Attack of the killer house kitties
July 1, 2011 3:00 PM Subscribe
My 2 cats (who up to this point have been nothing but adorable love monkeys wrapped in fur) viciously attacked me last night. I have never seen anything like it and it's making me wonder whether I can continue to keep them. But I love them! (Or at least I have for the past 6 years...) What do I do?
Last night one of my closest friends visited with her twin babies in tow for the first time. She walked into my apartment with a stroller, I picked up one of the babies who began to cry, and then my 2 cats started running in circles around me, biting and clawing at my legs. (Luckily I'd clipped their nails recently -- I can only imagine how many more gashes I'd have on my legs if they hadn't been clipped.) I had to kick the cats away from me because they'd started clawing their way up my body to get to the crying baby. Alarmed and worried about the now bawling his eyes out terrified little guy I was holding, I ran into a spare bedroom and shut the door. After a few moments I handed baby to his mama, and threw the cats into the spare room and shut the door.
A few hours later, I went back into the room to get something, and one of the cats was still hissing at me and lunging at me. I moved their food, litter and water into the spare bedroom where I kept them overnight (and that is where they are right now). I have huge gashes and chunks of skin missing from where my previous little best friends took bites out of me all over my shins and I have bite marks on my thighs! Last night both my shins were just covered in blood. Disgusting and terrifying.
I still cannot believe that this happened. I can understand that hearing the sound of a baby cry is extremely distressing, but their reactions were so alarming I'm not sure how to handle them.
Does anyone have any experience with something like this? Ideas?
Last night one of my closest friends visited with her twin babies in tow for the first time. She walked into my apartment with a stroller, I picked up one of the babies who began to cry, and then my 2 cats started running in circles around me, biting and clawing at my legs. (Luckily I'd clipped their nails recently -- I can only imagine how many more gashes I'd have on my legs if they hadn't been clipped.) I had to kick the cats away from me because they'd started clawing their way up my body to get to the crying baby. Alarmed and worried about the now bawling his eyes out terrified little guy I was holding, I ran into a spare bedroom and shut the door. After a few moments I handed baby to his mama, and threw the cats into the spare room and shut the door.
A few hours later, I went back into the room to get something, and one of the cats was still hissing at me and lunging at me. I moved their food, litter and water into the spare bedroom where I kept them overnight (and that is where they are right now). I have huge gashes and chunks of skin missing from where my previous little best friends took bites out of me all over my shins and I have bite marks on my thighs! Last night both my shins were just covered in blood. Disgusting and terrifying.
I still cannot believe that this happened. I can understand that hearing the sound of a baby cry is extremely distressing, but their reactions were so alarming I'm not sure how to handle them.
Does anyone have any experience with something like this? Ideas?
Google cat aggression and babies, there is nothing unusual about this incident. Guides such as this show what an issue this can be.
Cats do not like babies. They are loud and make unpredictable movements and noises, and most disturbingly to a cat, they smell strange. They also receive full attention from the people holding them.
Cats need to be introduced gradually to a baby, as you would a new cat or dog moving into the home. Or keep them apart completely.
posted by fire&wings at 3:07 PM on July 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
Cats do not like babies. They are loud and make unpredictable movements and noises, and most disturbingly to a cat, they smell strange. They also receive full attention from the people holding them.
Cats need to be introduced gradually to a baby, as you would a new cat or dog moving into the home. Or keep them apart completely.
posted by fire&wings at 3:07 PM on July 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
My cat acted like that when I brought two new cats into the mix. I think my cat thought for a long time she was a person. Anyway, she was really fucking scary. Not only did she try to get through to one of the cat's cage to maul her to death, she went after me in a really fucking scary way.
She got over it. She stopped attacking me after the first day, and now will even tolerate another kitty sniffing her. She still looks bewildered, though.
posted by angrycat at 3:11 PM on July 1, 2011
She got over it. She stopped attacking me after the first day, and now will even tolerate another kitty sniffing her. She still looks bewildered, though.
posted by angrycat at 3:11 PM on July 1, 2011
Yeah, this is horrifiying to you (and was horrifying to them), but it was science. Little best friends or not, your cats are animals. They acted like animals. You don't take babies around strange animals, especially ones that haven't ever seen a baby before.
