# How to deal with an extremely aggressive cat? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 20, 2007, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-an-extremely-aggressive-cat/400869 "2007-04-20T00:37:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![liirogue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dbc845/32.png) [@liirogue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/liirogue)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2007, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-an-extremely-aggressive-cat/400869/1 "2007-04-20T00:37:10Z")
My husband and I have two cats, one of which is unbelievably aggressive. But he is only that way to me - he absolutely adores my husband. My husband can pet him and the cat often curls up next to him to sleep. If I go to touch Victor (the cat), he rears up on his back legs and bites me. When I get ready in the mornings, he follows me around the apartment howling and attacking my ankles. If my husband is here, he doesn’t do this or he seriously tones it down. He acts like he is guarding me. He is always either watching me or following me around. When he attacks, he rarely uses his claws. They are only used to hold on to something (usually my hand) and bring it to his mouth. When he bites, he frequently draws blood. I am at my wits end with how to stop him. I have tried ignoring him. I tried knocking him away when he attacked. I have finally started hitting him but it only seems to enrage him. If I hit him with a hairbrush, he will leave for a few minutes but quickly return. He is about three years old and neutured. He has never been exposed to rabies, etc. (and would have manifested other signs by now). My husband refuses to get rid of the cat, because they get along great. What can I do other than cover myself with Bitter Apple (but he is starting to like the taste of it)? ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2007, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-an-extremely-aggressive-cat/400869/2 "2007-04-20T00:46:20Z")
I have heard of cats whose aggressive behavior was well-controlled by antidepressant drugs. You might ask your vet about this. ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2007, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-an-extremely-aggressive-cat/400869/3 "2007-04-20T00:50:33Z")
Wow, what a strange problem. :eek: If that was happening with my cat, I’d try using a spray bottle filled with water to spritz him. That way you don’t have to put your hands near him while he’s in attack mode and it might be enough to get him to back off. ---
**Author:** ![liirogue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dbc845/32.png) [@liirogue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/liirogue)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2007, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-an-extremely-aggressive-cat/400869/4 "2007-04-20T00:52:17Z")
[QUOTE=lavenderviolet] Wow, what a strange problem. :eek: If that was happening with my cat, I’d try using a spray bottle filled with water to spritz him. That way you don’t have to put your hands near him while he’s in attack mode and it might be enough to get him to back off. [/QUOTE] Ah yes, I forgot to mention the weirdest part. Victor loves water. When he sees the spray bottle come out, he closes his eyes and folds his ears back and waits. I can spray him in the face for as long as I want, but as soon as I’m done he attacks. ---
**Author:** ![Sonia\_Montdore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Sonia\_Montdore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sonia_Montdore)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2007, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-an-extremely-aggressive-cat/400869/5 "2007-04-20T00:59:37Z")
Wow, that is one aggressive cat! Mix some lemon juice with the water in the spray bottle. Use enough juice to sting but not actually to harm him. ---
**Author:** ![Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c4cdca/32.png) [@Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quiddity_Glomfuster)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2007, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-an-extremely-aggressive-cat/400869/6 "2007-04-20T01:03:47Z")
I don’t think you should spray your kitty with lemon juice. I think it’s worthwhile to look into antidepressants or just tranquilizers for the kitty. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2007, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-an-extremely-aggressive-cat/400869/7 "2007-04-20T01:35:20Z")
One very hungry pitbull? I kid, I kid. ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2007, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-an-extremely-aggressive-cat/400869/8 "2007-04-20T01:56:54Z")
