Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My kitten has started to exhibit some rather strange behavior. He is 6 months old and is not yet neutered, I am tempted to believe that this particular behavior is a direct consequence of that, but I am not certain and would like some input.

Last week, while I was lying in bed talking on the phone, he jumped up on the bed and ran up to my face. He pressed his nose against my cheek and started meowing wildly. I pulled away but he only became more aggressive. He started to claw at the hand that was holding the phone, and left some serious cuts. Then he started to bite my hair and scratch my head, all the while continuing to scream as loud as he could. He was in a frenzied state, completely out of control. When I forced him off and stood up, he paced around in a circle at my feet staring up at me while still screaming. After I gave him a moment to calm down, he was completely normal again. Since this incident first happened last week, it has repeated itself two more times. The scenario is always the same, I'm lying in bed, talking on the phone. Then he loses it.

Normally, he's a dream. He's incredibly social and loving, he never scratches or bites. He's a gentle lap cat, that sleeps with me every night. I just don't know what gets into him...kitty demons?

For some reason your kitten associates the phone with something negative in his life. Perhaps it rang when he was close by and startled him. Or perhaps it is emitting some sort of high frequency sound or vibration that is uncomfortable to him - or that speaks to those rising hormones.

At any rate a vet check is definitely in order, along with a neutering. Meanwhile try saying "ouch!" in as high and loud a voice as you can muster when he begins his agression. This imitates the sound kittens make when they are crying "uncle" and have had enough in play-fighting. Most cats will back down when they hear this sound.
-----
Smile, it will make them wonder what you are up to!

At any rate a vet check is definitely in order, along with a neutering
-------------------------------
I agree with Madame Alto.Get him neutered.It should be done anyways.
Lou

>>At any rate a vet check is definitely in order, along with a neutering. Meanwhile try saying "ouch!" in as high and loud a voice as you can muster when he begins his agression. This imitates the sound kittens make when they are crying "uncle" and have had enough in play-fighting. Most cats will back down when they hear this sound.
>>-----

It looks to me like he is seeking attention. I have a cat that does not like me talking on the phone. It may be that they see you talking but that you are not really paying attention to them. She doesn't bite, though, she just meows and gets a little annoying.
At 6 months, he is overdue for a neutering. If you don't do this, he will increasingly become more aggressive. The ouch trick that MA suggested may work too.
-----
Bob Daisy Emily