Mother cats will wound and bring prey to kittens to teach them to hunt, and hold it while they finish it off. Some predators scream at a high pitch when they attack. Either way, that sound goes straight to the survival bits of their tiny little walnut brains.
posted by Lyn Never at 3:35 PM on July 1, 2011 [6 favorites]
Mother cats will wound and bring prey to kittens to teach them to hunt, and hold it while they finish it off. Some predators scream at a high pitch when they attack. Either way, that sound goes straight to the survival bits of their tiny little walnut brains.
posted by Lyn Never at 3:35 PM on July 1, 2011 [6 favorites]
My wife and I are going to have a baby, and we have three cats. We were recently told to bring an article of clothing that the baby wore into the house ahead of the baby. Give the cats some time to smell it and get accustomed to the new smell, then introduce the baby to the house.
If this baby will visit again, it might help to leave a piece of their clothing.
posted by filthy light thief at 3:40 PM on July 1, 2011
If this baby will visit again, it might help to leave a piece of their clothing.
posted by filthy light thief at 3:40 PM on July 1, 2011
Best answer: Your cats didn't both simultaneously have psychotic breaks—they're the exact same cats you've known and loved all this time—the only difference is that you now know with a great deal of certainty that they really don't like crying babies, which is entirely common among cats. If you're considering having human children of your own in the near future, you'll have to decide whether to make an attempt at acclimatizing the fur-children to the new addition(s) or to find the cats a new, baby-free home. If that's not on the horizon, though, I'd just shut the cats up in the guest room whenever you're expecting babies.
posted by wreckingball at 3:52 PM on July 1, 2011 [11 favorites]
posted by wreckingball at 3:52 PM on July 1, 2011 [11 favorites]
Our cats have a go at each other when a strange cat manages to get close enough to their perceived territory to freak them out (there's one in our new neighborhood who walks right up to our windows and lunges at them). They're not small cats, and it's loud and violent and a little scary. I attempted to separate them the first time, and won't be trying that again.
It takes a while for the one to calm down. He'll stay on high ground and hiss at the other for a few hours following, and stay a little jumpy for a while longer, depending. Things do return to normal eventually.
posted by moira at 4:11 PM on July 1, 2011
It takes a while for the one to calm down. He'll stay on high ground and hiss at the other for a few hours following, and stay a little jumpy for a while longer, depending. Things do return to normal eventually.
posted by moira at 4:11 PM on July 1, 2011
I made a comment awhile back on a similar situation with a cat who apparently cannot tolerate high-pitched shrieking or wailing of any kind:
Ass Attack Cat
For what it's worth, this all happened several years ago and he has not bitten me since. Of course, we have not had any high-pitched shrieking of any note around here since then either (knock wood.)
I would just lock the kitties in another room when babies come to visit.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 4:14 PM on July 1, 2011 [2 favorites]
Ass Attack Cat
For what it's worth, this all happened several years ago and he has not bitten me since. Of course, we have not had any high-pitched shrieking of any note around here since then either (knock wood.)
I would just lock the kitties in another room when babies come to visit.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 4:14 PM on July 1, 2011 [2 favorites]
Oh, and I just want to add that I hope you didn't feel anybody was downplaying or invalidating your concerns by being all "cats will be cats." A house cat really is 5-15+ pounds of obligate carnivore covered in pointy bits and capable of moving at 30 mph, but most cat owners don't often (if ever) see them at their face-eatingest. The first time my cat had a run-in with a mouse (and there have only been two times, thank god), I had to lock myself in the bedroom until she'd caught the thing and I could release it outside.
I'm sure the babies will be fine, and I'm sure the cats are back to normal (or will be once they forgive you for having locked them in the guest room), but I hope neither you nor your friend were unduly traumatized. Also, don't feel like you should have anticipated this reaction—plenty of cats do tolerate babies just fine; yours just didn't in this particular instance.
posted by wreckingball at 5:10 PM on July 1, 2011 [3 favorites]
I'm sure the babies will be fine, and I'm sure the cats are back to normal (or will be once they forgive you for having locked them in the guest room), but I hope neither you nor your friend were unduly traumatized. Also, don't feel like you should have anticipated this reaction—plenty of cats do tolerate babies just fine; yours just didn't in this particular instance.
posted by wreckingball at 5:10 PM on July 1, 2011 [3 favorites]
I agree with the above, try not to freak out, cats are very strange creatures. I just wanted to add though that if this was more than scratches and instead actually deep bites get yourself to a doctor. I have seen those turn especially nasty, both cats and dogs mouths are cesspools (contrary to folklore) and even though cat bites do not look nearly that bad (maybe not in your case) please prevent some serious additional pain.
posted by boobjob at 5:50 PM on July 1, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by boobjob at 5:50 PM on July 1, 2011 [2 favorites]
One of my cats attacked me once when we were temporarily keeping 2 other cats and I was standing in the doorway that had been keeping them all apart. He clawed his way up my body and had to be pried off my head by someone who was luckily standing nearby. It was incredibly traumatizing for me, but after the other cats were gone he went back to being the same cat he'd always been. You'll be more wary of them for a while, but it was likely a one time thing now that you know their trigger.
