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Tortie suddenly attacking my boyfriend
My 3 year old tortoiseshell is all of a sudden hissing at and attacking my boyfriend. We got her together when she was a kitten and she’s always been a bit cautious and particular it’s not uncommon to annoy her accidentally. I was away for the night and came back around lunch time and he told me she had been off all morning; our other cat had got himself stuck in a bag and was running around the house and once my boyfriend caught him and got it off she was all of a sudden growling and hissing at him. She isn’t mad at our other cat who she was already fairly indifferent to but she is so upset with my boyfriend, she’s growling when he speaks, staring him down and hissing at him when he tries to move even going at him claws out. She normally chills out and takes herself away when she gets upset but this time she’s really trying to attack him. She’s been fine with me but not as affectionate as normal, should I wait this out and keep them separate for a while until she calms down or could this be something more serious I should take her to a vet about. – She already hates the vet so we try and limit taking her and stressing her as much as possible. Any opinions or advice much appreciated.
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1 Reply
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Hi Jessica
Thank you for reaching out, and I’m sorry to hear that your tortie is attacking your boyfriend.
It sounds like your cat’s nervous system is a bit out of sorts since you were away from home. She was likely stressed and hyper aroused while you were gone, and when the other cat got stuck in the bag and started running around, it may have startled her.
I experienced something similar: one of my skittish girls got spooked and ended up attacking my partner, too.
I believe your cat redirected her aggression towards your partner out of fear triggered by the situation.
I recommend giving your cat some space and time to calm down. Her stress hormones can stay elevated for several hours or even days after such an incident, so pushing for interaction too soon could make things worse.
Keep the environment calm; playing classical music in the background may help.
It’s also essential to avoid sudden movements or direct eye contact, as these behaviors can be perceived as a threat.
Lastly, avoid making noises with any types of bags for the immediate time until she is fully relaxed.
To rebuild trust between your cat and your partner, focus on positive reinforcement. Encourage positive experiences by feeding her daily, offering high-value treats or engaging in gentle, low-intensity play with her favorite toys when your partner is around.
If the aggression occurs frequently or if you’re struggling to manage it, I suggest consulting a vet to rule out any medical conditions.
I hope this helps!
Melina
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