Whoa! ...."Attacked by my own cat....Please help.... What would you do?"

[tencats]

Not tencats, not this time thankfully.
I've only ever suffered a few deep bite wounds that got infected but didn't quite do me in. Then theres always the many of superficial scratch wounds to my arms legs hands from my ever loving cats. I talked with this girl briefly yesterday and sent her on to an expert in cat behavior. I think this could happen to to anyone that has a really big stressed-out fully clawed pet cat. It does remind me again to be careful though.

Her story:
"I have had two wonderful cats for the last six years. They are my babies.. they sleep with me, eat with me... I love them. Then came my boyfriend's dog. My cat Max took really well to the dog after a few introductions.. My other cat, Lenny, however, was NOT happy. One day I decided to pick him up and put him in my room so that he would stop freaking out while the dog was over. The dog was asleep in another room... I picked Lenny up to take him into my room to close the door. He turned towards me in my arms (he's a big Main Coon Cat.. 25lbs), put his ears back and jumped towards my head claws out and mauled me. I had to get 14 stitches and passed out from blood loss.... He lost one claw in the attack because he ripped my skull down to the bone.

This has been devastating for me on so many levels. At first I didn't realize how much I would be impacted by this... I mean, he is my baby...so gentle and such a lover... but he was so scared and out of his mind that he attacked me even though he was unprovoked.

Many people have told me I should put him down, which I disagree with. Other's say that I should have him de-clawed... which I am considering, but feel bad about. He is already 6 years old, it would be a HUGE change for him. But what most concerns me is that I no longer feel for him the way I used to. it has been two months since the attack, and my scars are still fresh. I don't let him sleep with me anymore and hardly ever touch him. I can't look at him the same way.. I don't even know if I love him anymore.

Call me crazy, but this REALLY has me down. What should I do.. what would YOU do if it were your baby that attacked you and scared you for life??? Do I give him to someone else? Do I keep him and get over it? Do I put him down? Do I de-claw him?

Please help.. I'd love to know your thoughts.. I'm tearing up inside."

Her pic in the EMR.
<>

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Obviously something else somewhere in the environment may have terrified the cat.

I do not think that declawing is needed, and I certainly do not thing he should be put down.

I think they both need some calming...Rescue Remedy for instance. I suggest this because if she is nervous around the cat, he will sense it. Maybe this will help when the dog comes over. Was this cat ever attacked by a dog?

The only thing I might suggest is to have the cat thoroughly checked by a good vet to make sure that there is nothing physically wrong with him. Perhaps she touched some part of him that was very painful, and that is what caused this reaction.

Maine Coons are known for their docile nature, and especially if she loved this guy as much as it seems...they need to reconcile and try to start over again.

As last resort, if she feels she simply cannot be loving to him anymore, perhaps she should rehome him.

[roody]

2. He was freaked out. He still needs your love.

Can you forgive him? Can you start over?

[MiniMe]

3. Its most likely the dog

Doesn't matter if the dog was sleeping in another room, the cat knew he was there. I was mauled by a cat when I was about 2 at somebody elses house when the mom turned on the vacuum cleaner. The cat freaked out and tried to climb me. I don't remember it at all, but it may be part of the reason I am mostly a dog person.

If your friend puts the cat in the other room before the boyfriend comes over, the cat will feel like he is being replaced by the dog. If she tells the boyfriend to leave the dog at home, the boyfriend may take offense to it. I might start by having the boyfriend coming over without the dog and see how the cat reacts to the boyfriend without the dog in the room. That would at least let her see if the cat is reacting to the boyfriend or the dog. And if she puts it as "lets see what happens if..." instead of saying the dog can never come over, it would at least be a place to start.

[IndyOp]

4. I think she may need to rehome the cat - if she can find someone

who is willing to take him on. The situation sucks, but if the dog stays in her house I don't see that things are going to get any better.

:(

[MiniMe]

7. Is the boyfriend living there or does he just come over to spend time?

It sounds like a new relationship since they are just trying to introduce the pets. JMHO, but I wouldn't rehome the cat yet.

[yellerpup]

5. I adopted a feral kitten who could barely stand to be touched.

He liked me well enough at feeding time, and he would come and engage me for play a game of --not fetch--more like a game of toss and keep, and afer a few years he discovered that he liked centrifugal force and I would sling him over my shoulder for a ride through the house. The ride on the shoulder thing worked great as long as he didn't have to look at me. No cuddling in the arms, no cuddles, just a fling and a ride looking backwards over my shoulder. It was an odd relationship (lasting 14-1/2 years) but he was my baby and we loved each other.

One day as I was walking through the kitchen with my baby over my shoulder the ceiling light flashed out with a pop. He clawed my breast deeply with his hind paws and I put him down quickly but gently before he could grab my face. Man, that hurt! I went into the bathroom and I was crying because it hurt (!) and also because my feelings were hurt. I couldn't believe he did that to me! If I'd had insurance I probably would have gotten a couple of stitches, but I didn't so I washed the wound out with peroxide, poured mecurichrome into it and bandaged it while bawling the entire time. When I wiped my face afterward, I noticed that he was peering around the corner of the bathroom door at me with a very worried expression on his face.

