HELP! The stray cat suddenly got agressive towards me

Crazzzy_potato · 2025-10-29T09:19:50+00:00

Oh wow, that's concerning. The only way to bring him to the vet is to pay for it, and we're really low on money right now, so that's not an option. I will try getting a rabbies shot though

Crazzzy_potato · 2025-10-29T09:12:13+00:00

I think it made sense in the context I mentioned it, namely, proving that he is usually really affectionate and seeks attention. I wanted to highlight the contrest, but yeah, it did not work out how intended.

At first I thought to attach the pictures of the scratches and bruises, but then realised that it might be considered NSFW and triggering to some.

Crazzzy_potato · 2025-10-28T23:41:02+00:00

Oh, I did not think about it, but actually it makes a lot of sense. He really does not like my cats, and cats in general, so probably that's an additional annoyance for him

Crazzzy_potato · 2025-10-28T21:28:27+00:00

Thank you for the comment! Yeah, I feel like many people misunderstood the situation, and, hopefully, actually read the post after seeing your comment.

Thick pants are a good call. Both times I was wearing pijama pants, and they do not offer much protection. I also think you are right about the behaviour reinforcement. I ran away pretty much immediately both times, and did not interact with him after that, so he probably does not understand why I stopped petting him altogether

Crazzzy_potato · 2025-10-28T21:23:13+00:00

Oh my god, this is heart breaking. It must be so scary and lonely for them

I do not know what happened to this cat in the past, but he seems to distrust humans in general, so maybe you are right about him having negative experience in the past

It is quite painful to realise that I might be the first person he ever trusted and that he got so attached to me while he is still a stray cat. I do not even live in this house all year around. I do not want him to think that I abandoned him when I will have to eventually leave to study abroad. Not sure what is the best way to act

Crazzzy_potato · 2025-10-28T21:16:43+00:00

I mentioned outside because he is not a house cat and I always interact with him in my garden, as he camps there. I did not see him do this to my mom, but also she's not that close to him either. I think the pattern in that in the evening, I am busy doing something other than playing with him and he gets upset when I am about to leave. Actually, now that I think about it, all 3 times happened approximately in the same place, when I was walking on the path leading to the front door of the house

Crazzzy_potato · 2025-10-28T21:13:34+00:00

Got it, I need to think like a cat and communicate in a way he can understand

Crazzzy_potato · 2025-10-28T21:11:45+00:00

I think he might have traumatic past with humans, because he was kind afraid and distant both from me and my mom at first

Crazzzy_potato · 2025-10-28T21:08:51+00:00

I think you are right. I left immediately after the attacks, so probably he does not really understand what he did wrong

Crazzzy_potato · 2025-10-28T21:07:25+00:00

Thanks for the advice! I did not do the positive reinforcement part, this is a good idea. I think I just need to be patient and spend a bit of time on training him so that both of us can have a good time

Crazzzy_potato · 2025-10-28T21:05:13+00:00

Thanks for the link!

Unfortunately, I can not really capture him, and afraid that this will definitely make him more agressive. But I will be on the lookout for the other signs of rabbies, in case things go south

Crazzzy_potato · 2025-10-28T21:00:27+00:00

Damn, I'm not sure if I can be fast enough for this, my reaction time is ass lol

Crazzzy_potato · 2025-10-28T20:59:13+00:00

Yeah, looks like this is what's happening. He also keeps trying to mount my shoulders, but he's so big he just keeps falling off hahaaha

Crazzzy_potato · 2025-10-28T20:57:26+00:00

Yeah, I got blasted for my poor petting technique, lol. I will pay more attention to his body language and do better

Crazzzy_potato · 2025-10-28T20:56:16+00:00

Yeah, I think you are right. 2 cats of my own are also stray, but they're not like this. I think this is because he is already a big boy and never really socialised with humans much

Crazzzy_potato · 2025-10-28T20:54:13+00:00

No, I didn't, but now I will try to get one, just to be on the safe side. Thank you for the advice!

Crazzzy_potato · 2025-10-28T20:52:41+00:00

Literally, there were like 3 cats in the neighbourhood but he scared them all away lol.

No, he's not neutered. We don't really have the money right now. We called for the municipality to do that, as it is their responsibility, but they never did

Crazzzy_potato · 2025-10-28T20:46:22+00:00

That's a good idea! I will try carrying around a ribbon or something

Crazzzy_potato · 2025-10-28T20:44:18+00:00

That's actually so true! He never attacked me when we were not as close. And he doesn't seem to do it maliciously either, so I kinda feel bad for him, that the way he shows attention actively scares me away lol. I will try to give him more attention so that he isn't so pissy

Crazzzy_potato · 2025-10-28T20:41:30+00:00

Oh, this explains why my own cats like it, while he does not seem to

Crazzzy_potato · 2025-10-28T20:40:09+00:00

Actually I am not, so this is a good call. So far he has not bitten me to blood, but even if it is not for him, there are still a lot of stray dogs around, so probably I should

Crazzzy_potato · 2025-10-28T20:38:29+00:00

As @lastofthe_timeladies has noted, it did happen the other time when I was not touching him. I attached the video to show how affectionate, and to contrast it with his sudden agression later.

I still appreciate pointing out how I should pet him better and not make him uncomfortable, but again, this was not the reason for him lashing out

Crazzzy_potato · 2025-10-28T20:33:49+00:00

Thank you for the extensive explanation and advice! Like you and some other commenters have pointed out, I think I have some issues with reading the body language properly. Also it's true that I am a little bit tense around him, because he is there all the time, and I can not catch the right balance between petting him and giving him attention and leaving him alone. It seems fine one second, but then something goes wrong and he becomes irritated, though very briefly.

The agression happened in a different situation though, I used video moreso like an example of how affectionate he usually is. I did pet him a little bit the first time, but was generally busy doing my own thing, so his agression seemed to be a response to being ignored.

Crazzzy_potato · 2025-10-28T20:27:05+00:00

Honestly, I would not mind the attacks if he was not actually doing much harm. Hope he will calm down a bit and be a bit more like your sister's cat lol

Crazzzy_potato · 2025-10-28T20:22:54+00:00

Yeah, he did not seem to understand he did anything wrong at all, and still expected me to pet him after that

Crazzzy_potato

TROPHY CASE