addvice please on cat behaviour

Hi there,
My cat keeps attacking my kids , she is just over a year ago and we have hd from 8 weeks old, she has always been playful but Lately has been quite visious and drawing blood, she has therefore been hunting a lot and not always eating it just playing and once it's dead leaving it on the garden. She has been neutered , as soon as she was old enough. Please give me some advice as i do not want to get rid of a member of the family but i can not have my kids in danger.

Thanks Emma

Do your children tease her, if so, that could be the reason why she attacks them.  Whilst children like to play with cats and kittens, it can get too much and won't be tolerated by the cat and scratching and biting can be the result.  Its something you want to discourage while she is young. It would be best if they didn't play with her too much, perhaps just stroked her gently, and it would be a good idea to get her lots of toys which she can play with.  If the children play with her, one of those long fishing rods is a good idea which she can attack rather than the children.  If she does bite or scratch the children, give her a firm no and stop playing with her altogether but don't let the children hit her because she is being naughty as this could make her fearful or more aggressive.  Hopefully, she will get the message. It is important to break this habit. With regard to her hunting outdoors, this is every cats' in-built instinct though some are more prone to doing it than others.  If she were wild, she would eat the prey, but because she is being fed by you and, therefore, doesn't need it for food, she will play with it until it dies or gets away.  If you can discourage this all the better but don't scold her for doing something which comes naturally.

If this is new behaviour then you may want to take her to the vet as sometimes cats become aggressive if they are in pain somewhere otherwise I agree with Charity's advice.

Also a loud HISSSSSSSS in her face as soon as she displays any form of negative behaviour will help -  its what her mother would have done if she were to have bit her too hard - you need to get your face quite close to hers and hiss and then walk away from her and ignore her for a little while- she'll very soon get the message trust me - its what ive used to train mine

As for the hunting - i buy my cat tiny little mice from the pet shop which cost around 80p - they're covered in rabbit fur and she goes wild for them, playing, hunting and chasing them all over the house; this curbs her need to hunt elsewhere (so far!!) give it ago.

You also need to discourage your children from letting her play with their fingers/toes - toys on sticks like Charity mentioned are a great idea and id keep toes covered with socks for a little while.

As well as a hiss a little squirt of water from a water pistol is also a good training device or try clapping your hands really loudly to frighten her bad behaviour off - but never physically hit her as she's only get scared or more aggressive

Hope this helps - good luck! xx