I sat down on the step without trying to touch him and he did not try to come near me either, but he wanted to be with me. I told him how much I was hurting but didn't call him names (like Bad Kitty, etc.--no scolding) and that I was afraid of him now and how could I ever trust him again because I thought we were getting to be good friends after three years or so. Then, I got up and left him to think it over. I know he didn't understand my words, but he got it completely because he never, ever, for the rest of his life threatened me with fang or claw. We were in a few more situations in his lifetime where he could very well have lost control of himself, but he never made that mistake again.

I hope your friend will give her baby another chance. He probably feels terrible about what he did. I agree that he should be checked out to see if he has a physical problem. Oh yes, and keep him and the dog separate. He will appreciate it if she shows sympathy for his doggie-terrors.

[Sanity Claws]

6. What a tough situation

If I were in her shoes, I wouldn't know what to do either.
Whatever her ultimate decision is, I'd support her in it.

[MagickMuffin]

8. If it was me in that situation I would ask the boyfriend NOT to bring his dog over

until I reestablished my relationship with my cat. Of course there would always be a trust issue, but reconnecting with each other would be paramount.

The boyfriend should understand the conditions of restricting the dog from coming with him. It is her home and he is a guest. If there is a fenced yard I might consider letting the boyfriend bring his dog but only with the condition that the dog stays outside.

I have known of people who got their cats de-clawed that were older than hers, however, it is a cruel remedy. I wouldn't do it myself. And as others here have stated she should get the cat checked out to find out if there is some unknown factor to his behavior. I seriously think it has to do with the dog intruding on his territory.

I just recently tamed 3 feral kitties and so far they have been very loving and have never attacked me. They were probably 6 or 7 weeks old when they started letting me touch them. They are now indoor kitties. They just turned a year old this June. The youngest one died on July 4th, she suffered from unknown ailments she probably was born with.

You can read about the story here if you would like.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=243&topic_id=35470&mesg_id=35470

[AZBlue]

9. It's not the cat's fault and he shouldn't be punished.

She needs to really think hard and if she can't bring herself to regain the trust then she should give Lenny up. He should NOT be de-clawed or put down. It was not his fault - the dog should have been introduced properly to the cats (it sounds as if he just came over and, in the cats' eyes, intruded on their territory) and then if things weren't going well, the dog should have been put up in a room, not Lenny. Lenny was on his own territory and that should have been respected, he should not have been the one to be rejected and punished (again in his eyes) by his owner. He was only acting out because he was being threatened and its quite understandable. I'm sure he never ever meant to hurt her.

If she does give him up, the wisest thing would probably be for him to be an only cat and definitely no dogs in the new house. I wouldn't lie about the situation, but I would explain it honestly - that the reaction he had in this one instance is not indicative of his overall personality.

[japple]

13. I think you are absolutely right. This owner is not thinking straight.

The poor cat was only defending himself from an intruder. That she can't bring herself to trust him anymore is a serious problem. I'm sorry that she was attacked and suffered an injury, BUT IT'S NOT THE CAT'S FAULT--HE WAS FRIGHTENED. It sounds like this person should try to find another home for her kitty, preferably with a more mature human companion.

[CountAllVotes]

14. the cat could smell the dog/boyfriend on her

and being the cat did not like the dog (obvious) he did not want to be touched by anyone that had the odor of the dog on them.

My Maine Coon hated dogs. He spent a good part of his day teasing a pair that lived up the street from me. He enjoyed stealing their dog toys. I'd find one on my doorstep almost weekly.

I would have never considered having a dog around him as I know he would have gone ballistic. He got along well with one animal and that was himself. He liked few humans and I advised people to not try to touch him more than once. However, some people never learn until something happens (like the woman I mention). I had told her several times to leave him alone and if he came around her place to run him off. She was a damn fool and I blame what happened on HER not my cat!

Needless to say, I agree with you.

[AZBlue]

15. It upset me to see her even consider putting him down for this.

I really hope she was just reacting to the situation emotionally and thought more logially later on.

[CountAllVotes]

10. it is the dog/boyfriend

One of them (or both of them) the cat does not like. I had a Maine Coon and he could be a mean SOB when he wanted to be (and yes, he clawed me more than once and I have the scars to prove it). However, I LOVED that cat!

Sadly, a neighbor that had a tomcat was teasing him. He did not like being teased and he liked the woman and the tomcat she had even less. He nipped her on her ankle and the woman was threatening to sue me because of it. Then suddenly, someone tried to poison my beloved cat. Luckily he lived through it but I could see I had to do something ASAP.

