I'm at wit's end with my cat...

On 5 Dec 2003 08:00:45 -0800, (Leonessa)
wrote:

This morning, my cat decided it would be fun to attack my arm. I was
bleeding profusely all morning, and by the time the bleeding had
almost stopped, he did it again.

I know he's playing...he's just a very, playful wild cat. But this
kind of playing is not acceptable. And I've tried everything to calm
him down...I've done so much reading online and in books about how to
stop cats from behaving like this.

I'm considering getting rid of him, but I really DON'T want to do
that, because despite all of this, I do love him and enjoy having him.
And I definitely don't want to resort to declawing him.

I'm sorry if this post is fragmented or kind of hard to follow...I'm
just very upset and really desparate for advice right now...
Have you read about Soft Paws? They are clawshaped plastic tips that
are glued on the nails -- Vet can do it. I've had two sets put on
my cat (last about 2-3 months) and now she doesn't seem to need them
anymore. The Soft Paws cost about $25. With help, you could do it
yourself. I'm sure you could read about them on the internet. MLB

"Leonessa" wrote in message
om...
This morning, my cat decided it would be fun to attack my arm. I was
bleeding profusely all morning, and by the time the bleeding had
almost stopped, he did it again.

I know he's playing...he's just a very, playful wild cat. But this
kind of playing is not acceptable. And I've tried everything to calm
him down...I've done so much reading online and in books about how to
stop cats from behaving like this.

I had a bitey foster not so long ago, and used two methods to teach him not
to bite. I tried the 'push' method, which basically means when he's gnawing
on my knuckles, I stiffen my finger and push it back into his mouth. It's an
uncomfortable sensation, and had much success with a coworker's foster, but
not so much with mine, and it seems to me that such a thing could make a cat
wary of fingers, and particularly difficult with medicating, if the need
ever arises. Still, it's a possibility. The second method was the 'puff'
method, since I'm obviously nearby whenever he would gnaw on me. This being
an attention-mongering cat, it was easy to positively reinforce. If he bit,
I would puff in his face. The sort of hard, brief puff of air that
accompanies a forceful 'p' sound. It startles every time, and as soon as he
would stop, he'd get "goooood boooooy" and lots of gentle scratches.

"Leonessa" wrote in message
om...
This morning, my cat decided it would be fun to attack my arm. I was
bleeding profusely all morning, and by the time the bleeding had
almost stopped, he did it again.

I know he's playing...he's just a very, playful wild cat. But this
kind of playing is not acceptable. And I've tried everything to calm
him down...I've done so much reading online and in books about how to
stop cats from behaving like this.

I had a bitey foster not so long ago, and used two methods to teach him not
to bite. I tried the 'push' method, which basically means when he's gnawing
on my knuckles, I stiffen my finger and push it back into his mouth. It's an
uncomfortable sensation, and had much success with a coworker's foster, but
not so much with mine, and it seems to me that such a thing could make a cat
wary of fingers, and particularly difficult with medicating, if the need
ever arises. Still, it's a possibility. The second method was the 'puff'
method, since I'm obviously nearby whenever he would gnaw on me. This being
an attention-mongering cat, it was easy to positively reinforce. If he bit,
I would puff in his face. The sort of hard, brief puff of air that
accompanies a forceful 'p' sound. It startles every time, and as soon as he
would stop, he'd get "goooood boooooy" and lots of gentle scratches.

(Leonessa) wrote in message . com...
This morning, my cat decided it would be fun to attack my arm. I was
bleeding profusely all morning, and by the time the bleeding had
almost stopped, he did it again.

I know he's playing...he's just a very, playful wild cat. But this
kind of playing is not acceptable. And I've tried everything to calm
him down...I've done so much reading online and in books about how to
stop cats from behaving like this.

I'm considering getting rid of him, but I really DON'T want to do
that, because despite all of this, I do love him and enjoy having him.
And I definitely don't want to resort to declawing him.

I'm sorry if this post is fragmented or kind of hard to follow...I'm
just very upset and really desparate for advice right now...

Take little Bratface into the vet for a nail trim - and learn how to
do it yourself at home. Trim those nails often. Buy some interactive
toys that do not need direct contact for play - a CatDancer and a
Turbo Mouse are two that are essential.

Your cat may be becoming overstimulated - to the attacks happen after
a petting session? If so, then you are petting the cat too much or
for too long of a period of time. Limit petting to a minute or so, at
most, per session, unless the cat is sleepy and completely relaxed.

Do not use "punishment" like squirt bottles - all that will do is
excite and agitate the cat more. If he scratches and/or bites, yell
"OUCH!", IMMEDIATELY separate him from yourself (scruff himif you have
to), and ignore him - put him in another room for 5-10 minutes. Then
let him out and ignore him still, and give him a toy to play with, by
himself.

