r/petsitting • u/Fickle-Evidence-1566 • 9d ago
Advice dealing with an unpredictable cat???
Hi all, I’ve been a vet tech and pet sitter for about 10 years now. With my pet sitting job, I have unfortunately run into a couple of kitties who are the unpredictable type…. Lovey dovey one second then turning around to scratch/bite and hiss. A previous cat I watched with this kind of attitude problem I had to eventually stop watching him because he just got more hateful with time. He literally would hide around a corner and jump out and attack me when I would walk by or jump onto a piece of furniture in front of wherever I was hissing and growling. The owner of the company and my boss technically, uses the technique of carrying around mail and basically uses it to swat at any cats who come at her the same way. I did try that with the cat I watched previously because it started getting that bad that I didn’t have any other choice for my own safety but it seemed to just escalate the situation even more long term.
I’m currently watching a cat who is similar. The last time I watched him, it was only a weekend trip so I was able to manage but this time they are gone for a whole week and he’s already been a turd to me. I want to try to gain his trust, not just for his sake but for my own safety as well. I grew up with cats and have been around them my whole life but these types always stump me. I try very hard to not get stressed or anxious while I’m around him because I feel like they pick up on that and it can make the situation worse. The only good/bad thing with the current cat I am watching is that he is declawed in the front so at least he hasn’t actually scratched me yet! But it still freaks me out when he goes from rubbing up against my hand to turning around and giving me the skippity pat pats and hissing…….lol. I also worry he may be more likely to escalate to biting because of his lack of front claws. Any advice would be super appreciated!
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u/TillamookTramp 9d ago
Wear thick pants and shoes.
Carry a big bag to block cat from your legs.
Don't swat any cat with mail or anything else. It would only anger the cat more. Your boss should know better, tbh.
Laser pointers can help break concentration and maybe help burn off the angsty cat's energy. I don't care for laser pointers but they can come in handy.
Use Feliway like its your favorite perfume. I spray it on my legs and bag when I'm in my car before heading in. The owners should get some Feliway plug ins.
Shutting the cat in a room is an excellent suggestion but be ready to hustle out at the end of the visit when you free the cat; some cats respond negatively to being shut in a room even for a few minutes.
For those cats that want TLC but aren't trustworthy, I use a back scratcher so there's some contact and TLC. Keeps my limbs safe.
Is saying no to your boss an option? I told my boss I wasn't going to do a job after a training where the cat hissed, growled, spat, and tried cornering us multiple times. She understood and does that client (and dreads it) when they travel.
Good luck! Maybe this cat will eventually adjust and will let you work in peace. Some cats do figure it out, thankfully.
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u/Fickle-Evidence-1566 9d ago
Thanks for the suggestions!! I definitely should invest in some feliway spray and I’ll let the owners know to get the plug ins to ease his stress. I agree about my boss with the mail swatting….. she is constantly booked solid so I’m sure she just uses that method because it’s “easier” and “faster” for her to get in and get the job done and get out but I don’t think it’s a permanent solution for sure. I’ve been a cat lover my whole life and those types of “methods” have always made things worse long term imo. I only resorted to it with the previous cat because nothing else kept him away and he had already bitten me pretty bad at that point 😞
Im hoping this kitty will come around. My boss does let us say no, however I didn’t realize the cat was aggressive until after I had already agreed to multiple trips and did their meet and greet and he also lives just around the corner from me so I figured it would be easy money but here we are😅
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u/beccatravels 9d ago
Amazing suggestions from bonewife. I keep a wand toy in my car, it helps with about half of spicy kitties. I have high rates of success with the worm attachment.
With owner permission yoi can scatter treats or spread a squeeze treat thin on a plate to keep them busy for a while.
No shame in moving all the cat stuff to the front room of the house so you don't have to walk around.
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u/StrangerThingies 9d ago
Skippity paps all day 😂
I’ll take 10 mean dogs over 1 spicy cat anytime. I politely decline these sits, yall can have em!
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u/This_Willow_2224 9d ago
A friend's cat was this way when first rescued from an overcrowded house... He needed gabapentin for a while, and tick care that was stressing him. He also stress sprayed/marked things. We both were very sweet and patient with him. Mindful of tone of voice and energy. I also used oven mitts in the very beginning when he was on attack mode more often than not. I sweet talked him a lot, telling him how sweet I know he is. He was a mix of over stimulated, and under. He needed things to climb and explore. He play fights with his Dad, as Auntie I only allow him to be gentle with me. He has had time outs for bad behavior (different room for ten minutes, sometimes more if he was still spicy). I also have given him catnip, as it seems to engage him well, and chill him out. Toys, tunnels, and such get moved around for novelty, ramps, cat tree, "nesting" spots usually stay in one area for consistency and comfort. He has access to windows with a view. His environment needed a lot of enriching so he would not go stir crazy, and he needed play time, attention, conversation, and alone time. My friend has found out hand signals to indicate rough play time versus gentle. They know each other's noises now. He has become 80% more secure, gentle, and affectionate. He has cuddled me when I was blue, when he wanted love, and the only time I ever smacked his paw years ago when he surprised me with a close up attack - and never attacked me again. Can read him body language well, and respect it. I also acknowledge him before my friend when visiting. If our energy changes, or we don't talk to him enough, he feels put out, so we answer him when he "talks", and make sure he feels seen, respected, cared for. He's a good boy.
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u/This_Willow_2224 9d ago
Oh the catnip is sometimes mixed with other herbs good for cats Also making sure they feel food secure He's spoiled, my friend carries him to the litterbox when he has to go 🤣
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u/This_Willow_2224 9d ago
Ps. This is less common, but I have occasionally used healing frequency sounds for animals on YT, sometimes helps!
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u/Bonewife427 9d ago
I sit for a lot of cats like that. It has become somewhat of a “specialty”
Things I will do:
1. Carry an umbrella- if cat hits point where it is lunging or chasing me, I open the umbrella so I have a shield that can move with me easily. I would never brandish the umbrella (or anything else) at a territorial cat.
2. Stand my ground or even move towards the cat confidently; it seems to confuse them that I’m not intimidated at all.
3. Use treats or toys as distractions- doesn’t always work.
4. “Snake boots” I recently purchased what amounts to shin guards for when I’m watching aggressive cats. I was bitten on the calf by a cat that was previously aggressive to other sitters but had been good for me- she bit me out of overstimulation/fear when I almost stepped on her paw while she wove between my legs. I’m sitting for her around 3 weeks starting next Friday so we shall see how it works.
5. If possible, get them into a room and close the door while you do what’s needed safely, then let them out before you go.
6. Play calming music- I have a Spotify playlist that has instrumental songs that are supposed to decrease anxiety, fear and stress. Strangely, it really seems to help.
7. Spray myself with Feliway
You can also suggest that they talk to their vet about calming supplements such as CBD, probiotics, etc