I found a local animal rescue (a no-kill shelter) and it did not look good as to his placement in a new home given the situation (I told the person running the no-kill rescue what happened and was advised that this happened because of the woman's tomcat).

He got very lucky and they found him a new home within one week on a small ranch where he could hunt day and night which is what he did best and what he liked to do the most. Best I know, said Maine Coon is still alive.

That was a very difficult decision to have to make but it was best for the cat if someone was trying to kill him I decided. Having him put down was not an option to me.

In this case, it doesn't sound like the owner likes the cat anymore and the cat knows this, so it is a loser of a situation for all involved IMO.

My advice would be to try to find another home for the cat and I agree with others, de-clawing is a very cruel option that I would not consider on any level. It will only anger the cat more and lead to personality disorders and needless pain/trauma for the rest of his life.

On edit: I might add that the new home he went to was one that had no other cats or any dogs. I was advised that the placement has worked out well but was told that Maine Coons can very often be a "one person cat".

[Lorien]

18. Maine Coons generally love everyone, but only "bond" to one person

they'll follow "their" person everywhere and hate any separation from them. My Oberon loves a couple of my friends, but he's still a momma's boy. He can be rubbing and purring with a friend and I just have to say "Obie"! from across the room, and he'll run to me. He's a good gage of character,too; if he doesn't like a guy that I'm dating I know it won't go well, and if he does like him, then I know at least that the guy won't ever mean me any harm.

[tencats]

19. Here's the "attack cat"

Never herd again from the victim or what she ended up doing with her cat if anything. I think I might e-mail her though and inquire.
<>

[AZBlue]

22. Keep us posted.

Hope it all worked out ok!!!!!

[Sanity Claws]

23. Was that cat shaved?

I wonder whether his feeling naked or furless played a role in his reaction. I'm thinking that he probably felt doubly vulnerable because he didn't have his fur to protect him against the dog, an intruder in his space.

[Grateful for Hope]

11. It sounds to me

that Lenny was so terrified/distraught that he had to let his "owner" know in any way he could how he was feeling (and, I wonder if there were not some indications of his feelings before he attacked). Also sounds like he was angry to have been placed in this situation.

If this is the one and only time he has ever done this, I would think that his owner should not only take this into consideration, but, also, let go of her anger.

He is, after all, a cat (and not a human). He was expressing himself the best way he knew how at that moment.

This surely does not mean that he does not love "his human".

On edit, I was thinking that Maine Coons are very easy-going cats, normally. It is surprising that Lenny attacked the way he did.

[Lorien]

20. They are usually about the most laid back and gentle cats imaginable

always recommended for families with really small children. I'd trust Obie with a toddler, but not Puck or Pip.

Another thought; other environmental factors. I remember that my usually mellow kitty Miro went completely insane one night; growling and hissing at both myself and my other kitty, Peewee. I called the vet in the morning and she said that it sounded like a poisoning episode; that he had either chewed on the wrong plant or perhaps one of those roach hotels. Given that Miro put EVERYTHING into his mouth, I'd say that was a good bet. I hid the roach hotels better and made sure that he couldn't reach any houseplants, and it never happened again.

[Kat45]

12. What about getting those plastic things you can put on the claws?

I forget what they're called but people have mentioned them on DU when a person was concerned about all the damage the cat was doing in clawing things. I'm not sure how they work, but I got the impression the cat can still use its claws but with the plastic, they don't do damage. Perhaps that could help her to not be afraid of her cat.

[kestrel91316]

16. Classic case of fear aggression. It's all about the dog.

I wouldn't find a new home for the cat. I'd keep the dog out of the cat's home.

But that's just me.

[Lorien]

17. It happened to someone who adopted one of my fosters

a one year old DSH female. The new owner was sitting on the couch just a few weeks after she brought the kitty home. She reached up to scratch her own head, and the cat-sitting on the back of the couch-attacked her! She tore up her arm so badly that she had to go to the ER and had 17 stitches. She kept the cat, and there has never been another incident. The kitty sleeps with her and her husband and dog every night.

It's a tough call. I'd obviously rather see the cat re-homed or declawed than put down. ANY animal is capable of a freak out under the wrong circumstances. Oberon has flipped out a couple of times around strangers-mostly just trying to get away. The only time I've ever seen him hiss is when friends bring dogs by. Then he DOES look huge and frightening-and very much like a lynx or bobcat. I wouldn't put it past him to attack a dog out of fear and I know that he could do some serious damage. Lenny probably panicked because he didn't know what was going on and couldn't escape. Puck is unmanageable and vicious at the vets and just as dangerous to me as she is to the vets techs, but I trust her completely at home. I think that if the dog never returns and she's careful about how she picks Lenny up from now on everything should be fine.

[IndyOp]

21. I think you've hit on something here - I wonder if the woman kept holding onto

her cat - trying to control it - after the freak out started. If she had let it go immediately then, perhaps, her wounds might not have been as serious?