Expert: Dear Tabbi - 7/24/2008

Question
My cat is an 11-year-old twenty pound male who I got at the age of 7 when
he was only 6 weeks old. He's never had a problem with biting before,
however, recently he seems to have developed a serious case of aggression
towards me alone in a household of three other people--although my
mother is the only one whose interaction with him levels mine. Whenever he
wants either to be fed or let outside he instantly becomes charming, nuzzling
against my legs or jumping into my lap. However, whenever I try to walk away
from him, either to get him food, or if he has just eaten, do something else,
he instantly lunges at the back of my legs, sometimes chasing me across a
room. I try to pick him up and turn him away from me to avoid getting bitten
and scratched but this, and any verbal reprimands I try, really only make him
more agitated and violent. I've resorted to standing on chairs and tables when
his ears go back and his eyes widen--a sure sign he's about to charge at
me--but sometimes he'll even come jumping after me then. I'm certain that it
is not a game to him. In the past, whenever we've played cat and mouse
games or tag the most he ever did was take the occasional swipe at me and
never with his claws out. He has the disposition of a spoiled only child, being
the only pet in the house, is very set in his ways, and doesn't like being told
'no' to anything. He is nervous with strangers but is never violent with them if
they choose to pet him.  Sometimes I think he chooses me as the target of his
aggression because I am the person in the family who pampers him the most
and he knows he can get away with things more easily with me, but I'm not
sure if this theory is giving his intelligence too much credit. He was recently
diagnosed with diabetes, and is undergoing insulin treatment, and I have no
idea if this could be part of the problem, but I am seriously at my wit's end
about what to do about his behavior.

Answer
Mary,

Your cat is 60 years old in human years. At that age they can get a form of 'kitty Alzheimers' and act in a bazaar manner, His behavior also is how a cat behaves when it is in pain.

About the diabetes and insulin, I would call the vet and talk to the receptionist about his behavior and see if it can be related to the insulin. I am not a vet so I can't tell you about that. Or you can Google Cat Diabetes and see what articles you can find about it.

He may have arthritis and need cat pain relievers. If his behavior continues, you can ask for vet about a possible prescription for kitty Prozac. It is commonly used for treating cats who are stressed and/or aggressive.

At his age alot can go wrong. I don't know if your vet did an "older cat checkup" to check the function of his kidneys, liver, and thyroid. If not it should be done periodically with an elderly cat.

I am attaching a link to some good articles about older cats just for your future information (copy and paste or type the whole link into your address bar):

http://www.sniksnak.com/resources/geriatric.html

I hope this helps,

Tabbi