Advice: rehoming a difficult cat

[JohnL]

This reminds me of that well known twitter post where the girl gets into a suitcase - the cat which was just relaxing goes crazy and attacks (she ends up with a claw mark over her eye). Seemed to be something where the cat doesn't recognise what's happening.

[carlafindle]

JohnL Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> This reminds me of that well known twitter post

> where the girl gets into a suitcase - the cat

> which was just relaxing goes crazy and attacks

> (she ends up with a claw mark over her eye).

> Seemed to be something where the cat doesn't

> recognise what's happening.

Too much meow meow perhaps...

[DiD]

thanks @Jules-and-Boo, that's really helpful, especially the idea of wrapping her in a towel to clip her claws! She seems to trust my husband more than me.....he endeavours to pick her up regularly to get her used to it. I'm far more nervous about it, and I think she knows that, as she hisses at me a lot more than him.

If we can get her to use the cat flap, that might help, so she can come and go as she pleases. Now she relies on us to open the door.

[yard]

had the same problem with a rescue cat, took him to vet nothing wrong found, was advised to morning and evenings take him sit him down, take him by the paws, kiss his paws saying I love you, I love you, in between kisses. do it every day for a month, and he will calm down and be a very loving cat, it worked, worth a try

[DiD]

@Yard, what a lovely story! But how did you manage to take his paws if he attacks?

[yard]

quite easily, once sitting, petting and talking calmly, also bribing with a cat treat.

[fishbiscuits]

Is it controversial to suggest that you shouldn't feel morally obliged to keep a violent creature in your home?

I'm not totally averse to our feline friends, but if the thing is actually attacking you even when left alone... well...

[DiD]

Thanks @Fishbiscuits. I appreciate that. Yes, I don't feel morally obliged (though others may disagree with me). Trying to be patient, though, as I know it will traumatise her to move her again. But if she doesn't chill and stop attacking me then that option will indeed need to be considered, as I'm not prepared to live in fear in my own home....

[fishbiscuits]

Your patience - and intentions - are admirable.

[cordsm]

My rescue cat from Battersea took about 3-4 months to fully settle in (he had been found on the streets, arrived at Battersea, been adopted by a family & then returned to Battersea 1 week later). He would be affectionate a lot of the time, but would also randomly launch himself through the air & attack my legs. He clearly felt threatened in some way, but I found it hard to understand what was triggering the attacks. If he saw another cat in the garden, he would also attack me (redirected aggression). I got to the stage where I was thinking that I'd made a massive mistake & was considering contacting Battersea, but he ended up calming down & he's such a great cat now. It just took longer than I had anticipated for him to settle. Good Luck!

[peckham_ryu]

It?s like you?re describing my late cat. Also a British short hair, taken on when previous owners divorced. She was evil 70% of the time at first, but slowly worked herself up to becoming a lapcat. I?ll be honest, it took her a few years with me to fully cut out the random furious ambushes.

I assume that mine and maybe yours were dealing with something like PTSD. Biologically, a general excess of nor-adrenaline in the system, making them ready to go into fight mode. I dealt with mine by picking the little spitting fury up and shutting her out in the garden for a spell each time. Not 100% effective when she went for guerilla tactics (slash and dash, to a hissing retreat under a bed), and all very unpleasant until she calmed down. Still, she did calm down eventually and become completely and utterly lovely. There?s hope for them all, if they are given the opportunity to settle. Best of luck.

[Jules-and-Boo]

I think it just takes time - longer than you think. I also had the same dilemma but it all just worked out.

It took around 3 months for the cats to get used to our rescue dog and now they're all fine.

I do wish you well

[Gaynor Hill]

Have you managed to sort out you cat

[DiD]

Thanks @Gaynor Hill for asking, I really appreciate it. She's definitely getting a bit better, and she seems more relaxed, though she did try and prevent me from leaving the house the other day, as she stood by my bag and hissed whenever I tried to take it...

But I'm hopeful that she'll settle in. We do still put her in another room if anyone is coming over (husband does this, and she won't let me lift her). She is, however, very good at opening doors, as she jumps up and swings on door handles until they open for her. (that being said we can't seem to get her to use a cat flap, no matter how many treats we seem to use to entice her...she would prefer to swing on door handles).

We had originally named her 'Kangaroo' because she was so jumpy but now because of her slightly split personality, we have taken to calling her Jekyll-Roo.

[Jules-and-Boo]

sounds like things are starting to turn around for you :-)

[Sue]

How on earth did she learn to swing on door handles?

Clever cat!

:)

[DiD]

Good question. If I can get her on video doing it, I'll share it here!

[Gaynor Hill]

That's good, I've got a cat and she hisses sometimes and if she doesn't want to be stroked she taps you with her paw and she's 15 and been with me since she was 3 months old she hides when people come under the bed unless she knows them well

Sadly if kittens don't get attention from adults when they are born after 8 weeks they start to fear humans so she was just reverting back to being wild she been fine

Mines a sweetheart when she was younger used to jump out and grab my leg but that's just playing for them

I used to tell her when she tapped me with paw not to do that

They understand

Gaynor

[carlafindle]

Sue Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> How on earth did she learn to swing on door

> handles?

>

> Clever cat!

>

> :)

Lots of cats can do that.

[Sue]

carlafindle Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Sue Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > How on earth did she learn to swing on door

> > handles?

> >

> > Clever cat!

> >

> > :)

>

> Lots of cats can do that.

How did any of them learn to swing on door handles, then? :))

[Jules-and-Boo]

they watch you

[hpsaucey]

Jules-and-Boo Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> they watch you

My old cat learnt how to use the loo that way ...

[DiD]

Wow, how can we teach her how to do that?! It would certainly endear me to her more....

[Sue]

DiD Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Wow, how can we teach her how to do that?! It

> would certainly endear me to her more....

:))

[DiD]

urgh, she was getting much better, then annoyingly seemed to turn again, attacking me twice yesterday, including chasing me up the stairs! Big problem seems to be that she senses my fear, but yes I'm scared! She seems fine with the husband.... How long do I give this?!