Serious aggression, need advice

[sery]

Hello all. This is my first time posting on this forum and I am at my wits end.

My cat Arya is extremely difficult. I absolutely love her to death, she's been with me since she was a kitten, and I am at a crossroads right now. She flips between being an adorable (to me only) little 3 year old Siamese cat, to a complete demon. I'm writing this after bandaging my leg because she flipped and full out attacked me as I left the bathroom. I was able to corral her into my bedroom and lock her in, as she screamed and kept trying to attack.

When she is being sweet, it is literally only to me. My roommate won't come out of her room if Arya is out and about, which leads to get being locked up for most of the day. She gets the run of the apartment in the evenings and most of the night (roommate leaves for work at 4am, so goes to bed early), so she's not always locked up.

I have tried so many medications for her over the last year and a half. Calming remedies make her more aggressive. Prozac, zanax, sending a video plea to the "my cat from hell" people, you name it. Feliway... nope! She's been to various veterinarians to see if its physical pain, and to others to get second opinions.

My options at this point are to rehome her (but she's too aggressive for the no kill shelters to accept her), get her declawed (which im usually totally against, and the laser declaw is more than i can afford (600-800 dollars), plus no guarantee that it will help), or a behaviorist (also out of my price range(300 just for initial consultation)).

My last option is to put her down. It seems extreme, but there have been times where im literally trapped on my bed and my roommate has to scare her under it with a squirt bottle just so i can leave my room uninjured. When she goes on a rampage, i have to keep her locked up for at least 6 hours or the littlest thing will set her off again. I've slept on the couch before in order to give her time to calm down.

Im just at the point that I don't know what to do anymore. I feel like the worst kitty momma when I even think of putting her down, but I feel as if its my best option.

I would greatly appreciated any recommendations on other things to try.

 

[LeiLana80]

I am so so sorry to hear of this. My heart aches for you.

Is this new behavior, or has she always been like this?

 

[basschick]

i'm sorry you're going through this.

how long was she on prozac before she stopped taking it?

has she been fixed?

 

[Kieka]

First, if you reach that point of declawing or putting her down contact a Siamese rescue. Not a normal no kill but a Siamese specific group. The reason is that Siamese are labeled as a little crazy sometimes but the rescues for them know the difference between crazy and acting out.

Siamese are incredibly active and interactive. They need someone who is there for them when they need them. They are not a cat for a single cat home where no one is around to be with them for hours on end day after day. They are a cat who will act out and have outbursts if they figure out that is the only way for any attention. There is nothing wrong with your cat from what I am hearing.

My boy is only part Siamese but he picked up many of their traits and appearances so it is a strong part. As a kitten I had to spend hours with him daily just playing, being his living fort and interacting with him. When I took a break for me it would be 10 minutes tops before I was told my cat needed me and I was back at it. During that time I worked with him on behavior and appropriate responses. But all that attention and work has resulted in a well adjusted adult cat. It also helps that when he was a year old I got a kitten so he has a little sister who is also pointed but not as much Siamese. She helps direct some of that neverending energy and need for attention.

The point is, it sounds to me like you have a bored Siamese. They absolutely do not do well in homes where they are alone for long periods of time. They need a buddy (human or cat doesn't matter) who is present most of the day. Locking her in room alone is detrimental to her mental well being. It only serves to exasperate her behavior. She has gotten to the point where she is becoming aggressive in her demands if she is drawing blood (or the lines on behavior were never established). My boy learned very young that drawing blood would result in losing attention and he has not done so since he was around 6 months old.

You need to retrain her and you if you want to make this work.

Instead of locking her away play with her when she is agressive. Get feather toys, dangle toys, any and all wand or dragging toys. Some toss toys too but right now the focus is play where humans are safe. Then you just play. Play until she is panting and tired. Then pet her, if she starts getting rowdy you play again. Keep a toy in every room and play while watching TV, doing homework, whenever possible.

If she goes for you yelp (or say Ouch) really loud and physically turn away from her. Count to 15 and start playing again. Repeat as much as needed until she connects the action and result.

Eventually through all the play and overdramatic reactions she should learn how to play correctly and get rid of that excess energy that is causing her to act out. It should also help with her need for attention that is also causing her to act out and do the only thing that works to get your attention.

 

[relienna]

Really interesting case, and so sorry to hear what you are going through!  

I'm really surprised that Prozac did not help since my cat is currently on Prozac for behavioral problems and it works FANTASTIC for him. That being said, his aggression was NO WHERE near what you are writing about. And every cat is different, just like people.

This level of aggression is pretty severe and definitely concerning. I'm sorry to hear that your veterinarians have not been able to find a solution or medication that can work. Because, while medication should always be a last resort, this definitely sounds like a case where it should be utilized.

I would still use Feliway diffusers. Even if it doesn't make a big difference, hopefully it takes some stress off of the kitty friend. Because many times cats act out like this due to some kind of stress. There is possibly a random trigger you aren't seeing.

I don't think de-clawing would help as far as behavior goes, and while I am normally against it as well: if it is a case of the animal being re-homed because she is causing dangerous physical harm: I would not say it is wrong in this case. If you can figure out the issue and avoid it, obviously that is ideal.

How often are you playing with Arya? Like full on crazy stimulation - lazer pointer, feather teaser, wearing her OUT? Some cats do get more aggressive when they do not get to blow off steam. It is their way of crying out for attention.

