him? Or what the best thing for me to do is.

I do want to take him the vets but I’m scared to do that because I don’t wanna upset him or cause another attack.


Thanks,
Jessica

Uploading a picture of him below !

 

[Margot Lane]

My only experience with this was a young cat who eventually grew out of it with time and patience. I imagine there’s a part of him that still feels ungrounded after so much change in his life. There are many threads on this site with a similar situation if you simply type in the search word “attack.” This sounds so severe I wonder if there is some calming medication you can get from your vet, just so you don’t have to hide in your rooms! CBD oil, plug in Feliways and David Teie’s Cat Music (online) might help, along with just being consistemtly there for him. And though this doesn’t solve the issue, thick gloves and pants (and extra band aids) might be in order. Keep an eye on those scratches. I will say in my case the cat just realized he wasn’t the runt anymore, and didn’t need to compete with the others in the barn…his home was his home and he had our love forever. I think that anchored him.

As an afterthought, imagine it this way: if you yourself were an orphan and had been passed from person to person, hoping that this one would be the one who really loved you, and they gave up on you, you might tend to act out and challenge the next set of family members too. My vote is don’t give up up him, and it will take time and soothing voices.

 

[fionasmom]

If you can get him to a vet, it might be a good idea to have a comprehensive exam and the opinion of the vet as to what might be going on. If there is a medical reason, it won't iron itself out. You probably don't want a drugged up cat, but he may need some kind of tranquilizer until this is worked out.

The attacks as you describe them are serious and prolonged. Look after the scratches or bites. The teeth of cats can introduce infection much easier than a dog's can because they are like tiny needles. Cat scratch fever is a real condition, not just a song, and it can required antibiotics and continued treatment.

The rescue should have been honest; many of them are a little bit less than forthcoming because they are trying to hard to rehome animals. Did the foster do anything differently than you are doing which prevented repeated attacks as it sounds as if it only happened once, according to her? Did she have a way of keeping him calm that worked?

Are there any triggers? Redirected aggression is common in cats. Is there another cat outside? Wildlife that Ozzy is aware of? Was anything unusual at all going on when he attacked?
Re-Directed Aggression In Cats [Insight And Solutions] - TheCatSite
Cat Aggression Toward People - Causes, Signs, And Solutions - TheCatSite
Why Do Cats Attack? A Closer Look at Cat Aggression And Its Causes - TheCatSite

It sounds as if Ozzy has had a hard life with two other families who did not want him. Who knows what happened that is not his fault? I do wonder if not keeping him when a baby was in the picture or locking him in a room due to construction were actually covers for aggression.

 

[Kris107]

Others, may say otherwise, but figure out what deters him. For me, I do a blood curdling, break glass, high pitched "EEE!!!" (it scares the whole house). But the point is, the cat does NOT like it. Hurts their ears. Even if the attack doesn't hurt too much, I do it. I have to be consistent. I like my voice as I don't have to carry something around with me, but they sell cans of air that sort of make a loud hiss. I know that the "spray with water" is controversial. I have known some cats who don't mind at all getting sprayed. But again, my point is - find what he DOESN'T like and that'll help discourage. You and boyfriend both do it.

 

[di and bob]

Reading this, I have a feeling he clawed someone before and they violently punished him. He freaked out when you stood up and attacked first, the same with the other lady. He maybe thought you were going to get soemthing to hit him with. Since he was new too, with you both, I really think this will resolve in time when he accepts he has a permanent home. Meanwhile, if you can, if he attacks again grab him by the loose skin on the back of the neck and hold him to the floor. He will be like a whirling devil so try to hold on and keep him still. or get a blanketr and throw it over him and hold him down. I know how scary this is, but you have to remember you are a lot bigger and stronger than him. He is on edge only being with you for 6 months, so for now get a calming med on a pet site and try that. I have had some luck using Pet CBD oil, bought behind the counter at a lot of pharmacies, NOT hemp oil, which doesn't seem to do much. I pray this is a temporary thing and that he will get calm and have no more outbursts. It very well could be.

 

[Alldara]

I can only say that my long time cat Nobel did have one instance of redirected aggression to me and that was it. He was always good with children and babies.

A good and thorough vet exam would be smart. Perhaps also an x-ray which might give indication on old wounds or current hurts.

It sounds like he may have been abused by a man oe witnessed a man abusing another.

