Aggressive Ragdoll kitten

Good evening,

I agree with the girls; in fact, I mentioned looking into health issues in my first post.

This kind of periodic aggression reminds me of one of my cats, who was already quite old (he passed away at 16) and developed a form of senile dementia. I'd actually looked it up online and diagnosed him myself before taking him to the vet.

Given Berlioz's age, it's definitely not senile dementia, anyway.

It's clear the breeder didn't do their job properly, and I remember a similar thread a few months ago, but it was about a Maine Coon or Bengal kitten.

Coughing as a symptom of a heart problem is quite rare in cats, but it is possible.

Rather than wasting time and money, I'd suggest finding a clinic with well-equipped specialist vets who will be able to find out exactly what's wrong quickly, as an allergy diagnosis is often thrown around when they're not quite sure. :(

Did you choose this kitten yourself before buying him? Did you not notice that he hadn't been socialised?

I hope things improve. Please keep us updated.

Liza

I agree with Blue Cat; a cough is definitely one of the signs of a heart condition. Once you’ve ruled out any health issues—and I really hope that’s the case—I think it might be worth seeing a veterinary behaviourist to try and improve their behaviour.

Hi again,

A heart condition can cause both coughing AND aggression. But that’s just a theory for now!

Asthma doesn’t cause aggression at all; I have an asthmatic cat myself.

I definitely think Berlioz will need some more in-depth tests. Depending on the exact diagnosis, the vet will let you know if there’s a treatment or not. Don’t hesitate to look for another vet if you feel yours is being a bit dismissive...

Thanks so much for your reply Blue Cat, although I have to say, it hasn't put my mind at ease at all. :( I’m afraid a cardiac or neurological issue does seem quite likely, so we’re going to get the vet to run the necessary tests.

If that is the case, what are the possible outcomes or how might it progress? Is there any treatment for this kind of thing? Perhaps the nervousness and the aggression are two completely unrelated issues in this case. I really hope we find some answers and, more importantly, some solutions; I’m worried sick about Berlioz.

Oh, and I’ve just remembered something really important I forgot to mention: Berlioz regularly has these "coughing" or "sneezing" fits (though maybe a bit less often over the last four months). It’s very strange and really distressing when it happens—it looks as though he can’t breathe at all!!! The vet says it might be a form of asthma. Poor cat, he’s really going through it...

Hi there,

I’ve read your post carefully. It’s possible that your cat has a neurological and/or cardiac issue. In both cases, cats can have sudden, inexplicable outbursts of aggression. Mind you, I’m no vet! A diagnosis would need to be confirmed through proper tests. For neurological concerns, there is a physical exam involving various manual and vocal tests, but not all vets are trained to do it. For the heart, you'd be looking at more expensive scans. These outbursts that specifically target your mum could well align with a neurological problem. The cat isn't as bonded to her as he is to you, and in his confusion, he redirects his aggression towards the human he feels least close to. When there are several cats in a house, it’s usually another cat that bears the brunt of it—it’s called ‘redirected aggression’.

With backstreet breeders, kittens often suffer from ‘sensory deprivation’ during their first few months, which leaves them nervous and confused (often for life). My mum’s dog suffers from this exact issue, though without any aggression; we actually saw a pet behaviourist about it last Saturday. What you mentioned about him being startled by every little noise at the start makes me think the breeder didn't do their job at all regarding socialisation with humans and household noises. That said, the fact that these outbursts started relatively recently doesn't quite point in that direction.

To give a bit more background about my cat Berlioz:

He came to us at 4 months old, already neutered. Very quickly we noticed he was quite nervous — the sort of cat who's frightened of everything and jumps at the slightest noise. He's always meowed a lot (nothing like the breed description, which portrays Ragdolls as being "quiet"), as though he constantly needs something. When he does it, I try to work out what he wants (is he hungry? does he want to play?) but often I just can't figure it out, which really bothers me.

He also has a tendency to scratch himself excessively (again, this started early on), to the point where he regularly hurts himself. The vet thinks it's stress-related and/or allergies, so we give him a special dry food that helps reduce the itching. It doesn't stop him from hurting himself though, so during the periods when he's scratching too much, we've taken to plugging in a Feliway diffuser, which generally helps a little. He also has a sort of compulsive habit where he'll suddenly dart after his tail to lick or nibble it, for no reason we can work out. :(

He's very playful and incredibly energetic — a proper little bundle of energy! We've got loads of different toys at home, which we rotate regularly. I work from home, so I'm always around, and I give him a lot of attention and affection. He loves being stroked (well, mostly by me — he's far less keen with my mum) but he never sits on laps. He sleeps with me almost every night and follows me everywhere, crying at the bathroom door the moment I go in.

The aggression started creeping in gradually around the time he turned 3, and it's always directed at my mum. The attacks initially happened in the evenings, but now they happen in the mornings too. For example, my mum will be sitting at her desk working, and he'll come and bite her on the calves — sometimes really hard — then get himself into a right state (harsh yowling, tail lashing, ears flat, dilated pupils) and seem like he wants to launch himself at her. I have to step in to calm him down, and it's got to the point where my mum is now scared to be left alone with him.

He only attacked me once — one morning, right after he'd gone for my mum. I didn't recognise him at all; he seemed absolutely wild, and I had to shut him out on the balcony for him to calm down... I was genuinely frightened that time, for myself but especially for him. What on earth is happening to him?

Hi,

Is he neutered?

Has he always been aggressive? He’s 4 years old now, and I assume you’ve had him since he was a 3-month-old kitten.

Have you had the vet check him over? He might be in pain or have an underlying health issue.

"When a cat that is usually affectionate and gentle suddenly becomes aggressive and violent towards their owner, this behaviour is known as 'tiger syndrome'. The animal becomes almost unrecognisable to the point of being dangerous. While there are various causes, the link to hunger is the most prominent."

https://jardinage.lemonde.fr/dossier-2192-syndrome-tigre-chat.html

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Liza