Some cats like this definitely need another cat or kitten to keep them company and keep them busy.

I was at my wit's end when my cat was a kitten and I found that locking him up more often actually made him MORE crazy.

Does she have a cat tree, or tunnels she can use?

Are there other cats that roam around outside that she can see that are making her territorial? Cats can definitely transfer aggression when they are feeling threatened or territorial. Can you limit her access to these windows if the answer is yes?

Have you had blood work done? (I'm sure you have, it sounds like you have seen multiple vets)

Have you talked to you Veterinarian about Trazodone? 

It is a pretty mild anti-anxiety medication, but I'm a Veterinary Technician and I've heard several of the Vets that I work for say that Trazodone seems to work very well for cats. It is a little different than Prozac or Xanax. But, definitely talk with your veterinarian who knows your furry friend's case best and see if it's something they think is worth trying.

Sorry for the multitude of questions.

 

[1CatOverTheLine]

This sounds very much like redirected aggression - aggressive behaviour predicated on seeing or hearing something which she cannot physically reach.  Visual stimulation - seeing a cat outside which she perceives as a territorial threat, aural stimuli - another cat, or the hum of machinery which Humans might pass off as white noise in the 20 Hz range (the analogue to a 14 cycle subsonic note in Humans, whose low range hearing is slightly different, and which produces the fear instinct), or even olfactory stimuli (perfumes, shampoo or soap scents, and cetera).  Siamese do seem prone to redirected aggression, but identifying the precise stimulus which is causing it can be a challenge.

Giving us an idea of her environment might provide some clues.

.

 

[sery]

Thank you for all the replies so far. She is half Siamese, and there are no siamese rescues in the state I live in. I've looked into giving her up to a rescue but they will not take her due to her aggression.

She first started to become more aggressive after she was spayed at 6 months. I thought initially that she still had some residual pain going on, but bringing her to a different vet ruled that out (I also thought she was possibly traumatized by the first office, plus when i picked her up they were extremely rude so I wanted to find a new vet anyway). The agression became more focused when we moved closer to the city and my best friend and I found a place together. Its on the third story in a wooded area close to a freeway.

We thought it would good because Arya would another cat to be with. After three months of slowly trying to introduce Arya and Amber (who is 18 years old) we to had to give up. Arya got loose from the baracade we set up (bought and installed a screen door) so they could see each other (this was the fifth time we had it going and they both seemed relaxed and calm) when something in aryas head flipped and she tried to kill Burr. I have scars down my arm from getting ahold of her and getting the actual door closed. I payed for burrs vet bills and after that they have to be completely separated.

Thats when we started trying medications. Its been 2 years of different medications. I will have to check and see if trazodone is one of the ones weve tried.

As for trying to play with her to divert the agression, thats a touchy subject. Most of the time when she is locked up I'm there with her so she is not alone. There are two different cat trees in my room at different levels, and every toy you can think of. Unfortunately, she ignores most toys, and the ones she will play with are laser pointers and a da bird toy. Russet potatoes and canning jar rings are also favorites of hers for some reason. For about five minutes. Then she ignores them for about a week. She would rather try to catch the fish in the tank.

The only times she is locked up without me are when im at work and my roommate is home(only two days a week, since i usually get home before her on days we both work) or when she snaps. Redirecting her aggression doesnt work, as if i even move my hand or foot she lashes out, and not just with claws. Ive tried keeping toys in reach everywhere but she is too smart and will still lunge at me when I try to distract her. When she is triggered she ignores everything else but the nearest living thing, and nothing breaks that focus.

Let me describe an event that happened last week. I was cleaning out her litterbox when i stood up and turned towards the door right as she was walking through the doorway. She took one look at me and immediately started her sub vocal growling, and crouched down in the doorway. I froze, hoping she would either turn around and go to the living room or move further into the bedroom so i could slip out. We spent over ten minutes in this stalemate, with me gradually adding in small body movements as she relaxed so she could get used to me moving. Every twitch of an arm or toe the first five minutes was met by a hiss and swipe, about a foot away from me. Eventually she moved further into the bedroom. When i thougt she was far enough away i made a break for the door (two feet away from where i was standing) and tried to close the door. She got to the door first, screaming and swiping at me, and i tried clapping and yelling to get her to back off just enough to close the door. That was around 2 in the afternoon. I didnt feel comfortable enough to let her out until about 8 that evening. When she goes on these tares she frightens me.

 

[Kieka]

Usually play aggression is the problem but it does sound like you have that covered. Could still be a redirected aggression like1Cat was saying.

Has her thyroid ever been tested? That would be my next guess for an actual aggressive cat. She is young for it but it wouldn't be unheard of.

My other thought would be an epileptic seizure triggered aggression. It may not be noticeable on the outside and could just be affecting a specific part of her brain.

Your vet might not have tested thyroid because of her young age and the epileptic would likely require a specialist to look specifically for it. Both could easily be missed by a vet unfamiliar with cats or not looking for those specific triggers.

 

[LeiLana80]

When I was growing up we had a young male kitten we took in to be neutered. Well, he came back a different cat. We believe something happened with the anesthesia that damaged his brain. He never was the same. He went from a sweet playful kitten to a neurotic anxious/terrified bully. He was like that his whole life. I could always tell by the look in his eye when he was "off".
There is a possibility that something like that happened with your kitty.

I am so sorry. I wish I could help.