Expert: Dear Tabbi - 6/19/2008

Question
My mom has a cat that is 4 years old, with no medical problems. He is just spoiled rotten. He has been declawed and spayed since he was little, but when he gets mad he screams like a kid and growls at my mom, then he bites her legs, leaving deep teeth marks and has caused her to go to the emergency room 4 times for antibiotic shots and oral antibiotics. What can she do to stop his violent rages? She does not want him to be put to sleep, but her legs are scarred all over and the E.R visits are getting expensive. I don't know what to tell, I really need some suggestions. Thanks

Answer
KC,

Wow! If it were my cat he would be knocked into tomorrow if he bit me like that!

Cats can suffer from embolisms in the brain which cause them to go crazy. It is called Mad Cats disease (similar to the Mad Cow disease). It is not common but it does occur. Your mom may want to take the cat to a vet that specializes in neurological problems and have him examined. It may be a medical issue causing his behavior that can be controlled or cured. Pain also makes a cat mean.

If it is not a medical issue then I tell your mom to ask the vet for a prescription of Kitty Prozac. It is a commonly used drug for calming cats who are stressed and who have emotional problems. And ask the vet about possibly have cat's fangs removed for her safety.

Your mother is thinking with her heart and not her head. There are SO many sweet and loving cats (not just kittens) that are going to be put to death only because they are unwanted and because of over-crowding, that she doesn't need to have a cat that has emotional problems, is not a pleasure to have, and sends her to the hospital. I am not recommending that she get rid of the cat or have it put down, but she should think about the pros and cons of keeping this cat.

Tabbi