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Originally Posted by Garfie
Both the attacks and the pooping problems are signs of massive anxiety, Vicky, and with the right actions you could turn your cat around. If you can, watch Jackson Galaxy on My Cat From Hell, and I'm sure you might pick up some useful tips.
To avoid the attacks you need to tire the cat out with about 15 minutes of energetic play using a feathery toy on a stick, then reward with a treat. It might be worth trying this directly before the grandkids are due and you might see a difference. Whatever you do, avoid play with hands at all times or else puss will start to see them as prey and will always attack.
Cats can be trained just like dogs, and I hope this helps.
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Yeah great advice. One of mine was left in the street locked in a bird cage when she was about 5 months old and someone's daughter found her, he worked with Mr Jaxie and mentioned in work he was going to toss her out as they didn't want the cat and someone suggested drowning her, needless to say we went and got her that evening. She is a delight, love her to bits but she had the very bad habit when she first came home of going for hands. Some tool had obviously taught her it as a game when she was tiny and then as she got bigger and it started to hurt probably is part of the reason she was discarded.
It took me about 6 weeks to cure her of the habit with just firm language, treats and no contact when she did it when people petted. She's fine with hands now. It just takes patience.
Have you tried feliway Vicky? Some people find that very helpful. All cats are different and some just aren't really happy in a home with children. Rather than wishing her away if all else fails you could try rehoming her. Some of the charities will send people interested in rehoming her to see you so you get a feel for where she is going rather than just taking her away.