Expert: Dear Tabbi - 8/27/2008

Question
Hello,

When my husband and I first got married in October of 2007, we noticed a black cat, around a year old, wandering outside of our house. We decided to take him in, since he was very malnourished and looked to have been abused. He had not been fixed, and when we found out who the previous owner was, found that he had not had his shots and was used primarily as a "mouser", and the man occasionally let him into the house but mostly left him outside. Anyway, we finally had enough money to have him neutered and have his shots in February of this year; after he was neutered, he became a completely different cat. Before he was "fixed", he was very loving, and very attentive. Now, he is aggressive, always attacking my husband and I, and destructive to our house and furniture. We have recently moved and during the transition phase, he was loving again; I suspect this was because he was still scared. Now that he is use to the house, he is aggressive again. Our vet recommended adopting a cat close to his age, since we are both out of the house for long periods, and that the companionship might help him to get the playtime he needs and calm him down; we adopted an 8 month old male cat, Dylan, who is also neutered. Our older cat (his name is Peepers), brutally attacks the new one and flips him over, attacking his genital area and has actually drawn blood. I don't understand why he only attacks his genitals; he attacks him for no reason as well. I know that the younger cat is fixed; plus, Peepers is still attacking my husband and I regularly. He is fine for a few seconds of petting, but if he is picked up or pet for more than a minute, he turns very violent. I am 38 weeks pregnant and I am extremely concerned about what he might do to a newborn baby; I do not want to have an unsafe environment for my child. Dylan is the sweetest cat I have ever met; he is loving, obedient, and gentle. I feel terrible thinking about getting rid of Peepers, but no shelter in the area will take him, and we have a large amount of coyotes and coydogs outside of our home, so letting him out is not a good option. Our vet has recommended euthanizing him because of his aggressive behavior; he had thought at first that maybe some medicine would help, but after a few more examinations, it is clearly visible that he not depressed, just very aggressive. I cannot find anyone to adopt him. Am I doing the right thing by considering euthanizing him? I can't justify letting him outside to be eaten, or abandoning him, and no shelter wants an aggressive animal. Please give advice if you can...I so appreciate your time!!!!

Answer
Sara,

It sounds as if the cat may have had feral parents. Cats that are feral are NOT like regular domesticated housecats and you cannot expect them to behave in the same way. Feral cats and kittens carry alot of hereditary baggage. Especially, instinctively, not completely trusting humans. They also take a LONG time to adjust, expecially if they are grown. They can be affectionate but they do NOT like to be held or petted, or if they do, not for very long. Also ferals are commonly one-person cats.  

Don't ever stare at them directly in the eyes. That is a threatening gesture to them. If he has a feral background then he is a hunter and would be unhappy being locked up where he can't hunt.Give him a raw beef rib periodically for a treat. I have the butcher at the supermarket cut them in half for me. It satisfies the feral's sense of a 'fresh kill', and the fibers in the meat cleans their teeth. Not all cats like them, but most do. And they may growl if you come near their 'catch' to protect it.

Can you build a dog run where he can go outside safely? If he is making the other cat miserable, and you are expecting a baby, maybe it would be better to let the cat be an indoor/outdoor cat. Cats are coyotes favorite food, but maybe the cat will stay close in or have 'street smarts' to keep away from them. I can't advise you to euthanize, that is a personal decision. There are so many sweet and loving cats that are being put down because of overcrowding that you don't need to have a cat that can be a physical threat to you or your family.

I hope this information is helpful.

Tabbi