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Why is my cat suddenly aggressive and attacking me after petting?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | 9 lbs

My cat who has never been aggressive towards me (a few play fighting swipes over 5 years is all) went psycho today. While she was curled up and being pet she flipped out and scratched the bejesus out of my hand and has now been stalking me from room to room growling at me. When I try to walk by she Flips out and tries to scratch me. Nothing new in the house, no new pets, clothes, or people. How can I make her stop attacking me?

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

Published on December 28th, 2016

The first thing I would do for now is put Attila in a room by herself with a litter box, food and water bowls, comfortable resting places, etc. and leave her alone for the next few days apart from coming in briefly to refill her food and water and change her litter. When cats become upset and aggressive like this, for whatever reason, it can take up to a week for them to fully calm down and return to normal - until then, it's best to leave her completely alone and give her plenty of space. Some cats can have serious aggression issues that are triggered by a strange or scary noise, an unusual smell, or anything else that startles them. It's possible that Attila may have had a scary dream that frightened her, or she could be painful due to a pinched nerve, arthritis, or some other issue that may have been aggravated by petting. If she calms down over the next few days and things return to normal with no further problems, you may not need to do anything else. If she is still acting aggressive a week from now, or if this becomes a recurring problem for her in the future, I would strongly recommend making an appointment with a veterinary behaviorist - he/she can evaluate Attila in person and help you determine what may be triggering these episodes, and will also give you some specific suggestions for managing her when this happens. Prescription medication is helpful for some cats with aggression issues, so this is something that could be discussed also. You can search for a board-certified veterinary behaviorist in your area here: www.dacvb.org

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Laura Johnson VMD

    Veterinarian

    Published on October 7th, 2017

    Hi, thanks for using Petcoach! I am sorry that you are going through this! Cats are usually aggressive because they are scared. It may be wise to discuss with your Vet starting your cat on Prozac to help with anxiety since he actually attacking people. If he isn't neutered I recommend getting that done. Be sure that there are no outside cats he can see that are causing him stress (call the SPCA to come trap the feral cats) and consider making him an indoor cat if he goes outside. I recommend setting up Feliway diffusers in the house where he sleep or hangs out the most. Have people coming to the house spray themselves with the Feliway spray before coming inside. Make sure you and your guest are aware of the signs your Cat is giving. If these signs are noted your cat shouldn't be handled. There are often signs to look out for that show your cat (or any cat you approach) is signalling that it’s about to get aggressive with you. They include: Dilated pupils, direct staring Thrashing/twitching tail Hissing, growling or spitting The ears flatten against the side of the head or rotate backwards The body posture often becomes crouched or tense If you see any of these signs then it is best to turn away and not pursue any physical contact. The cat doesn’t want to attack you unless you absolutely force it to do so by ignoring its signals and continuing your approach. It is also not wrong to have your Vet perform an exam to be sure he isn't painful somewhere. I hope this helps! Good luck! http://pet-supplies.drsfostersmith.com/search?w=feliway%20for%20cats

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    Answered By Megan, DVM, CVA

    Veterinarian

    Published on December 6th, 2017

    Oh no! Sometimes as they get older and more mature and are not fixed they can become more aggressive. I would strongly encourage to have him neutered to help calm this behavior down and hopefully prevent it from becoming worse. You can also try to get some feliway diffusers and sprays to help calm him. Feliway is a cat pheromone that sometimes helps to calm them. Unfortunately it doesn’t work in every cat. I hope this helps!

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    Answered By Jessica Desrosiers

    Veterinary Technician

    Published on July 19th, 2018

    It's possible something may have just agitated Sansa. Cats can easily become overstimulated, by petting, people, noises, things outside, etc, and if this was an isolated incident I wouldn't be too concerned. If she continues to act agitated or upset, vocalizes or seems in pain, or has a continued change in behavior, I would bring her into a vet for care as sometimes pain or underlying illness can cause changes in behavior or increases in vocalization/agitation. If she checks out healthy, looking for any causes of stress (new people, pets, things in the house, etc) may help you to pinpoint the cause of her stress. Adding in pheromone diffusers such as Comfort Zone can also help with stress related to other cats or situations.

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