Can You Change A Cats Personality???

Hi Everyone,

I am new here and in need of some help. Can anyone tell me if its
possible to change a cats personality??? A few years ago, I
rescued/adopted/took in, a male cat who was about a year old at the
time. He was raised and living in a elderly nursing home where the
people there would often mistreat him. I don't want to sound mean or
anything but most of the old people there were crazy and/or senial, and
they would abuse him. They would beat him with their canes, thow stuff
at him, spit at home, urinate on the floor at him and other stuff like
that.

As a result from this, he now doesn't like humans and is usually mean
towards people. With me, he is SOMETIMES friendly and will let me pet
him WHEN HE WANTS, but other times he just wants to be left alone and if
I try to pet him, he will try to scratch or bite me. When my nieces and
nephews come over the house to visit, if they go near him, he will
actually CHASE THEM away, as if it was like he was a dog protecting HIS
territory, and try to scratch or bite them.

I usually have him out on my enclosed front porch so that he can be by
himself and left alone but even out there he has been mean towards
humans!!! Everyday when the mailman/mailwoman comes and they put the
mail through the mailslot on the porchdoor, he sticks his paws and claws
through the door and swipes at their hand and fingers!!! He also jumps
up and HANGS from the screen door and hisses at the mailman/mailwoman or
anyone else that comes to the front door. A few weeks ago when I was out
at the porch, the maillady told me that she "has NEVER in her life seen
a cat like him, that jumps up and hangs from the screen and hisses at
her, like he is an attack cat or a tiger or lion ready to attack!!!".

So my question is, is there anyway to CHANGE his hatred toward humans or
will he probably be like this for the rest of his life??? Any
information would greatly be appreciated!!!!!

Thanks!!!!!

FALCONGIRL DeleteThis @webtv.net (MICHELLE H.) wrote:

>
>So my question is, is there anyway to CHANGE his hatred toward humans or
>will he probably be like this for the rest of his life??? Any
>information would greatly be appreciated!!!!!


I had one exactly like him several years ago. I work with a local
rescue group and Mr. Sanders was a house pet who underwent, for no
apparent reason, a psychotic break that left him angry and aggressive.
He would stalk people, throw himself at them, just like your guy. The
vet and an animal behaviorist said nothing could be done but to
euthanize him.

To make a long story (several years long) he's curled up purring in my
left arm while I type this with my right. He never became comfortable
enough with strangers to be adopted, so I ended up keeping him.

I kept him in my home office where I was his only social contact. For
the first few months I kept him in the office bathroom until he
stopped lunging at me. I then let him into the office proper, where he
toned down only slightly. It took months and years for him to
completely settle down, but now he tolerates visitors to the office
and is my best buddy.

I don't know whether your guy will change, but if he does, patience is
the key.