Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/cat aggression

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 4/7/2009


Question
I have had my cat since a kitten-5 years, he has been an indoor cat until I moved in August 2008.  Since he has been free to go out he has started attacking people-lunging at them for no reason, drawing blood.  Both to my visitors and my neighbours. He was neutered at 6 months old.  Im at my wits end as I just got him used to using catflap and now I have to lock him in.  I share communial gardens where most neighbours are over 65yrs old.  PLEASE ADVISE ME.  Thanks

Answer
Ginny May,

That is not a good thing! Especially with elderly people. This may sound morbid, but since we are considering different possibilities for his behavior I am including it too: it has been proven that cats can sense impending death or serious illness. The cat may be attacking because he senses something about one (or more) of your elderly neighbors.

Cats do not have any concept of young or old, they go by smell. The cat may be attacking the elderly too because they have a 'different' smell to them.

You don't mention if he ever attacks you. He may be being overly protective and territorial of you. He may think that it is HIS garden and HIS house and he is trying to keep them out.

Sometimes, there is no logical reason for why a cat does something, and only the cat knows why he does it.

I would leash train him and let him outside supervised when the neighbors are outside or about. Here is a good link to tell you how:
(copy and paste, or type, the whole link into your address bar)
http://www.hdw-inc.com/leashtraining.htm

When you have visitors I would lock him in a room before you answer the door. You may want to get some tuna, or tinned sardines in oil, and carry him in the room with your visitor and have them give him the treat, or you can put a bowl near the visitor. That is so the cat will associate the visitor with something pleasant instead of negative. Food is a great bribe! If he only gets a 'special' fishy treat when you have a visitor, he may look at them in a totally different light!

Tabbi  

Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)

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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).

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