Aggression/over protective Attack?

[Kristen G]

Hi and happy new yr! Seeking input if anyone experienced this, Jax (almost age 4) is so protective over Kirby (age 2) that if someone accidentally steps on kirbys tail or paw and he screeches, then Jax goes into this weird mode where he attacks and bites the person that did it and his eyes fully dilate and he makes a yelling growling noise until he calms down. Over the past year n a half it has happened 3 or 4 times. It seems the only trigger is if kirby gets stepped on. When jax goes into that mode its scary and it seems he blacks out and isnt himself. Hes normally a very social loving boy. Anyone experience something like this??? I plan on having kids soon n it worries me that if they step on kirbys tail this will happen


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[Yoda mom]

@Kristen G , I train mine like a dog.
can you redirect him to a pole toy like dabird, talk to him , with a command "he is fine" or similar, give treat before he goes into his mode to reward not reacting,, to desensitize him. they are lighting fast buggers underfoot, I swear I have to look down at my feet all the time before I turn and step.


surely members will chime in. hugs n head smooches

 

[Condo commando]

Never heard of it like this where one cat was upset for another cat.

However, one of my Sphynxes came from a house with a 2 year old. The little boy was a bit rough and this Sphynx started peeing on the little boy's things. The mother would take the boy's stuff away and the Sphynx would start using the litter box again. When the boy's stuff came back out, the peeing started again. It was passive aggressive I guess. The parents tried to work with the little boy on how to be more gentle but finally they put the Sphynx up for adoption and I got him. For the record he is super sweet and I don't have any problem with him. This is just how it goes sometimes with kids because they are rough without realizing it. I believe that cats DO try to tell us but since the don't speak our language we may not get the message, so things escalate.

For what it's worth, the people had another cat also and no problems with him and the boy, so different cats react in different ways.

Also there wasn't a problem until the little boy got to be 2 years old; it goes to show it has to do not with having a little person but with having a little person who picks you up kind of rough. Maybe knowing this, it helps to plan ahead for your family. Plenty of people have cats and kids with no problem at all. Good luck.

 

[pussiette]

He is just being protective and feels the pain from his friend.

 

[Catzzzmeow]

My guess is that the scream Kirby makes triggers his reaction. Not the actual act of someone stepping on him. Cats are not wired that way, but the scream of an animal could easily freak him out every time.

 

[Kristen G]

@Kristen G , I train mine like a dog.
can you redirect him to a pole toy like dabird, talk to him , with a command "he is fine" or similar, give treat before he goes into his mode to reward not reacting,, to desensitize him. they are lighting fast buggers underfoot, I swear I have to look down at my feet all the time before I turn and step.


surely members will chime in. hugs n head smooches

Thank you for your suggestion, i havent tried redirecting with a toy because the attack happened to me for the 1st time the other day and i kinda froze (previous times were to my hubby) but if/when it happens again i am going to try a toy or was thinking of keeping a whistle handy


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[Kristen G]

My guess is that the scream Kirby makes triggers his reaction. Not the actual act of someone stepping on him. Cats are not wired that way, but the scream of an animal could easily freak him out every time.

Yes im thinking you are right about that. I am glad that the screetch is the only trigger and he doesnt have these episodes for other reasons. The most i can do is try out different things to snap his focus out of it and also be more careful to not step on kirby! When i have kids i’ll have to teach them from very young to be gentle with them etc


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[Kristen G]

Never heard of it like this where one cat was upset for another cat.

However, one of my Sphynxes came from a house with a 2 year old. The little boy was a bit rough and this Sphynx started peeing on the little boy's things. The mother would take the boy's stuff away and the Sphynx would start using the litter box again. When the boy's stuff came back out, the peeing started again. It was passive aggressive I guess. The parents tried to work with the little boy on how to be more gentle but finally they put the Sphynx up for adoption and I got him. For the record he is super sweet and I don't have any problem with him. This is just how it goes sometimes with kids because they are rough without realizing it. I believe that cats DO try to tell us but since the don't speak our language we may not get the message, so things escalate.

For what it's worth, the people had another cat also and no problems with him and the boy, so different cats react in different ways.

Also there wasn't a problem until the little boy got to be 2 years old; it goes to show it has to do not with having a little person but with having a little person who picks you up kind of rough. Maybe knowing this, it helps to plan ahead for your family. Plenty of people have cats and kids with no problem at all. Good luck.

@condocommando glad to hear that the cat fit well with u after u got him. I definitely hope for the best and hope that when i have kids itll be ok. Will definitely start teaching them early on to be gentle as much as possible


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[Bailey21]

@Xandria had a similar experience where her female attacked her from her male being injured.

 

[Kristen G]

@Xandria had a similar experience where her female attacked her from her male being injured.

@Bailey21 thank you, i hope @Xandria shares her experience with me, i would be really interested to hear about it.


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[Bailey21]

There's a thread on here somewhere she posted about it if you wanted to do some digging!

 

[Sheldon13]

I had forgotten about that! That’s very true I remember that now!


Love and Sphynx ~ It’s all you need

 

[Sheldon13]

Here it is

Cat Bites (how serious?) & Min the Protector

First, pardon my absence. I've been helping various friends in Texas connect with one another for rescue operations, support etc. On top of this I have a friend in Australia who is coming to Vancouver and encountered some issues with renting an apartment. Plus work, plus other personal stressors...

sphynxlair.com

Love and Sphynx ~ It’s all you need

 

[Kristen G]

Here it is

Cat Bites (how serious?) & Min the Protector

First, pardon my absence. I've been helping various friends in Texas connect with one another for rescue operations, support etc. On top of this I have a friend in Australia who is coming to Vancouver and encountered some issues with renting an apartment. Plus work, plus other personal stressors...

sphynxlair.com

Love and Sphynx ~ It’s all you need

Thank u for locating it for me! @Sheldon13


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[Condo commando]

I had forgotten all about that.

I admit I've inadvertently stepped on kitty toes before but my other cats did nothing.

 

[Toa and Ross]

Thanks @Sheldon13 for posting the link to @Xandria thread. Max is a gentle, kind, loving boy. But ooooh when somebody accidently hurt Min....hell breaks lose and he attacks Xandria who he truly loves a lot!

 

[Condo commando]

Thanks @Sheldon13 for posting the link to @Xandria thread. Max is a gentle, kind, loving boy. But ooooh when somebody accidently hurt Min....hell breaks lose and he attacks Xandria who he truly loves a lot!

I think this is right, cat aggression is really a defensive action and a measure of last resort. Min was DEFENDING Max, not attacking Xandria.

This is why I don't like it when when I hear people say cats are "independent" or "solitary" beings. What Min did in the heat of the moment was put herself in harm's way (not that Xandria would have hurt her). There's a bond there between Min and Max which to me proves cats socialize and form their own groups too. They have been domesticated for thousands of years to live with us humans, but they have lived with other cats for far longer and those connections they have with each other are deeply ingrained. My gut feeling anyway.