Conference misery::feline_v1

    Boy this sounds familiar....my Mom had a cat that had a similiar
    problem.  The cat's name was Taffy...and I always thought this
    cat had a split personailty.  There were times when he would purr,
    rub up against you, knead the afgan, but there were also times
    when he would attack full force with his claws extended and teeth
    showing.   He would lay with my Mom and when he had enough...he
    would literally almost bite her hand off.  After my Mom passed away
    I could not give up the cat and spent the next four years trying
    to get on his good side.   
    
    I don't have a solution...but I always felt the attitude problem
    was due to some terrible experiences when he was a kitten. (Prior
    to being adopted by my Mom)  But after many years and since this 
    cat passed away when he was only six years old from two very large 
    tumors on his liver...I am starting to believe this cat lived his
    life in alot of pain and that's what caused the nasty attitude.
    
    Just my thoughts...
    
    Sandy
    
    
    
       

    I concur with .1 in that perhaps your cat is in some sort of pain.
    
    An experience with a cat that I adopted brought us to the vets many 
    times.  The Dr. told me that cats have a very high threshold of pain 
    - and when they are in extreme pain - they become very aggressive.
    
    Another cat we adopted (Siamese in 1967) lived to be only 6 months 
    old because of a tumor in her stomach the size of a goose-egg.  Our 
    vet, at the time, was willing to bet that the 'mom' cat had been 
    cross-bred with members of her litters and that all kittens would die 
    (with tumors) before the first year.  I called the breeder - and Dr. 
    Murtha was right, all kittens died before their first birthday.
    
    I would suggest you bring Pip to the vet and get him a complete
    check-up.  Kidneys, thyroid, brain, etc.!  Also, is he a long haired
    cat?  Don't want to appear bossy here, just living off experience and
    giving courteous advice.  ;^)
    
    My Otis is longhaired and had a few matts.  I was told that matting is
    very painful for them - and long hair in this humid weather is so
    uncomfortable for them.  We brought him to a groomer (Canine Chateau in
    Leominster, MA) and they shaved him.  He is so different now - more
    loving and playful - I guess he feels really good.  And with a clean
    bill of health check-up from Dr. Mulcahy he's doing wonderfully.
    
    Good luck to you - it must be difficult to not completely trust him and
    worry when and if he's gonna get ya!
    
    Marilyn and Otis
    
    
    

    Notes 1 & 2:  I agree.  One of our cats had a hairline fracture
    of the pelvis and suddenly became agressive when we smoothed him.
    
    With Tigger it was a hair-trigger fight reflex action.  When
    I ran my hand down over his back he would turn and attack, and I
    mean hard!  With Chuckie, however, it's a matter of pride.  Violate 
    his "rights" and he lets you know by biting your ankle.
    
    If it's aggressive behavior then try hormone treatment--it worked
    for Tigger.  Or, take careful note of what triggers the attack and
    (sorry to be obvious) stop doing it.

    Nippa, ailas Sybil, sounds like your Pip.  I attribute her aggression
    to my ex's rough behavior when she was a kitten, and my own ignorance.
    (read that to mean not knowing what playing w/ hands can lead to, stuff
    like that.)
    
    Over the years she has managed to calm down, however she has bouts
    of nasty behavior.  We just ignore her.  WE've learned to lover her on
    `her' terms, not ours.....and she's perfectly content.  once in awhile
    an enviromental change will occur (new neighbors w/ a dog and cat)
    which will throw her into a tizzy.  The vet recommended ignoring her
    and letting her work it out.  Soon she'd come around, and she usually
    does.  He reasoned that animals will take out aggression on someone
    when they can't do it to the thing it is causing the aggression itself.
    
    I also agree w/ the others.....i took her to the vet to find out if
    something was wrong.  It was worth the vet fees.
    
    
    If you want to chat more, contact me offline @ FRAGLE::PELUSO or
    234-4678
    
    Michele

    
    
       A good friend of mine once had a pretty little Calico cat
    and it would come over to you for attention and be very affectionate,
    and sometimes that's all she wanted and she would purr and really
    get into you patting her, other times when she wanted attention
    and you started patting her, she would love it one minute and then
    turn around and hissss, growl, bite you (hard) and then want to be 
    patted again, it seemed like a game, but from the look on her face you
    could sort of tell it wasn't a game, but yet that was "just" her
    personality.
    My friend took good care of her since she was small & she had no
    injuries, a clean bill of health, just a strange personality. 
     
    
    my 2cents
    Diana                                                   
    

    I second the idea of a vet visit.  The fact that this behavior
    appeared after maturity makes me wonder about health, an
    abscessed tooth, etc.