I also second boobjob's suggestion to see a doctor if you haven't already. You're very likely to have an infection that you need antibiotics to kick. I did when I was attacked (and have since, for far more minor cat injuries).
posted by des at 6:10 PM on July 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
I also second boobjob's suggestion to see a doctor if you haven't already. You're very likely to have an infection that you need antibiotics to kick. I did when I was attacked (and have since, for far more minor cat injuries).
posted by des at 6:10 PM on July 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
I've also had cats attack when they thought that another animal was in distress. I have a clear childhood memory of one day when our beloved dachshund was running around our backyard and suddenly injured his back without warning. My dad rushed to our dog's side and the cat came out of nowhere and attacked my dad - jumped on his back as he knelt over the dog. I believe that the cat thought that my dad was somehow hurting the dog and was trying to protect the dog.
posted by Ostara at 6:28 PM on July 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Ostara at 6:28 PM on July 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
Just wanted to reinforce what boobjob said about cat bites. Do NOT mess around with cat bites. Rubbing alcohol when they happen, then keep a very close eye on them. At the first sign of infection - redness, swelling, warmth, etc - go to the doctor or ER, do not delay. If the bites are deep you may want to go to the doctor now and ask them about preventive antibiotics.
posted by LobsterMitten at 6:58 PM on July 1, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten at 6:58 PM on July 1, 2011 [3 favorites]
It might be a case of displaced aggression, too. There's some good info available if you Google it. Basically, it's attacking others in the household (you, or other pets) as if they don't know you, after being triggered by an event like visitors or seeing another animal outside the window. When my cats do this, it can take hours for them to recover. Good idea on putting them in your spare room. It gives them a "safe" area to calm down.
posted by Knowyournuts at 9:16 PM on July 1, 2011
posted by Knowyournuts at 9:16 PM on July 1, 2011
I still have a scar on my leg from when our cat bit me when I was a crying baby. My mom went to pick me up and the cat decided to defend her against me, the object of her distress.
We all made up, eventually, but only after my mom begged my dad not to break the cat's neck.
It's not that crying babies are the trigger, it's that the baby completely upset the order of things for your cats.
Cats are under the mistaken belief that they live in a democracy with their humans, not a benevolent dictatorship. So when you usurp their assessment of a situation in some fundamental way, they'll get nasty. (Like if a cat gets stuck somewhere and is scared and bites their rescuer.)
posted by thinkingwoman at 10:13 PM on July 1, 2011 [2 favorites]
We all made up, eventually, but only after my mom begged my dad not to break the cat's neck.
It's not that crying babies are the trigger, it's that the baby completely upset the order of things for your cats.
Cats are under the mistaken belief that they live in a democracy with their humans, not a benevolent dictatorship. So when you usurp their assessment of a situation in some fundamental way, they'll get nasty. (Like if a cat gets stuck somewhere and is scared and bites their rescuer.)
posted by thinkingwoman at 10:13 PM on July 1, 2011 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Sorry, cat-lovers, I've owned both cats and babies and forgive me, but everyone's being awfully understanding of the cats. This sounds over-the-top aggressive to me, and I am so sorry it happened. I would be totally freaked out too. I don't think "stick kitties in the other room" is a practical solution for this kind of behavior, and I don't think you should have to do a routine of acclimating your cats to every new situation, scent, sound they may encounter, especially when it involves an infant, and cats trying to crawl up your leg to get to it! And then holding the grudge when the event's over! Attend to your injuries immediately, and consult with a vet who can help you find an expert in aggression. Or let them live with a friend or relative who won't introduce any variables like babies.
posted by thinkpiece at 6:20 AM on July 2, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by thinkpiece at 6:20 AM on July 2, 2011 [3 favorites]
Sorry, cat-lovers, I've owned both cats and babies and forgive me, but everyone's being awfully understanding of the cats.
No, that's fair, we totally are. In the kindest light, the cats made a REALLY bad judgment call, based on their limited evidence (never having seen a baby before, feeling ownership of the house and its order, and being cats, who are, pretty much, assholes, which is why we like them).
