Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

  • Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!

Why is my cat suddenly aggressive and biting after moving?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 4 years old | 8.5 lbs

I moved a month ago, 1 week before I moved I got my car fixed. Ever since the move she has been aggressive. She’s not aggressive all the time, sometimes when I’m petting her she will bite. Recently she attacked me when i just walked by and was minding my own business. She has left deep cuts in my skin. Before surgery she was super calm and laid back, now she’s on edge all the time and super aggressive.

This question includes photos that may contain sensitive content. Click to view.

View more to consider that the photos may include sensitive content.

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on June 16th, 2020

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Brett. She is a beautiful girl! I'm wondering if the move has caused this change in behavior. Moving is very stressful for a cat, and that can lead to aggression. I'd try using Feliway diffusers around the home. These release calming pheromones that can help relax her. I'd pair that with a Sentry calming collar. This will release calming pheromones when in contact with her skin. If this doesn't help, then I'd have her seen by a vet for a health check. I hope this helps!

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Image profile

    Answered By Ana M, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on January 16th, 2020

    Thank you for submitting your question regarding Luna. She may be stressed by your recent move. It could just be taking her a while to adjust to the new home. I recommend that she sees her veterinarian though to determine that a medical problem is not present. If she is stressed, a Feliway diffuser is a pheromone that can be calming to cats. I hope this information helps!

    Vote icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Image profile

    Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

    Veterinarian

    Published on March 4th, 2019

    It could be a combination of the stress from the car ride and now also the stress of a new home. Sometimes the stress can also induce a painful cystitis and this may also make Storm lash out more. At home you can provide high climbing areas, 30 minutes of daily vigorous play for both cats, a Feliway diffuser and even a special diet called Calm. If these do not help to calm Storm, I recommend to visit the veterinarian who may check his urine for cystitis and may prescribe medications to help with anxiety. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