Best of luck to you - this behavior CAN be curbed, with patience and
persistence!

-L.

(Leonessa) wrote in message . com...
This morning, my cat decided it would be fun to attack my arm. I was
bleeding profusely all morning, and by the time the bleeding had
almost stopped, he did it again.

I know he's playing...he's just a very, playful wild cat. But this
kind of playing is not acceptable. And I've tried everything to calm
him down...I've done so much reading online and in books about how to
stop cats from behaving like this.

I'm considering getting rid of him, but I really DON'T want to do
that, because despite all of this, I do love him and enjoy having him.
And I definitely don't want to resort to declawing him.

I'm sorry if this post is fragmented or kind of hard to follow...I'm
just very upset and really desparate for advice right now...

Take little Bratface into the vet for a nail trim - and learn how to
do it yourself at home. Trim those nails often. Buy some interactive
toys that do not need direct contact for play - a CatDancer and a
Turbo Mouse are two that are essential.

Your cat may be becoming overstimulated - to the attacks happen after
a petting session? If so, then you are petting the cat too much or
for too long of a period of time. Limit petting to a minute or so, at
most, per session, unless the cat is sleepy and completely relaxed.

Do not use "punishment" like squirt bottles - all that will do is
excite and agitate the cat more. If he scratches and/or bites, yell
"OUCH!", IMMEDIATELY separate him from yourself (scruff himif you have
to), and ignore him - put him in another room for 5-10 minutes. Then
let him out and ignore him still, and give him a toy to play with, by
himself.

Best of luck to you - this behavior CAN be curbed, with patience and
persistence!

-L.

(-L.)
writes

...Your cat may be becoming overstimulated...If he scratches and/or bites,
yell
"OUCH!", IMMEDIATELY separate him from yourself (scruff himif you have
to)......

I wouldn't scruff a cat while he/she's agitated..very bad move!

(-L.)
writes

...Your cat may be becoming overstimulated...If he scratches and/or bites,
yell
"OUCH!", IMMEDIATELY separate him from yourself (scruff himif you have
to)......

I wouldn't scruff a cat while he/she's agitated..very bad move!

"Luvskats00" a écrit dans le message de news:
...
(-L.)
writes

...Your cat may be becoming overstimulated...If he scratches and/or
bites,
yell
"OUCH!", IMMEDIATELY separate him from yourself (scruff himif you have
to)......

I wouldn't scruff a cat while he/she's agitated..very bad move!

So what do you do when he's got his teeth sunk deep into your hand and won't
let go?
Talk him gently out of it?

"Luvskats00" a écrit dans le message de news:
...
(-L.)
writes

...Your cat may be becoming overstimulated...If he scratches and/or
bites,
yell
"OUCH!", IMMEDIATELY separate him from yourself (scruff himif you have
to)......

I wouldn't scruff a cat while he/she's agitated..very bad move!

So what do you do when he's got his teeth sunk deep into your hand and won't
let go?
Talk him gently out of it?

On 6 Dec 2003 00:12:08 -0800, (-L.) wrote:

(Leonessa) wrote in message . com...
This morning, my cat decided it would be fun to attack my arm. I was
bleeding profusely all morning, and by the time the bleeding had
almost stopped, he did it again.

I know he's playing...he's just a very, playful wild cat. But this
kind of playing is not acceptable. And I've tried everything to calm
him down...I've done so much reading online and in books about how to
stop cats from behaving like this.

I'm considering getting rid of him, but I really DON'T want to do
that, because despite all of this, I do love him and enjoy having him.
And I definitely don't want to resort to declawing him.

I'm sorry if this post is fragmented or kind of hard to follow...I'm
just very upset and really desparate for advice right now...

Take little Bratface into the vet for a nail trim - and learn how to
do it yourself at home. Trim those nails often. Buy some interactive
toys that do not need direct contact for play - a CatDancer and a
Turbo Mouse are two that are essential.

Your cat may be becoming overstimulated - to the attacks happen after
a petting session? If so, then you are petting the cat too much or
for too long of a period of time. Limit petting to a minute or so, at
most, per session, unless the cat is sleepy and completely relaxed.

Do not use "punishment" like squirt bottles - all that will do is
excite and agitate the cat more. If he scratches and/or bites, yell
"OUCH!", IMMEDIATELY separate him from yourself (scruff himif you have
to), and ignore him - put him in another room for 5-10 minutes. Then
let him out and ignore him still, and give him a toy to play with, by
himself.

Best of luck to you - this behavior CAN be curbed, with patience and
persistence!

-L.
I've had good luck with squirt bottles as a training tool. It won't
hurt them or cause pain.
better still, they don't seem to associate it with me. Better a
little mist in their face than scratches and other uncontrollable
behavior. I also use catnip as a calming agent (some react
differently, I know), but it does divert their attention and then they
get more calm. Good luck whatever you decide to do. MLB