 

[walli]

My cat Joey was doing the same thing when we first brought him in from the street.
someone here told me to scruff him, grab the fur from the back of the neck (Gently) do not lift him off the ground
just the front legs. I guess I would say something to him when you do it.
I think I would say No gently or I'm the boss This actually worked, and it didn't take too long.
keep doing it every time tho, don't let even 1 instance go without the scruffing.
Joey no longer attacks my legs, once in awhile he gets squirrely and I scruff him and it's like he remembers.
and straightens up right away, he will roll on the floor and have those cute eyes looking at me. like I'm sorry mom!
Don't be angry when you scruff him, be like a mom that's teaching her baby!

 

[Crabbysquatch]

I’d have him checked at the vet right away. Our old cat Tiger was a sweet playful cat until one day it was like he was switched with another cat. Pay attention to his eyes. Are they dilated ALL the time ? Turned out he had a brain virus or bacteria I can’t remember which it was years ago. The vet was able to give us something for it but he was never the same again. Had to be on Prozac for the rest of his life and even then he was a ticking timebomb and forget about petting him. I feel if we had treated him sooner maybe the damage wouldn’t have been as bad. That’s just the first thing that pops in my head whenever I hear of violent out of character cat attacks, it could be something else.

 

[Kwik]

S Sarah David
I am in agreement with di and bob - sounds to me like an abused cat and stern correction is not a " preventative " measure- once a cat is beyond the threshold and already into a full blown confrontation all bets are off- you will get hurt,you don't want to try to reprimand at this heightened state of aggression- you want to avoid it

I summize when you stood up this terrified,confused and highly defensive cat thought he was in for it..... what I don't get is his fixation and aggression going on for an hour---- I know minutes can seem like hours when your in a whirlwind of fear & confusion,are you sure he was charging relentlessly for an hour? I would be sure to take him to the Vet for a thorough exam and tests because this can be indicative of an underlying medical condition.

So before attempting to manage any aggression with either behavioral of environmental modifications you must first rule out disease,disorders such as central nervous system issues eg:,hyperaesthesia syndrome,nuerodermititus etc etc- even hyperthyroidism or dental disease- a cat just doesn't flip the switch like this without a reason.

He's had an awful start and whoever he was with and wherever he was only made a bad situation much worse by just passing him off onto someone else - be patient,be gentle and I strongly suggest getting him to a capable " cat" Vet and perhaps they'll prescribe something while under Veterinarian care to get to the bottom of this- you can't be expected to live in such high risk unpredictable environment - your heightened fear and stress isn't good for him either.....

And Jessica,welcome to TCS- I hope you'll find it encouraging to know I've seen much worse that have ended up with positive results for a happy household and a trustworthy feline ..... I can think of 2 off hand that were due to medical issues and treated successfully.No doubt many others owners would simply surrendered the cat so I really admire your commitment to Ozzy

 

[Sarah David]

Thank you everyone for all of your amazing comments. I appreciate you taking the time to give me your advice.

It’s been a little over two weeks now since the attack. Happy to say my boyfriends leg is on the road to healing.

We’ve been using calming spray and plug ins to help Oz. For the most part he seems back to his self.

I do agree that is background means he’s had a hard life and has never found a place to truly settle. Being past around is horrible for him, I am now wondering if he has been past around because of these attacks.

I say that because yesterday he tried to do it AGAIN.

I was taking my bins out and came back into the house, as I walked towards the living room I look back and Ozzy is hunting towards my legs. As I looked back he then runs towards me chasing me into the living room, he goes to jump at my leg but I said no Oz and threw a blanket by him. He then jumps back and hisses loudly.

Luckily this time it wasn’t as bad but I can’t help but feel like if I didn’t turn to face him or throw the blanket it could have been.

This is the second attack in less than 2 weeks which has me so worried. I guess I need to take him the vets because surely this isn’t normal?

And if it is because of his hard start to life, I’m not sure I can be the person to wait until he just snaps out of it. I want to be I really do and I don’t want to put him in ANOTHER home. It’s so unfair on him but I feel like he might be better with someone more experienced.

I’m so heartbroken, he’s my little Ozzy. Does anyone have any advice on how I can get him to the vets, what if he has an attack in the vets. This is honestly a nightmare for me and my boyfriend at the moment.

 

[fionasmom]

I am now wondering if he has been past around because of these attacks.

This is a possibility, but it does not make him a bad cat. If there is any underlying medical problem, it has not been addressed.

Does anyone have any advice on how I can get him to the vets

I am unclear as to whether or not you can put him in a carrier. If you can, getting him to the vet is more important in this case than whether or not he would become more upset. If there is some cause, such as pain, it might be uncovered and addressed. I do believe he is a mistreated cat and he may have been hit or injured in some way which is not evident.

He is not a feral, at least not anymore if he ever was. He has been in three homes not counting yours and seems to act like a normal cat at least some of the time. Tell the vet that you have noticed some behavioral issues and are concerned that there may be a physical cause.

