Hello! I have a male orange tabby cat named Harvest. My friend found him in his basement abandoned by his mother when he was 2 days old. I took care of him and now he is over a year old and my baby boy. Anyways my question is that he is such a sweet cat and he is such a lover, but I have problems when people or kids come too my house, because he gets real aggressive and attacks them and hisses and claws and bites. He does not do this to all people but just to some. He has bitten my mother even. I do have a female cat also in the house and she is spayed. Harvest is not neutered, although he is gonna get neutered soon. So my question is why does he act this way..is it because he is protective or is it because he is uneutered, does it have something to do with me raising him..I just do not know. I hope you can help me with this, thanks so much! :)
My cat Gino who is neutered is a total love to those of us who live in the house but when visitors come, he flips out and hides in the box springs of the couch or bed. He is petrified of strangers. Harvest is showing something similar but his response is to attack and defend his home and those he loves from these horrible strangers. Neutering will calm him down some but since he's a year old, his behavior is pretty well engrained in him. Because you've had him since he was 2 days old, he is being protective of you and your home.
For now, you'll have to keep him contained to a room, carrier, or cage when people visit. Have them say hello to him in such a way that he can't hurt them, and the visitors are calm (only one at a time) and don't spend very much time with him at first. For example, if your mom visits, put Harvest in a large carrier or dog kennel in the room with you while you talk, watch tv, eat, etc. Be very calm. Talk sweetly to Harvest (you and your mom) but don't focus all your attention on him. He may learn that your mother is not a threat because of how you treat her without fear or violence and also feel safe that he's not threatened. Maybe she could offer him a few treats or even a pet if he's calm. If he just flips out, you can ignore him or just give up and put him up when visitors come over. Our dog who died in January, would bark and jump at strangers and sometimes bite so we just put him up when visitors came.
:D Robyn,
Thank you so much for answering me back! I was pretty sure it was because he was being protective, but I was not sure. My mom is very leary of him and thinks he is evil..haha. But, I will try what u told me and thank you so much!!!!!!!
Sara(catsmeow472)