My aggresive cat :(

[Aquarian_Moon]

It's come to the point where I don't know what to do anymore. My kitten is about 7 months old, was a stray when my neighbour found him shivering in the rain one day, along with his brother, which my landlord has adopted.

He's just so aggresive that it's driving me nuts. Whenever he starts jumping on me (playing), all he wants to do is scratch and bite. Yes, it's partly my own fault that I haven't gotten his nails clipped in many months, but his teeth hurt me too. My only choice I seem to have is to hit him to make him go away, and then stuff him in his cage until he calms down. And this is not easy, because he resists with all his might, even though he's small. I don't mean to hurt him, and I hate to do this, but when I'm lying down, and he gets like this, there's no other way to get him off me, and he often makes me bleed with his clawing and teething, even grabbing on to me sometimes.

The funny thing is, other times he's so adorable. He licks my neck for like an hour, and loves being pet and brushed with my hands. But then other times he's unbelievably aggresive and hostile towards me, seemingly coming out of the blue. I can't understand it!!!

I don't want to get him neutered, because I have a strong will against doing such a thing to an animal, but even if I do, I feel it might not solve anything. If there are any cat trainers/psychologists around here at MW, I could really use your help right now. :(

[CaitrionaMorgaine]

He's just so aggresive that it's driving me nuts. Whenever he starts jumping on me (playing), all he wants to do is scratch and bite. Yes, it's partly my own fault that I haven't gotten his nails clipped in many months, but his teeth hurt me too. My only choice I seem to have is to hit him to make him go away, and then stuff him in his cage until he calms down. And this is not easy, because he resists with all his might, even though he's small. I don't mean to hurt him, and I hate to do this, but when I'm lying down, and he gets like this, there's no other way to get him off me, and he often makes me bleed with his clawing and teething, even grabbing on to me sometimes.

The funny thing is, other times he's so adorable. He licks my neck for like an hour, and loves being pet and brushed with my hands. But then other times he's unbelievably aggresive and hostile towards me, seemingly coming out of the blue. I can't understand it!!!

While some of that can be attributed to age, there are some training techniques that can be utilized. Call your vets office, they should be able to get you some literature. I know I give it out all the time at work!

I don't want to get him neutered, because I have a strong will against doing such a thing to an animal, but even if I do, I feel it might not solve anything. If there are any cat trainers/psychologists around here at MW, I could really use your help right now. :(

Seeing what I do, I think it's inhumane not to spay/neuter your pets! There are so many advantages, most of which are covered very well at this website, which is linked from my office's website at www.callfieldcompanion.com :

General Neuter FAQ
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=563&EVetID=185233

Avalon's Blessings, ~Rhiannon

[sari0009]

Not a cat trainer or pet psychologist but perhaps the following might help (they worked for me):

1. Play with your cat, as aggression is okay on the toys.
2. Head it off -- Study and look for your cat's pre-scratch or pre-bite behaviors (ears go back maybe? any hints?) and stop petting/holding the cat at that time.
3. Water pistol or spray bottle -- use it instead of hitting.

[Dashifen]

3. Water pistol or spray bottle -- use it instead of hitting.

This one can work wonders. Don't forget positive reinforcement as well as negative, too. If you have a really fun time playing with him and he wasn't agressive, give him a treat (pet him for a while or give him a little extra food or wet food if he usually gets dry, etc). That way he might learn both what to do and what not to do. Works on reptiles anyway ;)

[bladeraven]

wear socks on your hands....lol...I did that with a cat that was aggressive...couldn't read a book without being attacked at each page being turned.

[Muireannach]

My kitten does the exact same thing...I hear ya!'

It's a phase, my kittne is one month older and by giving her a bit of time, avoiding rough play, and spraying her with water, things have decreased by about 30%

[kissesree]

never hit a cat, all this does is make them more aggressive. flick him in the forehead...and say paws not claws. If this does not work, restrain his front paws and sternly say "no!" let him go and wait. I have gone thru this with 3 cats who are now rag dolls that will put up with anything.

[kissesree]

My kitten does the exact same thing...I hear ya!'

It's a phase, my kittne is one month older and by giving her a bit of time, avoiding rough play, and spraying her with water, things have decreased by about 30%water bottles are a good thing...... I use them when my cats are fighting.

[Aquarian_Moon]

Yeah, I'll try the water bottle, spraying nozzle, thing. Great idea! But the treat thing never works, and I've been using it ever since I got him... I still give him one when he's good though. But he doesn't seem to understand why!

[VroomBroom]

Hitting him at that age is only going to make him start avoiding you, especially since you are hitting him and then stuffing him in a carrier to calm him down.
When he starts biting and scratching squirt him with water ( and if your homes not warn enough for soaked kitty, canned air will work quite well. Its not only annoying to them, it 'hisses' at them too)
I've got an almos 6 moth old little girl kitty, who thinks its just hysterical to lay on my leg, peacful as can be and then bite my knee.
At the age of your kitten, he is teething and coming into his male hormones. You should really consider neutering him. Its better for everyone one in the long run (the kitty will live longer)
You should try while the kitten is laying next to you sound asleep...start playing with his feet and popping out his claws, get him used to you messing around with his feet. This will make it easier for you to clip his nails.
I would also get him a mess of toys to kick the crap out of. My little girl has a bigger stuffed mouse that she beats the hell out of...she loves that. You could also try some catnip. At his age it may have the calming effect he needs.
Good luck with your wild thing!:)

[sincerebliss]

I LOVE animals and I also brought in a stray, wild..ADULT kitty! She was terrified of people! I earned her trust through a pretty long process. It gradually went its way inside my house. It would often bite but not too hard. Only when she was irritated. Anytime she does it..I give her a little hit on the head with my hand. Not hard at all because I don't want to hurt her..I love her. She knows that she shouldn't do it now and now everytime she thinks about biting, she'll hurry up and jump off the couch because she knows she has did something wrong. 20 mins later..things are back to normal. You have to let your cat know he/she isn't doing the right thing. Just make sure you are not being too aggressive youself.

[Aquarian_Moon]

Good news. The bottle is working wonders. My cat's already stopped doing some of the really bad stuff, like ripping out the insulation from a small hole in my apartment wall by the door (a hole which he somehow managed to create - I was picking up pieces from the hole for several days, finding them scattered all over the place, and really glad he or me didn't get sick!)

I'm also trying an older strategy I used to use, for getting him into his cage. I throw a treat inside, and he runs inside after it! We've both been much happier for the last couple of days, and he's starting to be good whenever I pretend to spray him with water (though I do use it sometimes, the fear is better than anything else, I think).

So yeah, things are looking much better now. And my mom's already offered to pay for his neutering, so after reading people's responses here, I think I've come to understand that it is best for him.

Thank you so much everyone! :)