Cat Scratching Face

[kovac]

My gorgeous, and very affectionate cat - has in recent months started randomly scratching or swiping at my face.

This isn't a daily occurance, but frequent.

It usually happens when I pick him up to move him away from something, and the other evening he was rolling on his back being all lovely - and then he suddenly grabbed my temples with his front paws/claws and started kicking and scratching with his rear paws.

This morning when my mum picked him up he swung his paws and clawed her eye.

Does anybody have any advice?

We're not picking him up in an agressive manner and he also does this when he is behaving submissively - which takes us by suprise.

Whilst very affectionate, he has never been an angel. Compared with my parents cats - he is very feisty and does sometimes bite and scratch. But this is a new behaviour.

We're careful not to get too close to his face or take him by suprise. So we've sort of ruled that out of the equation for a potential cause.

Its as if he does it on purpose - rather than as a defense mechanism!

I've been 'googling' for answers and have stumbled across a website for 'soft paws' - which will mimimise the physical harm - but It won't address the behaviour.

Any comments please?

[kwicky]

It might seem cruel but shouln't it be put down. Imagine the consequences it if attacked a young child.

[garner]

If this is a new thing, I would be inclined to take him to the vets, he might be in pain and lets face they cannot tell you when they are, give him a chance.............

[Roughquest]

Have you checked to see if he has hurt himself anywhere? It may be a simple reaction to you touching a painful or tender area on your cat without you knowing, have him checked over by a vet, he may have even sprained something or bruised or even wounded himself somewhere that you cannot see. Does he just lash out silently or does he growl or meow at the same time?

[kovac]

No I don't think I should have him put down! He's primarily a house cat and the chances of him randomly mauling a child to death are pretty impossible - he's a small cat, not a rotweiler. If a small child ever visits my home, rest assured, I would take the necessary precautions to insure they were safe.

Thanks Roughquest for your suggestion. He doesn't growl or hiss - but I'll give him a good checking over and have a chat with my vet.

[WendyS]

I'm just wondering if you are making any involuntary noises when picking him up which you may be unaware of but which are causing him to be startled,, i.e. grunting due to the effort of bending down, clearing your throat or coughing. Alternatively he could have a sore area somewhere which you're unaware of. If you can get him calmly settled on your lap try touching him very gently all over to see whether he reacts. It's always possible he could have been in a fight with another animal at some point and another cat's claws has got embedded in his skin.