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Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/Agressive kitten
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Question
Drake is our 1st cat, and we have had him since he was 12 weeks old; now 10 mths old. He looks to be petted, then he takes both front claws and tries to bite. He goes after my 5 year old daughter and grabs her head. She has not even touched him and he jumps at her face. He runs away from me, and I hit him, but this is very scarry. What is happening? Then after he settles down, is wants loving attention. My daughter loves him, but if this agression continues, I will not have him attack her face. He has done this twice already.
Janice,
It sounds like a lot of his behavior is boredom. In this situation it is would be good to have a 2nd cat as a companion for Drake. Cats need a friend to roughhouse with, play kitty games, snuggle with, and to comfort them. He is probably trying to play with your daughter like he would another cat.
Is your cat neutered? That helps ALOT of behavior problems.
Some cats are basically aggressive. It's inbred and inherited. There are SO many loving cats that are going to be put to death because of overcrowding and being unwanted that it is not necessary to keep a cat that can be a danger to a child or an adult. I'm not suggesting that you get rid of the cat, but I would consider the pros and cons of keeping him.
Tabbi
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Answers by Expert:
Dear Tabbi
Expertise
My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.
Experience
Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).
Education/Credentials
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* One of the top 50 Experts Of 2008 *
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