Why is my cat whining in sleep and suddenly aggressive when brushed?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Cats are finicky creatures. If Kekr is eating, jumping around like a young cat should and not vomiting then I don't think you should worry. Most cats really only like to be scratched around the head, unless you find the rare "dog" like cat that like belly and back scratches. Just like people cats come in a variety of personalities. I recommend leaving her be when she has these moments of being grumpy. I hope this helps!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The biting of the brush can indicate that she is itchy, cats will lick or bite themselves when an itchy area is scratched or brushed. Some will salivate. Another possibility is that she is biting it because she is getting annoyed. Cats can still be purring but show annoyance by turning their ears, flicking their tail or lightly biting a brush or your hand/arm/fingers. I would stop brushing her when she starts biting the brush or only do it in short intervals so you do not irritate her too much. I wish you the best!

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

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is likely just a way of getting your attention. However, this is certainly dangerous and could result in an injury to you. I would recommend you consider keeping him separate in a different room or just in a crate while you sleep to avoid this. Hopefully, this behavior will improve on its own. Good luck!

It may be due to illness or injury. It can also be redirected (or displaced) aggression. This is when one cat is unable to directly respond to a perceived threat and "vents" on whoever is closest. This is usually an owner or another pet. Never handle or grab your cat if she is displaying aggressive tendencies. This can lead to a serious bite or scratch. Schedule an exam with your vet to rule out medical causes. If they are indoor cats, provide a ' cool down' period by separating them. Keep stray or strange cats away from windows or doors and out of your yard. Control what your cat sees by closing doors or drawing the blinds. Consider using pheromone products to decrease anxiety/stress level in the house. Search www.pet360.com for pheromone products.

This is fairly common cat behavior. Many cats become overstimulated by petting. Follow her lead and pet only until she pins her ears back or swishes her tail. You may want to find other ways to spend time with her like playing with a toy together. She isn't necessarily mad all the time - she may just not like cuddling.

For brushing, I would take time to get Fuji used to the brush first, by placing it on the ground, and offering treats if he shows interest. Then, work on just brushing one or two strokes. Many cats get over stimulated from brushing and will bite and attack, so taking lots of breaks and only doing a brush here and there (with treats in between) can help. As for sleeping, cats will sleep wherever they want if given the opportunity. Making sure the area Fuji is in is safe is best, as is providing high perches or cat beds for him to try out. Ultimately, however, he'll sleep where he wants.