Need Advice for Aggression

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pixiesmom

pixiesmom

Member Since 2013
I have been posting on the Lantus board trying to get my Pixie regulated and happy to say that he is doing
wonderful and possible looking at a trial in the near future.....
However, we have some other issues.
Here is my post from the other day.

He has become increasingly aggressive. Right now I have company and he is attacking us as we walk past.
Hissing, swatting and even biting our legs.
He will calm down a bit after he has eaten.
He is mean to the dogs.

Before dx, he would give a swat to us in the kitchen....we'd feed him. It was cute.

Pretty much all the aggression takes place in the kitchen area where he spends most of his day.
I am still thinking he is starving and trying to get us to feed him.
He is very defensive.
He is almost very territorial of the kitchen area, although he has no problem biting us in other places either.
He will eat everything I put down. He was never a free feeder....because he would always lick the bowl clean.
He will go as far as to chase the dogs, and sometimes even us, out the front door very aggressively.

He is not mentally dealing well with the changes here (new feeding schedule, having to wait for food)
Also, I had to put down my civie, Keegan, August 5th. They were not close. Keegan didn't really "like" the other animals.
He was a bit of a loner. Not sure if that has any impact.

I will try anything at this point. Should I freeze his afternoon feeding so it will last longer?
I have even looked into the Young Again food to see if maybe that would allow him to free feed, but keep him full.
I am at a loss.
As I was writing he attacked my friend, Ugh!
Dogs are easy, they listen...do you discipline a cat?? I just keep telling him no, firmly....not working.

I appreciate any ideas of what to do.

Let me just say that I have started freezing the afternoon feeding, removing him from us when he attacks either us or the dogs, I put him
in the basement when I go to work (he terrorizes my dogs) and I just ordered the Feliway spray.
I do believe this is completely territorial and not as much due to hunger. When I had company, he just finished eating and would still attack.


Just here looking for any other tips or tricks.
 
Stupid unrelated question but why is he getting insulin at this point? His numbers are great and protocol says reduce dose if the numbers are 50-130 for a week. Given he is only on 0.1 then reduction is OTJ trial.

Ok now that's out the way... Here's some thoughts..

How much do you feed him? Is he losing or gaining weight? I am wondering if its not enough food.

It could also be an impact of the loss of the Keegan . Cats have a hierarchy and he could think he is boss now.. Feliway might help.

What's the new feeding schedule and can you change it back?

I saw someone recommend a cat behaviorist, let me see if I can find the link again.

Wendy
 
Pixie has just today reached the 7 day rule for reducing the dose. That is why he was not on an OTJ trial before this.
 
No one over in Lantus TR has officially told her to go ahead with a trial either. I certainly think it's time, but I'm just one person. ON the other hand, Wendy does concur it's time for a trial.
 
Have you had him to the vet to rule out any medical problems? That's usually an excellent 1st step. Also, there may be medications that could help while working on behavior modification.

Active play of 15-20 minutes 1-2 times per day may help him calm down some.

Reinforcing undesirable behaviour will increase repetition, so be careful in what you do when he acts out.

If you can identify precursors to the attacks, look for ways to divert the behavior with a toy or activity.
 
How old is Pinkie? His aggression could stem from a neurological issue. Does he become agitated? Easily overstimulated or over reacts to sounds or movement? Does he show any obsessive/compulsive behaviors like pacing, turning in circles, excessive grooming?
 
I do believe an OTJ trial is within a day or so. Just waiting for the go ahead from the Lantus board.

Before dx Pixie was 20+lbs and a we had a cup we would feed him from. He got a certain amount a day, but we would spread it out
over the course of the day pretty much whenever he demanded it. He was on IAMS dry.
Now he get 3 cans FF. 1 amps, 1 6hr. later and 1 pmps.
He is 13lbs which the vet thinks is a good weight for him and 3 cans is the right amount of calories.

I may look into a timed feeder.
But at this point I think it is territorial and not hunger (although he would never turn down a meal)

Example:
when my labs go outside, they will run for the back door and Pixie will chase them out swatting at their back end. Like "Get out of my kitchen!"
my kids walk through the kitchen he will go after their legs as they walk away.
He is worse with people he doesn't know. Hissing, biting, growling.
He will do it in other parts of the house as well, but the kitchen is where most of the time is spent.

Before dx he would swat at us for food. We'd give him some. It was cute, not aggressive.
Same cute behavior has turned into aggression and has escalated with dx and the passing of Keegan.

I am separating him when the acts out because it was suggested that they thrive on attention and wanting to be near people
so the learn to connect the behavior with the alone time....who knows. I had to try something.
He is a lot calmer when he joins the family again.

Another thing....when he is not being nasty, you will see him laying on the couch or bed with us and even laying
on the dogs paws. He can be real sweet.
 
I had the same issues with my George before he passed away. I did some things with him that helped some and they may help you as well.
I put a Comfort Zone with Feliway Diffuser for Cats in the rooms he had the most problems. In your case that would be the kitchen.
I also gave him Bach's Rescue Remedy mixed into his Fancy Feast. Together they made a big difference. Did not cure him totally as I think that he enjoyed being mean but they did make things much better!!
This is of course after you rule out all medical issues that could be the case.
 
I have a friend whose cat started attacking her babysitters. The first time it happened, the babysitter grabbed the kids and got them into the bathroom. The babysitter had to climb out the window to get help. My friend was about to give the cat away (or PTS) after this happened a few times, when her vet suggested prozac. It worked like a charm! The only behavior it altered was the aggressive behavior. After about a while they tapered off the prozac and never had the problem again.
 
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