Why is my cat attacking me?
Hello! The cat has recently started becoming very aggressive with me, and I can’t figure out why.
Some back story:
Orange boy cat, 4 years old. We live in a small apartment in the city, the cat has always lived here, there are no other pets.
I moved in with my boyfriend in November and have been living here since. We have had no major behavioural problems with the cat until about a month ago.
November until the end of January I was pretty much at home full time job hunting, and the cat seemed content with that, however I started working full time at the end of January and have been since then.
He gets wet food every morning (between 7 and 10 depending on when we wake up) and always has access to dry food and fresh water. His litter box is cleaned every other day and he has lots of toys and comfy places to sleep and hide, including two cat trees.
He is a very sweet boy but doesn’t often come up to us for cuddles, except on the rare occasion. He follows me all over the house when I am up and doing things, to the kitchen, to the bathroom, etc. rubbing against my legs asking for pets, which he gets.
He was diagnosed with asthma a few months ago, which he is being treated for with a puffer, and he no longer has asthma attacks. We are down to using the puffer every three days now - this is the only recent change in his routine. The only other change I can think of is that the weather has gotten nice so we’ve been having the windows open.
Lately, he has been attacking me. He could be cuddly and happy one second, and the next he is lunging for my legs or arms and biting HARD. Hard enough to draw blood and leave bruises. I have to pry him off of me and cover him in a blanket or lock him in a bedroom, otherwise once I get him off he just does it again. I have scratches and scars all up and down my arms and legs, palms of my hands and wrists.
He does not do this to my boyfriend. His attacks on me are most often while my boyfriend is out of the house and it is just me and the cat home. I am at a loss for what to do.
Any ideas?
Thank you!!