[mochapj]

We have a 2 year old Siamese mix that we've had since he was little. We have 2 children and 1 dog as well. The cat, Charlie, started being "evil" about 1 year ago with one child friend who visited our house. I know this child did nothing mean to Charlie, but as soon as she came in the house Charlie started hissing and attacking her. At a slumber party about 6 months ago Charlie had 6 little girls huddled on the sofa as he was hissing and launching himself at them and trying to bite them. I removed him (which was scary as he was biting and hissing at me). We put him in another part of the house. He has also started attacking adults who have visited. Within the last month, he has been attacking and biting the 2 children who live in the house. These are the same children he sleeps with every night. We have tried "hollering" using Bitter Apple Spray, a water bottle. Last week was started scheduled play/pounce time where the girls would interact with him using his toys. Now this morning during the "play time" my youngest who is 7 was dragging the yarn and he bypassed that and attacked her and tried biting her about 4 times. He has been declawed and neutered. We are going to try the Pheromone diffuser to see if that helps, but we won't be able to keep him if he is attacking and biting the people he lives with. He has never been abused or mistreated (he has been dressed up like a baby and perhaps humiliated. Any advice would be appreciated

[paleophlatus]

Cats have one type of play, and it's called "hunting". It usually manifests itself in the attacking play we often do with kittens, and with the toys we give them.

However this degree of aggressive behavior is an inappropriate progression of that activity, mixed with a bit of territorial protection.

Some Siamese cats exhibit inappropriate behavior like this from adolescence, and get more intolerant of things in their environment as they age, whether it be of people or other pets.

You will only provoke more violent reactions from this cat if you try to 'correct' it. For now, you should keep the cat physically separated from guests, especially children, until you speak to your vet about this unacceptable behavior. Should he actually bite a guest child, it will not go unnoticed by the parents.

The play/pounce 'time' is actually encouraging him to be more aggressive, and he recognizes that the girls are the real target, not the string, or whatever toy they may be using. If this is a suggested 'therapy', you may consider a different therapist.

I hope you reconsider that this is really an animal FIRST, and pet second, and that these behaviors are instinctive and primitive in his nature, and only evil to us... he has no conception of that. If/when he goes off the deep end, he will intentionally cause serious injuries.

I had a friend who had a Siamese like Charlie. The cat would come sit on your lap, allow petting... for a bit, then attack when he had enough. Only he knew when it was enough. Come to think of it, my Mom had one that was intolerant of most anything, even as a young kitten. I still am a big fan of cats, as long as they follow acceptable rules of behavior.