Besides the cat not using the litter box, “cat attacks me randomly” is a top behavioral issue for cat owners. The usual approach by veterinarians is to rule out any medical conditions that might make the cat overly sensitive to stimulation. The number one medical issue is pain, often dental or arthritic in nature, but there are certainly other possible issues. Hormone imbalance can create internal sensations that could make a cat attack randomly. (See my blog on arthritis in cats for my different take on this issue.)
What triggers a random cat attack?
Accurately understanding when the cat gets triggered to attack is one key to solving the problem. I’ve seen people play with kittens where they grab their belly and playfight with the tyke. This stimulates them to grab with the front claws, rake with the back claws, and bite. This can be cute when they are tiny, but it can send the wrong message for the cats later life. Just for fun they will attack, like old times, eh? Now you must untrain them on that behavior! How? Make it clear that attacking is unacceptable. Putting them in time-out every time they attack, like in a cat carrier or locked in a room might work. Having a pop can half full of pennies or other small metal items where you can quickly get at it and shake it very loudly will disrupt almost any unwanted behavior. Be sure to tape it closed so the items can’t come flying out. (I credit this trick to Martha Norwalk, animal behaviorist. Her website is marthanorwalk.com)
Sometimes the cat will attack you when it sees another cat outside. My experience is that this is more typical of male cats. I’ve come to wonder if they could be redirected to attack a stuffed toy instead by having it near the area where they would typically see another cat?
Is this behavior a recent development out of the blue?
If your cat attacking you randomly is a new issue, what has changed? Think about that one and see if you can reverse the situation. However, it could be a medical issue, or it could be that something has produced a fight-flight response in your cat and it is just stuck in that response. (See this article for a discussion of how that happens)
What can you do if it is a fight-flight response?
Fortunately, my Neuro-Energetic Balancing™ protocol resets the fight-flight response which has solved this behavior for some cat owners. If you are not getting the results you hoped for from your other efforts, this could be the key to your success as it has been for many others in that situation. If you would like to talk with me, Dr. Nels (I’m a chiropractor and not a veterinarian, which is why I recommend seeing them first.) you can have a free phone consultation with me by CLICKING HERE and filling out the contact form. I would love to talk with you!
