Cat attcked a woman

[debodun]

I deliver meals-on-wheel to elderly and home-bound people. Today, one of the ladies was telling me her 2-year-old cat attacked her. It was so bad she had to go to the emergency room. She showed me her arm and leg and it looked like it wasn't just playful nibbles - that cat lacerated and bit her skin so deeply she had to have stitches and she is black and blue all over her arm and leg. She claims she was doing nothing to ten cat - she just came out to her kitchen from the living room and the cat lit into her. She said her family is urging her to get rid of the cat. What could make a cat go wild and attack someone like that?

[debodun]

I haven't seen the cat in the woman house for a while. I asked her and she said "I let it out and it never came back." Strange....

[slaytheday]

Hello.

  First thank you for doing Meals on Wheels.  So needed!

  Assume you probably realize senior citizens  have extremely thin skin.  They can get shredded so easily. I don't know if she's elderly; some people with disabilities have similar problems.

  Perhaps she should rehome the kitty; it's only 2-years-old and needs to be played with, have plenty of toys, and be fed properly.  It should also be neutered/ spayed.

  If she loves this furball get some toys like a turbo scratcher or one of the feather toys that has a long string with the feather on the end.  

  Opus is right about the proper medical attention to the lady AND the vet making sure the kitty isn't hurting.

  I wish I knew the history of the kitty...

  I had a slightly simular situation years ago only this was a cat attacking my new kitten.  Both fixed.  I called a kitty behavioral organization and was flat out told to kill the older cat.  This I could not do.   I tried many things but that kitten wanted to be the dominant cat of our house.  We ended up caging the kitten for awhile and spraying the older one when she attacked that cage.  Did I mention that I was so young & dumb at this time...

  Eventually we kept them separated for over a year.  Then we moved. New place, unclaimed territory.  I let them both out into the house.  Yeah they fought and played and the enemy of my enemy was my friend.

  Please, please encourage the lady's family and her to spare this kitty's life.  I've never regretted keeping my beautiful Sammi or my fireworks, my little SuelaPie.

  Thanks for letting me rattle on.  

  Blessings to you & the lady & the kitty.
    Melinda

[opus88]

well that sounds pretty serious, you can get a really bad infection from a cat bite...I know I have.
I hope the lady is on antibiotics and a tetanus shot too.
as far as what to do, well not sure...my cat has a temper and hates to be brushed thats why I get the occasionally serious bite. but he isn't aggressive like this cat was....
I would certainly take this kitty to a Vet for a good check up if she is able to...to see if this cat has a medical problem and is aggressive due to pain..
She is going to need to be very careful around him, and as much as I am a cat advocate I tend to agree that this cat just may have to be put down. that is a very serious attack if it came out of no where with no warning...
hopefully a Vet can help before resorting to drastic measures...:(