I know this isn't exactly a pet help forum, but since so many people have cats I wonder if anyone has run into this. My daughter's cat has been attacking her in the night. I just found this out today. If she moves, sometimes not always, he will claw her face. It happened last night and she said "there was a surprising amount of blood." I have NEVER had a cat do this and I've had cats all my life. But this cat was feral as a kitten and has always been a little fearful. My daughter lives with her husband and was wondering how to handle the cat when their baby comes, but now she's just going to shut him out of the bedroom, I guess. Is this the best solution? Getting rid of him or declawing are NOT options.

Hit the cat.

(not politely or gently)

You wake up bleeding from an animal jacking you up...you immediately sucker punch that sonofabitch once in the stomach. Just hard enough to make it pee on itself. It will never do it again.

If it was a mountain lion...you would fight back.

This ain't rocket science.

Getting rid of an attacking cat is not an option ?
Seriously ?
So the cat is more important than the child ?
Get rid of the cat....

And is your daughter going to shut the baby up in a room to keep it away from the cat? Probably not, but locking up the cat in a room for the rest of its life is just as wrong.

I do not understand the "declawing is not an option." statement. If the cat was a feral kitten, and there is going to be a baby in the house, I sure would declaw, front claws only, the cat. I will tell you right now that the cat will not tollerate the baby in the house. Since the most obvious option will not be considered, she should talk to her vet and get their opinions. The cat might be in pain and lashing out trying to get your daughters attention.

Exactly!

..and why can't you de-claw him?

Well, I got muchos experience with cat so before just tossing the cat out...

Let us remember one thing.

Cats are like people. Each has its own personality. Some are timid, some are playful, some are lazy, some are violent. It's nature.

Furthermore...

Although we keep them as pets, Nature designed cats to use their claws and teeth to defend themselves and to hunt. Even the most finicky gourmet feline still has these natural urges to lay in wait, stalk and pounce. They derive great joy in attacking feet, sleeping owners and unwary birds alike. Cats love to explore, stalk anything that moves, and bat and pounce on small objects that they pretend to be prey. This activity is most pronounced in kittens during their learning period but many adult cats still love to play hunt. If you encourage this activity rest assured that it will eventually get out of hand. Kittens that play attack one another quickly learn the limits of biting and scratching. Their playmates bite back when play gets too rough. But kittens adopted out at an early age transfer the activity to their owners who don’t always let them know when they have gone too far rough housing. Play aggression is easy to recognize by the exaggerated postures that cats assume. They crouch, flatten their ears, their pupils dilate and their tail swishes back and forth while they stalk or pounce at the owner. Some cats remain “kittens” in this respect well into their adult years.

..Now with all that said.

Punishment never works in curbing aggression in cats. It simply makes the problem worse. Your cat will become fearful or turn its resentment toward you and the other cats or, possibly children. Instead, simply withdraw your affection as soon as an incident occurs. Cats quickly learn that life suddenly got more boring after they became aggressive.

In retrospect.

Aggression only begets more aggression.

Although, an attack directly to the face is truly hard to 'ignore', one idea would be to lock the cat out of the bedroom. At the same time, he may start to meow or 'cry' to come in.

Regardless, doing this is spurts, the cat will slowly begin to realize what is and isn't acceptable.

BUT

Until you are 100% positive the cat has matured and that nature has departed DO NOT let the cat near the baby.

..that's asking for trouble.

You can't hate on an animal for being what nature intended.

..that's ridiculous.

..seriously? lol

..mountain lion?

Little different between getting scratched..
..and becoming breakfast.

You should never hit a cat(or any animal)... Do you have playtime with the cat? Also on the TV program "The Cat from Hell", a lady had a feral cat that would attack her really bad... The cat dr said to take the cat for a walk outside (harness and leash) Some cats need more exercise than others..

I said they weren't options because I'm pretty sure my daughter wouldn't accept them. It's her cat in her house. I have no control over the situation. She will listen to my advice but not necessarily take it.

Personally I think declawing is cruel (it is amputation of the digits), and I also think that a cat that's been declawed for aggressive behavior is just likely to turn to biting. So I'm not convinced that's really an answer.

Jumping to the conclusion that she considers the cat more important than her baby is ridiculous. I suppose she would, if all else failed, give the cat away. But she loves him for some reason, probably because she raised him herself.

I wish there were cat whisperers like there are horse whisperers and dog whisperers. I'm sure he's not in pain, but lack of exercise could sure be part of it.

Is it a playful scratch? My cat was taken from his mother too early, and never learned how to play properly as a young kitten, so when he would play, he was very rough. I kinda taught him over the years how to play nice.

If the cat is playing, he needs more toys that he likes. My cat loves paper balls, and those training golf balls, the plastic ones with the holes in them. I tied one to a string and hung it from my dresser to stop my cat from playing with my feet at night, it worked.

I would take the cat to the vet though, could have medical issues.

It's just a cat being a cat.

Is/was she the only owner?

If not she could have what a lot of people have PTSD.
..which would cause it to be actively aggressive or..
..defensive.

Defensive and aggressive are two different things that can, at times, be mistaken for each other.

If the cat 'felt' threatened, that would lead to the attack.
They were sleeping right?

..perhaps they moved in a way the cat felt threatened?

If that's the case..
..don't sleep with him until he no longer considers your sleeping habits or you in general a threat.

So, she won't get it de-clawed, OR throw it out? She's gonna have to think of something before the baby gets here. And if she won't listen to you, i'd just tell her to get on with it. She's pregnant. She doesn't need the added worry of a cat scratching her. Sometimes kids and pets don't mix. Also, they both make life busier.

Has she talked to the vet to see what they suggest?