First thing…STOP HITTING THE CAT!! That is gonna do absolutely NOTHING to solve the problem.In fact ,it will make it worse.Before I got through reading your post ,I was gonna ask if you had ever harmed the cat,but I see that you have,assuming you didn’t start beating the cat until after his aggressive behavior started,can you think of anything that might have started his aggression towards you? Accidently stepping on him or something? Have you had the cat since he was a kitten? It sounds like it will take some time and work but the best thing to do is love the cat,not hit him…get him some special treats find something that he really,really likes that ONLY YOU give him…make it a routine so he knows its coming…I would suggest twice a day at a specific time …say 10am and 6pm every single day(fish broth like tuna juice or something may work well).Try playing with him with a (long) piece of string,it won’t take much, 10 minutes a day or so.Pet him as much as you can,find out where he likes to be scrritched and make an effort to do that.You will get some bites and scrapes along the way,but in the end he will become your friend.I guarantee it. ---
**Author:** ![Mouse\_Maven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@Mouse\_Maven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mouse_Maven)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2007, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-an-extremely-aggressive-cat/400869/9 "2007-04-20T02:03:51Z")
If water doesn’t work. Try having a few coins in a metal can. (I’ve always used an Altoids tin and a couple of pennies.) Whenever you’re bit, rattle the can. Most cats HATE the sound. It worked with our water-loving tabby. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![Mouse\_Maven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@Mouse\_Maven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mouse_Maven)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2007, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-an-extremely-aggressive-cat/400869/10 "2007-04-20T02:15:58Z")
Sorry for the double post. Follow **MadTheSwine** ’s suggestions for developing a friendship with this feline and also cultivate a good solid “No” tone and a pleasant “Good boy” voice. Cats are like dogs, they respond to changes in your voice. When kitty bites, shake the can and say “NO!” When its fun time, use the “Good boy” voice. ---
**Author:** ![Gorgonzola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e480ec/32.png) [@Gorgonzola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorgonzola)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2007, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-an-extremely-aggressive-cat/400869/11 "2007-04-20T02:50:12Z")
I know someone well who had an extremely aggressive cat. Early on her vet prescribed medication (honestly I am not sure what, but it was some sort of psychoactive drug), with little benefit. The vet also advised consistent use of the spray bottle (I believe with a bit of vinegar in it), shake cans as described, and simple behavioural modification as described in this thread. The cat was not really put off by much – a little by the spray bottle – and used both claws and teeth, regularly attacking the pet owner in her sleep as well as in the daytime. It seemed to be an issue in her particular case of the cat demanding attention – if petted etc. the cat would settle briefly or sometimes “change channels” and resume being a normal cat, but more often would just carry on in attack mode until she could wrestle it to the other side of a closed door, where it would eventually calm. This too was a neutered male. From day one the vet warned her that this was a pattern rarely seen but often resulting in euthanization. Reluctant to take that route, the owner tried a rescue organization – someone else fostered the cat for a brief period but found it wholly unmanageable and returned it. Guilt-stricken, she managed for a little while longer and finally had her pet euthanized after deciding that the whole episode was detrimental to her mental health. I hope that the OP’s results are sunnier. ---
**Author:** ![Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enter_the_Flagon)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2007, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-an-extremely-aggressive-cat/400869/12 "2007-04-20T03:41:49Z")
[QUOTE=liirogue] My husband refuses to get rid of the cat, because they get along great. [/QUOTE] Am I the only one who’s troubled by this? Maybe the cat isn’t your biggest problem. A caring partner would give up the cat, if necessary, in order to save you any amount of misery. And they’d do it gladly. Or so I’ve heard. ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2007, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-an-extremely-aggressive-cat/400869/13 "2007-04-20T03:48:13Z")
