Aggressive cat

[Nano chops]

Hi

My cat nano is 9 years old. For the past 2-3years he's been really aggressive, hissing growling and scratching/biting the children and now me and my husband. Nothing abnormal sets this off for example we might just walk past him or the kids might run past and he'll start going nuts.

The children leave him alone and don't go near. So there's no pulling tail or fur scenario, the kids are to scared to even go in the same room as him sometimes!

What can we do to help this situation? It's definatly been increasing since my children were born and more so when we moved 2 years ago. Is he just not happy living with the kids do I need to rehome him? He's clearly unhappy. There's nothing medically wrong with him.

Xxx

[KittyWitty]

Have you ruled out any medical problems at the vets? If you haven't that would be my first suggestion - take him to he vets.

Could you describe more the situations in which he attacks please?

[Nano chops]

Yes there is nothing medically wrong with him.

Well just like I say we will just walk past him and he'll be on the worktop or chair etc and will just start hissing and strike out. Sometimes he'll run over and last out so like last night I was closing the curtains and he ran over scratched my leg and started hissing. There's no build up to it. No one can go near him these days as he just starts hissing so we all stay well away.

In all honestly we can't live with a cat my children and I are now scared off so we really need to do something x

[Diana]

Wow, such a drastic change. What was Nano like prior to this all? Has an incident happened somewhere down the line that has spooked him sooo much that he is attacking your family? Usually if nothing medically wrong then it may be some sort of behavioural issue or something has happened that has scared him.

[Nano chops]

He used to be quite friendly before all this, would lie on us and want to be near us. He's always been a fiesty when playing but not like this!

If something has spooked him I dunno what it could be. xxx

[lilynmitz]

My guess? Something/someone in the past did something that gave him cause to be frightened of humans, and while your family don't do anything to upset him, it could just be that kids being kids (ie sometimes unexpectedly noisy) is now enough to spook him. You say everyone leaves him alone, but does he get regular gentle handling when he's feeling calm to help him rebuild his confidence? This needs to be taken on board by the whole family, and done long term and consistently.

And when he attacks, ignore him. He's saying "I'm afraid you're going to hurt me so please keep away". Squealing and telling him off will just reinforce to him that he was right to be scared. you've got a (literally) vicious cycle of behaviours to break here, and your puss isn't in a position to be the one to start the process, it has to come from the WHOLE family.

[Jacks]

If this has been escalating over the last 2-3 years, it sounds to me like he's become increasingly dissatisfied and uncomfortable with his life. Pardon me for asking, but does he have outside access? It sounds as if he spends all his time indoors and could be getting frustrated. What's the position here? Does he have outside access and did he used to have outside access at any time - like before you moved? Is he an only cat or are there others in the family?

[Nano chops]

When it happens we don't shout or punish him we just let him escape and calm down, this obv is more difficult if he gets one if the children as they will cry and scream there still young.

He never seems to want any attention from us but if he does come close we do stroke him but tbh this is rare.

He does have outside space now (didn't before as we lived in a flat, he seemed his happiest there) and is free to use it but he doesn't go out even when in this weather the doors and windows are open he could go out as he pleases.

I agree I think hes been unhappy and getting worse over the last few years.

Xx

[Diana]

Something outside has spooked him I believe. Sounds you may have to start again. When he is calm approach him and lay out your hand for him to sniff, over time he will get close and when he does storke him gently but dont over do it.

When he is eating can you approach him? If you can again gently stroke him.