Strange beehavior

[Kaitara]

I just got a cat from the Humane Society. She is approx 1 1/2 years old. She was way underweight, but in a months time, she is about normal again. All this time she has been quiet, loving, sleeps with me at night. About a week ago she started following me, non-stop. If I leave the room and close the door she scratches at the carpet until I let her out to follow me. If I leave, she sits by the long window by the door so she can see outside. when I come back she is there, not sure if she left or not, but she looks just like when I left her. She is always rubbing against me, non stop. In live with my adult daughter, and 2 grandchildren, ages 6 and 12. They petted her and played with her all this time. Now all of a sudden, if anyone comes towards my (our) room, she gets up and runs towards the door, and growls loud, if they open the door she hisses. Today she lunged and my daughter and bit her on the ankle. (my daughter is 31 yrs old). Later this afternoon, she ran after my grandson, and swatted him. And just  a bit ago, for no reason at all, I am sitting here on the computer, and I heard her growl, and without provocation, she growled at me ran up and jumped on my leg biting me and scratching me, drawing blood.

I am at a loss as to what to do. she was just fine up till now. She had a vet visit 2 weeks ago, and the vet said she was healthy. I don't want to get rid of her, I thought I was doing a good thing by rescuing her from the animal shelter. But I can't let the whole household get attacked like this either. any idea on how to find out what is causing this, or what I need to do to correct this behavior??

[opus88]

you can also buy a 'feliway' defuser to plug into a socket.....from the Vet. only about $25. its a hormone, that will help calm her.
best of luck.

[Kaitara]

OH tyvm, I think I will try the crate idea. I did try to ignore her, but 53 times she jumped on me or on my desk and I had to keep putting her down, finally she got the message and didn't jump up, but instead still kept rubbing against me. She is not feral. All the Animal shelter would say about her is that she was owner surrender. Yes, she was fixed, and all went well with that. She's had all her shots and tested negative for fel leukemia.. I have no other pets. I previously had a tonkinese that I had for 21 years who died of old age, but I did not keep his things, all this cat's belongings are all brand new. I think you might be right about her bonding to me.I have noticed now after reading your response, if she hears anyone coming to my door that is when she goes to my door and growls, and if they come in she stands between me and them.  My youngest grandson came to show me something on his DS, and when he leaned into me to show me, she tagged him. So, I am more inline thinking now she is being protective of me. I put a crate in the house now, and I am taking the time to get everyone more involved with her, petting her, feeding her, hoping between the two (crate, and involving everyone in her care), this will calm her down.  TY so much for your suggestions and observations. and to LindaTX, I will also try some catnip and see how she reacts. :)

[LindaTX]

Sorry you are having personality problems with your new friend.  I like nancyjac's idea about the time out.  I think your cat is not feral ( because she became quickly attached to you and even slept with you), but highstrung and easily overstimulated.  I have one out of 6 that is a lot like this, extremely needy and kneady.  It's hard for her to calm herself down and it can be annoying to me as well.  I wonder if catnip would mellow her out a little or have the opposite effect and rev her up. I think they just are the way they are.  I think they key is less stimulation and a calming, as much as possible, environment. I think during her "probation period" the first month or so, she was on her best behavior and now her true personality is showing through. And eating better like she is....she is "feeling her oats" so to speak.  I've seen this happen in horses, and quite frankly, it also happens a lot of times in foster children. I am not, repeat , I am not trying to equate foster children to pets.

[nancyjac]

There are several possibilities for her behavior.  You said she went from way underweight to normal in a months time.  During that month, were you feeding her often, giving her treats, special food, spending more time with her, etc?  And then once she reached a good weight, did you stop or cut back doing those things?

Some cats (particularly if they have certain breeds in their mix) may show behaviors that are typically more associated with dogs than with cats, including bonding with one particular person in the household and being protective of that person to the point of guarding them from other members of the household.  Her attack on you was out of line with that scenario, but if it was a one time thing, there may have been something else altogether that provoked that attack, at least in her mind.

Since you got her from a Humane Society, I assume she was already spayed?  Do you know anything of her history before she arrived at the humane society?  Is she feral?  Cats, like dogs, instinctively need a pecking order and hierarchy within their pack.  For domesticated household pets, that pack includes both the humans and any other pets in the house.  She may be trying to establish her place in that hierarchy with her dominant behavior.  

There are two methods I have had success with  in breaking unacceptable behavior patterns with cats.  One is to  ignore bad behavior by not speaking, petting, holding, or otherwise interacting with the cat when they exhibit bad behavior.,  Once the particular behavior stops for a while, then I will interact with her in whatever manner typically pleases her.  The other method is to give them a short time out.  You can do this with a crate. Put her in the crate (big enough for her to move around in until she calms down).  Once she calms down, let her out.  Repeat each time she starts the unacceptable behavior and let her out only once she is calm.  The idea is to associate the time out with the bad behavior and letting her out for good behavior.  You have to be consistant with this and use it to only correct one behavior at a time.