[QUOTE=MadTheSwine] First thing…STOP HITTING THE CAT!! That is gonna do absolutely NOTHING to solve the problem.In fact ,it will make it worse.Before I got through reading your post ,I was gonna ask if you had ever harmed the cat,but I see that you have,assuming you didn’t start beating the cat until after his aggressive behavior started,can you think of anything that might have started his aggression towards you? Accidently stepping on him or something? Have you had the cat since he was a kitten? It sounds like it will take some time and work but the best thing to do is love the cat,not hit him..get him some special treats find something that he really,really likes that ONLY YOU give him…make it a routine so he knows its coming…I would suggest twice a day at a specific time ..say 10am and 6pm every single day(fish broth like tuna juice or something may work well).Try playing with him with a (long) piece of string,it won’t take much, 10 minutes a day or so. [/QUOTE] This is idiotic. An animal is engaging in unprovoked attacks on a person serious enough to draw blood, and your recomendation is to give it treats? What possible conclusion could any sentient creature draw from this? As it is _already_ literally biting the hand that feeds it, this advice is useless. And in case no one noticed, the OP said that hitting the cat with a hairbrush is the only thing that seems to deter it at all. I am no animal psychologist (a dubious job title to begin with) but I have had pet cats and dogs my entire life. Cats are not hierarchical pack animals like dogs, but if they do not understand their fundamental place in a household, they are either mentally ill or need to be enlightened. I say smack the shit out of that cat if it so much as looks at you cross-eyed. If actually hitting it makes you uncomfortable, use something that will annoy it a lot more than lemon juice, like mace or pepper spray. It’s a lot more likely to leave you alone if you do this than if you reward it for attacking you. And if it doesn’t stop, then you probably have the kind of cat **Gorgonzola** described. That’s why God made pentobarbital. ---
**Author:** ![Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c4cdca/32.png) [@Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quiddity_Glomfuster)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2007, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-an-extremely-aggressive-cat/400869/14 "2007-04-20T03:53:17Z")
[QUOTE=Lizard] This is idiotic. An animal is engaging in unprovoked attacks on a person serious enough to draw blood, and your recomendation is to give it treats? [/quote] Yes. > [@](#): > > What possible conclusion could any sentient creature draw from this? As it is _already_ literally biting the hand that feeds it, this advice is useless. And in case no one noticed, the OP said that hitting the cat with a hairbrush is the only thing that seems to deter it at all. See. Cats are animals. Therefore, they don’t reason. You attack the cat, it will fight back. Hitting, pushing is exactly the wrong thing to do. > [@](#): > > I say smack the shit out of that cat if it so much as looks at you cross-eyed. Nobody who thinks an animal should have ‘the shit’ smacked out of it should be allowed to own an animal. > [@](#): > > It’s a lot more likely to leave you alone if you do this than if you reward it for attacking you. It’s not ‘rewarding it for attacking’. The cat is getting more hostile because it is treated with hostility. It will only get worse if you act worse to it. Just as in the other post about the budgie, you need to earn its trust, pay it attention, and show it care. You train animals with kindness, not with violence. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2007, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-an-extremely-aggressive-cat/400869/15 "2007-04-20T04:14:30Z")
[QUOTE=Quiddity Glomfuster] See. Cats are animals. Therefore, they don’t reason. You attack the cat, it will fight back. Hitting, pushing is exactly the wrong thing to do. [/QUOTE] No, they fight back against a bigger, stronger animal instead of running only if they are cornered or if they are crazy. The former does not apply. The latter remains to be determined. > [@](#): > > It’s not ‘rewarding it for attacking’. The cat is getting more hostile because it is treated with hostility. It will only get worse if you act worse to it. Just as in the other post about the budgie, you need to earn its trust, pay it attention, and show it care. You train animals with kindness, not with violence. :mad: Did you just ignore the part where the OP said these attacks are _unprovoked_, or are you being deliberately obtuse? The individual reacting with hostility to hostility in this little drama is the OP, not the cat! Maybe there’s a backstory the OP hasn’t shared, but we’re not talking about “training” some random stray that has showed up after years of abuse elsewhere. We’re talking about a cat that is behaving very differently towards different members of the household. It does not have a general behavior problem, it has a _specific_ behavior problem. I would bet if the OP had to choose between “earning Felix’s trust” and “not having bleeding wounds in her hands” she’d probably choose the latter. Fuck the cat’s feelings. It’s getting free food and a roof over its head, and in return is attacking those who provide these things. When people do this they get thrown into the street. > [@](#): > > Nobody who thinks an animal should have ‘the shit’ smacked out of it should be allowed to own an animal.: I’d give up all my animals if dipshits like you promised to not have kids. ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2007, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-an-extremely-aggressive-cat/400869/16 "2007-04-20T05:02:55Z")
