But Brooklyn has started to. This morning, for whatever reason she launched into a full-frontal attack on three cats sleeping below her on the sofa. I was sitting there reading and got some of the brunt of the attack. After she finished with the three unfortunate kitties, she launched herself on the dog and on Sierra who was drinking water. I have no idea what trigger got pushed, she had been living peacefully among general population for a number of days.
I managed to get her into the bathroom bribing her with food, but getting her into that dreaded carrier was another story. By the time I was finished, I was shaking so badly I had to sit down for about 20 minutes to regroup.
I can’t even begin to imagine the terror that must go through her mind when she sees this carrier but she becomes a tiger with all tooth and claw.
I have her in the outside introduction cage, it has three levels so she isn’t cramped and I can fully stand up in it. I will just have to work on her slowly and try and find a home for her where she doesn’t have any pets to deal with. I feel so sorry for her and I could kill whoever made this lovely girl this way. Abuse, neglect, lack of socialization with other cats all play into why she is this way. My heart aches for her, but at least she is safe. I had about five cats ready to rip her up for attacking them.
Is Brooklyn spayed? Was the spaying recent? We have an ALPHA-PLUS female who could be very sweet one minute and then attacking everyone the next. There never seemed to be a reason for the attacks or who was on the hit-list at any given moment. Then we were finally able to get her spayed. As you know, hormones are still in the cat’s system for a while after the spaying, so her behavior did not change overnight. The attacks have become less frequent, but have not entirely disappeared. We just figure it’s like post traumatic syndrome and that she will never get rid of it entirely. Let’s face it, she’s just a witch sometimes…
The vet said because she isn’t pregnant and doesn’t appear to be in heat she must be spayed. I would have to agree as all females this time of year in this area that aren’t spayed are pregnant. She is now just as sweet as pie, but she has a hair trigger and I have to figure out what to do about it. She can’t spend her entire time locked up in a cage, no matter how large, it is still a cage and not a life for a kitty. She is beautiful- but she can also be a witch. I can’t release her outside because of her hair trigger- she would go after the barn cats in nothing flat. I’m just going to have to work with her and let her know that life here is safe.
Oh, was a sad and frightening situation for everyone!
It never ceases to amaze me what can set off one of my cats. A skinny little stray I took in, in 2006, Oliver, his goal in life is to find another sleeping kitty and snuggle with them. Actually two sleeping together is even better as he deftly moves in between them and settles down for a nap. But, sometimes he wakes up a cat suddenly. The sleeping cat will jerk their head back taking in the situation. That in turn alarms Oliver who will instinctively jerk his head back wondering what is wrong. The other cat now sees that as a threat and starts whapping on poor Oliver. I’ve seen it happen time and time again.
A flick of the ear, a sudden movement of any kind and the whapping begins. Nothing at all like you are describing, though.
I really feel for cats like this, i have had a few of them. I hope you can help her deal with her fears and help her to be a calmer kitty. I hope it doesn’t take too long to find a perfect home for her.
Have you tried Feliway or something similar? We’ve never used it, but we’ve heard it helps calm distressed kitties.
Maybe with time, Brooklyn will be come more secure in her place in the pack. Good luck.
oh poor baby – we agree with Lee , would feliway or a calming collar help?
I have diffusers burning all the time and she doesn’t seem to be affected by them at all. Calm and wonderful one minute, and ready to go into the battle the next.