While feline hyperesthesia is usually presented with a rippling back or tail chasing and self mutilating, I wonder if this is a form of it. You mentioned that you were playing with him when it started one time. Touching a cat in a sensitive area will trigger a hyperesthesia episode and once they are in "the zone" they don't just snap out of it. I had a cat with this and once the FHS had started, she had no clue who I was and would have easily hurt me. I could not stop the episode unless I did something like put a pillow up between us which seemed to calm her down a little bit. I am not recommending that you attempt to handle Ozzy when he enters that state though.

 

[Kwik]

Thank you everyone for all of your amazing comments. I appreciate you taking the time to give me your advice.

It’s been a little over two weeks now since the attack. Happy to say my boyfriends leg is on the road to healing.

We’ve been using calming spray and plug ins to help Oz. For the most part he seems back to his self.

I do agree that is background means he’s had a hard life and has never found a place to truly settle. Being past around is horrible for him, I am now wondering if he has been past around because of these attacks.

I say that because yesterday he tried to do it AGAIN.

I was taking my bins out and came back into the house, as I walked towards the living room I look back and Ozzy is hunting towards my legs. As I looked back he then runs towards me chasing me into the living room, he goes to jump at my leg but I said no Oz and threw a blanket by him. He then jumps back and hisses loudly.

Luckily this time it wasn’t as bad but I can’t help but feel like if I didn’t turn to face him or throw the blanket it could have been.

This is the second attack in less than 2 weeks which has me so worried. I guess I need to take him the vets because surely this isn’t normal?

And if it is because of his hard start to life, I’m not sure I can be the person to wait until he just snaps out of it. I want to be I really do and I don’t want to put him in ANOTHER home. It’s so unfair on him but I feel like he might be better with someone more experienced.

I’m so heartbroken, he’s my little Ozzy. Does anyone have any advice on how I can get him to the vets, what if he has an attack in the vets. This is honestly a nightmare for me and my boyfriend at the moment.

A Vet that specializes in feline care surely will be well equipped to handle a spicy cat- you shouldn't worry about that.As I mentioned earlier I would not advise attempting any aggression management methods or techniques ,not behavorial or environmental modifications even if you did have more experience ,not until you rule out any possible underlying medical conditions with a qualified feline Veterinarian

Try not to put the cart before the horse-I know it's hard not to think about " what ifs" and the possibility that you might not be up for the task at hand- not everyone is BUT right now you want to do what is best for Ozzie- so get him to the Vet and let's try and figure out what is causing this seemingly unpredictable behavior- take one step at a time ..... there may be simple causes or more complex and see what the Vets assessment is - take it from there

Keep us posted ,we're here for you

 

[di and bob]

Ask the vet for some kind of calming med to put in a lickable treat. Cats do very well on Prozac. Please tell the vet it is really needed.

 

[walli]

Thank you everyone for all of your amazing comments. I appreciate you taking the time to give me your advice.

It’s been a little over two weeks now since the attack. Happy to say my boyfriends leg is on the road to healing.

We’ve been using calming spray and plug ins to help Oz. For the most part he seems back to his self.

I do agree that is background means he’s had a hard life and has never found a place to truly settle. Being past around is horrible for him, I am now wondering if he has been past around because of these attacks.

I say that because yesterday he tried to do it AGAIN.

I was taking my bins out and came back into the house, as I walked towards the living room I look back and Ozzy is hunting towards my legs. As I looked back he then runs towards me chasing me into the living room, he goes to jump at my leg but I said no Oz and threw a blanket by him. He then jumps back and hisses loudly.

Luckily this time it wasn’t as bad but I can’t help but feel like if I didn’t turn to face him or throw the blanket it could have been.

This is the second attack in less than 2 weeks which has me so worried. I guess I need to take him the vets because surely this isn’t normal?

And if it is because of his hard start to life, I’m not sure I can be the person to wait until he just snaps out of it. I want to be I really do and I don’t want to put him in ANOTHER home. It’s so unfair on him but I feel like he might be better with someone more experienced.

I’m so heartbroken, he’s my little Ozzy. Does anyone have any advice on how I can get him to the vets, what if he has an attack in the vets. This is honestly a nightmare for me and my boyfriend at the moment.

Are you guys playing with him when Joey was attacking my legs he wanted to play and that was all he knew how to do. The vet will give you gabapentin to give to him to take him in. It makes them sleepy, but your cat sounds just like what Joey was doing and scruffing really worked.

 

[walli]

Play with him with a wand toy!
And try to gently scruff him when he goes for the legs