Many housecats are, in a way, like collies. They guard and protect the house. (A friend's cat saw a stray out the window, oh, NINE MONTHS AGO, and has been guarding the window diligently ever since, to the point of craziness.) As a human who doesn't have a good response to babies either, I get it (though I don't see babies as a physical threat... just an emotional one, kind of).
In this case, babies aren't a part of this household; cats are. And this is pretty par for the course. My old guy (RIP!) was the sweetest, most amenable dude in the world--until a friend brought his (very nice!) toddler over, and I could see Cat pacing and swishing and could tell what was going to go down and so I locked him in the bathroom REAL QUICK before I lost a friend and/or a friend's toddler's face. The lesson I took home for me: no babies in the house. The cat lives there.
posted by RJ Reynolds at 9:59 AM on July 2, 2011 [2 favorites]
No, that's fair, we totally are. In the kindest light, the cats made a REALLY bad judgment call, based on their limited evidence (never having seen a baby before, feeling ownership of the house and its order, and being cats, who are, pretty much, assholes, which is why we like them).
Many housecats are, in a way, like collies. They guard and protect the house. (A friend's cat saw a stray out the window, oh, NINE MONTHS AGO, and has been guarding the window diligently ever since, to the point of craziness.) As a human who doesn't have a good response to babies either, I get it (though I don't see babies as a physical threat... just an emotional one, kind of).
In this case, babies aren't a part of this household; cats are. And this is pretty par for the course. My old guy (RIP!) was the sweetest, most amenable dude in the world--until a friend brought his (very nice!) toddler over, and I could see Cat pacing and swishing and could tell what was going to go down and so I locked him in the bathroom REAL QUICK before I lost a friend and/or a friend's toddler's face. The lesson I took home for me: no babies in the house. The cat lives there.
posted by RJ Reynolds at 9:59 AM on July 2, 2011 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: To be clear, the cats weren't attacking the baby. The cats were attacking me. (But yeah, they probably would've been happy to kill the baby along with me if they could have.)
They are back to their normal selves now and I keep randomly playing clips of babies crying from YouTube to get them acclimated to the sound (because yes, the plan is to add a tiny human to the household by next year).
The first time I played a clip one of my cats began hissing and started lunging at me, then pawing my iPhone. Anyhow, I do believe it was the sound of the baby crying that flipped the cats out.
I've been a cat mom my whole life and have never seen behavior remotely like this before. These cats usually love attention from all kinds of humans. And even though i cleaned all the wounds and scratches with alcohol, I did wind up going to the doctor who gave me an injection of antibiotics.
I'm just hoping I won't have to find a new home for these guys.... Thanks for all the suggestions.
posted by ohyouknow at 9:56 PM on July 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
They are back to their normal selves now and I keep randomly playing clips of babies crying from YouTube to get them acclimated to the sound (because yes, the plan is to add a tiny human to the household by next year).
The first time I played a clip one of my cats began hissing and started lunging at me, then pawing my iPhone. Anyhow, I do believe it was the sound of the baby crying that flipped the cats out.
I've been a cat mom my whole life and have never seen behavior remotely like this before. These cats usually love attention from all kinds of humans. And even though i cleaned all the wounds and scratches with alcohol, I did wind up going to the doctor who gave me an injection of antibiotics.
I'm just hoping I won't have to find a new home for these guys.... Thanks for all the suggestions.
posted by ohyouknow at 9:56 PM on July 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
Just to add a little balance to the discussion, the cats may not act this way when they have lived with you while you're pregnant. I asked this question back when I was pregnant, and honestly, I had no problems other than the cats constantly trying to be the meat in a mommy & baby sandwich. I believe that smelling my constant hormonal changes over the course of my pregnancy gave them the heads-up that a small creature would soon be emerging from my body.
posted by echolalia67 at 9:04 AM on July 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by echolalia67 at 9:04 AM on July 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thank you, echolaia67, that does ease my mind a bit.
posted by ohyouknow at 6:18 PM on July 11, 2011
posted by ohyouknow at 6:18 PM on July 11, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
So it's no wonder they reacted that way.
Don't do anything rash. Give it more time and see if they settle down.
Visit your friend at her house or at a coffee shop from now on.
(Admittedly, I am not an experienced cat person.)
posted by SallyHitMeOntheHead at 3:06 PM on July 1, 2011 [2 favorites]