    Vote icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

See More Answers

Related Questions

Petco Pet Education Center
Training & Behavior
Our Mitzi is showing signs of aggression and biting, could this be distemper problem or something else ?
Thanks for using Boop by Petco. By far the most common cause of biting in cats is anxiety. Has anything in her life changed recently? New person or pet in the house? New routine? Did you move? Painters or construction in or around your home? And sometimes we can never identify a cause. If she is an indoor cat, it is unlikely to be infectious in nature. Try the following which are all shown to reduce anxiety in cats. If these do not help, talk to your vet about prescription behavior modification medications that can help. -Feliway- calming cat pheromone- comes in many forms from pet stores or online. - Adding a litter box. Studies show that the ideal number of litter boxes for a home is #of cats +1 . This is regardless of how clean you keep his current litter box. - making sure she has plenty of “high space”. The safest (and therefore least anxiety-inducing) place for a cat is UP. If you don’t already, get a cat tree or put up a shelf or two that she can go perch on. Best
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My 2 years old female cat who i've had since she was 7 weeks old has become aggressive towards other people in the house and visitors for no reason. My cat has attacked my sister till the point that she had about 4 holes in her arm where my cat had
I'm so sorry to hear that Kitty seems to have a change in her behavior. I would be concerned that she may not be feeling well or potentially be in pain, causing her to be aggressive. I would recommend you take her to your veterinarian to have a full physical exam. There may be something physically wrong with her causing her to act out. If she is not spayed, I would also consider spaying her, as hormones can cause behavioral problems. If she is healthy and there is no underlying medical cause of her change in behavior, there may be something in her environment that is causing her stress. Sometimes environmental enrichment, like shelves, cat towers, etc, can help with behavior issues. Feline pheromones (Feliway) can also help some stressed cats and calm them. Finally, some cats do need to be put on behavior modification drugs, if the other previously discussed things are not the problem. You can discuss this with your veterinarian. Best of luck! I hope she is acting more frien
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Grooming
Hello, I have recently moved from an apartment to a small home with my cat. He is not adjusting well at all. It has been about a month and he is very aggressive towards my boyfriend by constantly hissing and growling at him. He has become aggressive
Hello and thank you for reaching out to Boop by Petco. I’m sorry to hear that TC is having some behavioral issues after the move. It sounds like you have tried lots of changes at home, so it may be time to consult your veterinarian about anti-anxiety medications. These have few side effects, typically including sedation, which may help your cat feel more calm and comfortable at home. I hope this is helpful!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Training & Behavior
I have 2 cats. Yesterday one of them got dirty and I had to give them a bath. Since then, my other cat hisses or growls whenever the cat I washed comes near. Why is she showing sudden aggression? And what can I do to help?
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This is possibly because she smells differently. I recommend a product called Feliway which can help decrease stress and anxiety associated with environmental changes and stressors. You may find this online or at your local pet store. It usually works great in this type of scenarios. Good luck and have a great day!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Cat very aggressive with owners after vet visit. Hissing, biting, scratching when we try to pick her up or pat her, but otherwise still being very loving with us - laying on our lap and snuggling under covers in bed overnight. 2 years old, non desexe
I am sorry to hear about Memphis. Sometimes cats will react to a stressful situation by transferring their frustration/aggression to those nearby. I would be sure your kitty has a safe area at home where he feels like he can hide/get away if wanted and he can easily access his food/water/ and litterbox for the next few days. I would consider picking up a Feliway pheremone diffuser such as this one https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/comfort-zone-diffuser-with-feliway-for-cats which releases pheremones which can be calming to anxious kitties. I would also consider a calming supplement such as Composure or Zylkene. Your vet may carry these or you can order them online or find them in some petstores https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/vetri-science-composure-feline-bite-sized-chews
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
hi! so i got my female cat sterilised and since i wasnt confident in treating her stitches i decided to let her stay in the vet for over a week, and now that she's home, she seems a bit anxious and a bit more aggresive,, what do you think i should do
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! If she just came back home I would just give her some time to readjust. Sometimes with time they go back to their typical behavior. If no improvement, I would check with your veterinarian if she is on any medications as this could be due to her reacting to a medication. If she is not on any medications and she does not improve, I would also check in with your veterinarian to make sure that she is not acting like this due to discomfort. Good luck and have a great day!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I've been away and hadn't see my cat for 2 months but she was with my father.then my father was away for 2 weeks and she was alone and only saw our neighbour once a day for a few minutes.now I've come home and she is alot more aggressive.she used to
I am sorry to hear about Lucy! Many cats can have personality changes at around 2 years of age as they truly reach maturity. That compounded with the fact that she is unspayed and has had a changing life situation over the past few months could definitely be affecting her personality. I would recommend an exam by a vet and having her spayed. I would recommend a feline pheromone diffuser in the house called Feliway, and a calming supplement such as Composure or Zylkene https://m.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/vetri-science-composure-feline-bite-sized-chews# as well. If her aggression continues then a veterinary behaviorist consultation would be recommended.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
We have a 3 yr old male cat, the best of the best. Sleeps next to me at night and always lays in my lap and snuggles. Never ever uses claws or teeth when playing with my children. Here lately he has started to attack me, only me. He can come up and
Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. I would suggest having his blood tested and his thyroid level checked to make sure this is not due to a systemic illness. If everything else is normal with him at the vet, this may be behavioral and may require anti-anxiety medication. I would also recommend using Feliway products. Feliway uses a pheromone in their product to help calm stressed cats. If you have a new dog or new cat, this may have caused the new behavior. A new environment can also cause stress related behavior. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns. I am also available via consultation if needed.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Food & Nutrition
I have a 17 year old cat. Normally very docile and loving. He is used to moving from place to place. Last week, he was with us when we moved my father. The day before, he was darting from room to room, which was strange. The day of leaving, we spent
A sudden change in food can cause GI upset which may have led to pain or Pepper not feeling well. The stress of moving on top of that could certainly have caused the behavior you saw as well. Giving him some time to adjust to the new food (and switching it over gradually if you can) and new place may help him to relax, however if his symptoms continue or he shows signs of illness such as vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, etc, then scheduling a vet visit is best.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
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
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 acti
Updated on September 24th, 2025

Related Searches

Cat Supplies Cat Food Calming Aids for Cats Cat Training & Behavior Cat Health & Wellness Calming Supplements for Cats Cat Calming Collars Cat Calming Sprays & Diffusers Cat Toys Cat Repellents & Deterrents Vetality Cat Training & Behavior Sentry Cat Training & Behavior HomeoPet Calming Aids for Cats Fera Pets Calming Aids for Cats PetAlive Calming Aids for Cats Feliway Cat Health & Wellness Pet Honesty Calming Aids for Cats Sentry Calming Aids for Cats HomeoPet Cat Health & Wellness VetriScience Calming Aids for Cats
image
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Sponsored