[QUOTE=Lizard] This is idiotic. An animal is engaging in unprovoked attacks on a person serious enough to draw blood, and your recomendation is to give it treats? What possible conclusion could any sentient creature draw from this? As it is _already_ literally biting the hand that feeds it, this advice is useless. And in case no one noticed, the OP said that hitting the cat with a hairbrush is the only thing that seems to deter it at all. [/QUOTE] Oh,I am sorry if i didn’t make it clear,DO NOT reward the animal directly after he has bitten you.As the OP stated,hitting the cat enrages him,smacking him with a brush makes him leave for a few minutes but returns promptly.Clearly these tactics aren’t working they are, in fact,idiotic. [QUOTE=Lizard] I am no animal psychologist. [/QUOTE] Obviously. [QUOTE=Lizard] but I have had pet cats and dogs my entire life. Cats are not hierarchical pack animals like dogs, but if they do not understand their fundamental place in a household, they are either mentally ill or need to be enlightened. I say smack the shit out of that cat if it so much as looks at you cross-eyed.. [/QUOTE] I hope for the sake of the animals,you are no longer allowed to have pets. **liirogue** ,please don’t take lizards advice,it is idiotic.The cat will learn soon that you mean him well.Get him in a routine of treats,games and petting.Wouldn’t suggest catnip tho.(Is he a strictly indoor cat?) [QUOTE=Lizard] If actually hitting it makes you uncomfortable, use something that will annoy it a lot more than lemon juice, like mace or pepper spray. It’s a lot more likely to leave you alone if you do this than if you reward it for attacking you… [/QUOTE] Are you fucking serious,this is idiotic,please tell me you are drunk. [QUOTE=Lizard] And if it doesn’t stop, then you probably have the kind of cat **Gorgonzola** described. That’s why God made pentobarbital. [/QUOTE] Yes,that will solve the problem,kill the cat…good advice :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2007, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-an-extremely-aggressive-cat/400869/17 "2007-04-20T05:15:42Z")
[QUOTE=Lizard] I’d give up all my animals if dipshits like you promised to not have kids. [/QUOTE] Reported. ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2007, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-an-extremely-aggressive-cat/400869/18 "2007-04-20T06:00:37Z")
[QUOTE=MadTheSwine] Oh,I am sorry if i didn’t make it clear,DO NOT reward the animal directly after he has bitten you.As the OP stated,hitting the cat enrages him,smacking him with a brush makes him leave for a few minutes but returns promptly.Clearly these tactics aren’t working they are, in fact,idiotic. [/QUOTE] They aren’t “tactics,” they are what the OP does out of frustration. She has never said anywhere she wants this cat to be her friend. She has indicated pretty clearly though she wants it to stop attacking her. It’s not as if she’s just randomly beating on it; the cat is biting _her_ first. Is she supposed to be “friendly” towards this vicious animal while it is biting and clawing her? > [@](#): > > I hope for the sake of the animals, you are no longer allowed to have pets. **liirogue** , please don’t take lizards advice, it is idiotic.The cat will learn soon that you mean him well. Get him in a routine of treats,games and petting. Yeah, it’ll learn real quick, in between its bouts of biting and attacking her for no reason. And I’ll repeat what I said above: How is she supposed to be “friendly” towards this vicious animal when it bites her every time she tries to touch it? Sounds to me that like **Quiddity Glomfuster** you are reading what you want to read, and not what the OP wrote. > [@](#): > > Yes, that will solve the problem, kill the cat…good advice :rolleyes: Of course, the OP already has the legal right to have the animal destroyed, because it attacked her. Every breath this animal takes after this is a gift. Not that it’ll take that into consideration the next time it bites her. ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2007, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-an-extremely-aggressive-cat/400869/19 "2007-04-20T06:02:36Z")
[QUOTE=MadTheSwine] Reported. [/QUOTE] Good for you. ---
**Author:** ![Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c4cdca/32.png) [@Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quiddity_Glomfuster)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2007, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-an-extremely-aggressive-cat/400869/20 "2007-04-20T06:04:15Z")
Lizard, I don’t think you know a thing about animals. I used to have a cat that would chomp me every morning as I got ready to go to work. He wanted attention. Cats don’t know how to ask for what they want. Beating them is a moron’s way of handling a problem and it won’t help. It is just a cat. We’re not talking about a Rottweiler here, for pete’s sake. It’s not like it’s doing major damage. Cat has a problem which can be solved. Not by violence. Please give all your pets away and never, ever buy one again. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-an-extremely-aggressive-cat/400869.md?page=2)