My cat bites and scratches me awake. Why the sudden aggression?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If he is attacking you and not trying to play then he should be confined, you should always keep him up to date on Rabies, and you should discuss behavior modification drugs with your Vet, like prozac. I would get it in a liquid form you can put in his food. I would purchase feliway diffusers for around the house, one should go in his room. You can play with him but as soon as he gets over stimulated you need to stop and walk away. If he starts to get aggressive and is coming towards you squirt him with a water bottle. It is inappropriate behavior for a cat to attack you and injury you that badly. You need to strongly consider if this is the kind of relationship you want from a pet. This may not be an easy thing to break him of. I hope this helps and i wish you the very best!

This is extremely concerning since cat bites are very serious. You can end up in the hospital for multiple days because of them. I would make sure you have a place for him to hide in, climb on and look out the window. I would also make sure you really wear him out. Playing with him with toys only (not your hands) and seeing if that helps. You can also talk to your veterinarian about trying behavior medication. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is an attention seeking behavior. The best way to avoid this behavior is to discourage it by firmly saying no, and most importantly praise her when this behavior is not observed. For example, when she is begging you pet her, you firmly avoid doing it if you do not desire to do so. If there is any biting, you firmly say no. You then praise her when this behavior is not observed and pet her at those times. This is basically sending a message that you will pet her when you would like to do so. Consider using treats for rewarding her when a positive behavior is observed (such as not begging/biting). Good luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would probably avoid continued contact if she does not appear to respond to your commands. The reason is that cat scratches can be quite dangerous to a child not just because of the physical trauma but because of the possible infections that can be transmitted that are usually more marked in children. Good luck and have a good night!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Mason is adorable! Every kittens personalities are different. Try to pick up on his ques that he is becoming annoyed BEFORE he tries to bite or scratch. Watch his face, ears and tail and stop holding him or petting him. Kittens are rambunctious and will eventually grow out of a lot of the scratching and biting as long as you aren't pushing their personal boundaries. Cats are naturally nocturnal and will b e more active at night. You can try to train him to sleep better at night by limiting daytime naps. You have only had him for a week, give yourself and Mason some time to figure out a routine! Good luck!

That must have been very scary for you! Yes, I would be very concerned about Boo Bear attacking you viciously, especially if this is out of character for him. I'm not sure what his vaccination status is, but (not to scare you but to put the fact out there), sudden aggressiveness can be a sign of rabies. If he isn't vaccinated against rabies and is allowed to go outdoors, then I would be concerned rabies is a possibility. I would take him into a vet immediately if he isn't vaccinated and allowed outdoors, and you should see a doctor as well as soon as possible. Cats have a lot of nasty bacteria in their mouth, and you can get a terrible infection from the bite. You need to be on antibiotics now to prevent this. Other causes of his sudden aggression could be hormone related (I see he isn't neutered and he could be acting territorially), or a medical illness such as pain, an injury, or systemic illness. If he is up to date on his rabies and isn't allowed outside, then I would take him to the vet first thing in the morning. He should be examined by a vet to make sure there isn't a medical cause behind this sudden aggressive behavior. If it is hormone related, then I would have him neutered to help with that.

The first thing I would do for now is put Attila in a room by herself with a litter box, food and water bowls, comfortable resting places, etc. and leave her alone for the next few days apart from coming in briefly to refill her food and water and change her litter. When cats become upset and aggressive like this, for whatever reason, it can take up to a week for them to fully calm down and return to normal - until then, it's best to leave her completely alone and give her plenty of space. Some cats can have serious aggression issues that are triggered by a strange or scary noise, an unusual smell, or anything else that startles them. It's possible that Attila may have had a scary dream that frightened her, or she could be painful due to a pinched nerve, arthritis, or some other issue that may have been aggravated by petting. If she calms down over the next few days and things return to normal with no further problems, you may not need to do anything else. If she is still acting aggressive a week from now, or if this becomes a recurring problem for her in the future, I would strongly recommend making an appointment with a veterinary behaviorist - he/she can evaluate Attila in person and help you determine what may be triggering these episodes, and will also give you some specific suggestions for managing her when this happens. Prescription medication is helpful for some cats with aggression issues, so this is something that could be discussed also. You can search for a board-certified veterinary behaviorist in your area here: www.dacvb.org