cat aggression

Question
I have had my cat since a kitten-5 years, he has been an indoor cat until I moved in August 2008.  Since he has been free to go out he has started attacking people-lunging at them for no reason, drawing blood.  Both to my visitors and my neighbours. He was neutered at 6 months old.  Im at my wits end as I just got him used to using catflap and now I have to lock him in.  I share communial gardens where most neighbours are over 65yrs old.  PLEASE ADVISE ME.  Thanks

Answer
Ginny May,

That is not a good thing! Especially with elderly people. This may sound morbid, but since we are considering different possibilities for his behavior I am including it too: it has been proven that cats can sense impending death or serious illness. The cat may be attacking because he senses something about one (or more) of your elderly neighbors.

Cats do not have any concept of young or old, they go by smell. The cat may be attacking the elderly too because they have a 'different' smell to them.

You don't mention if he ever attacks you. He may be being overly protective and territorial of you. He may think that it is HIS garden and HIS house and he is trying to keep them out.

Sometimes, there is no logical reason for why a cat does something, and only the cat knows why he does it.

I would leash train him and let him outside supervised when the neighbors are outside or about. Here is a good link to tell you how:
(copy and paste, or type, the whole link into your address bar)
http://www.hdw-inc.com/leashtraining.htm

When you have visitors I would lock him in a room before you answer the door. You may want to get some tuna, or tinned sardines in oil, and carry him in the room with your visitor and have them give him the treat, or you can put a bowl near the visitor. That is so the cat will associate the visitor with something pleasant instead of negative. Food is a great bribe! If he only gets a 'special' fishy treat when you have a visitor, he may look at them in a totally different light!

Tabbi