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

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

writes

wrote
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?


Actually, at first, I did scruff him and was rewarded with deeper cuts and bite
marks. The only thing that worked was to stop struggling and relax. He, then,
relaxed. FYI, a cat's natural instinct - hunting instinct - when seizing a
prey is to hold it tighter and tighter as it struggles.
So...one would logically stop struggling....worked for me.

writes

wrote
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?


Actually, at first, I did scruff him and was rewarded with deeper cuts and bite
marks. The only thing that worked was to stop struggling and relax. He, then,
relaxed. FYI, a cat's natural instinct - hunting instinct - when seizing a
prey is to hold it tighter and tighter as it struggles.
So...one would logically stop struggling....worked for me.

"Diane L. Schirf" wrote in message
ink.net...
In article ,
"ChakaShiva" wrote:

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?

Please. In this case you are allowed to slap the cat right across the
chops. I had a hard biter--for two months. When she bit me, I yelled
"OW!" and slapped her. Then I had a cat that gave me sweet little love
bites and licked me as soon as she heard "OW." for 20 years.

It should go without saying that I did not slap her hard enough to
hurt her. But there, I've said it anyway.

"Diane L. Schirf" wrote in message
ink.net...
In article ,
"ChakaShiva" wrote:

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?

Please. In this case you are allowed to slap the cat right across the
chops. I had a hard biter--for two months. When she bit me, I yelled
"OW!" and slapped her. Then I had a cat that gave me sweet little love
bites and licked me as soon as she heard "OW." for 20 years.

It should go without saying that I did not slap her hard enough to
hurt her. But there, I've said it anyway.

"Luvskats00" wrote in message
...
writes

wrote
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?


Actually, at first, I did scruff him and was rewarded with deeper
cuts and bite
marks. The only thing that worked was to stop struggling and relax.
He, then,
relaxed. FYI, a cat's natural instinct - hunting instinct - when
seizing a
prey is to hold it tighter and tighter as it struggles.
So...one would logically stop struggling....worked for me.

Mmm hmmm. And probably for all the others who come from your planet.

"Luvskats00" wrote in message
...
writes

wrote
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?


Actually, at first, I did scruff him and was rewarded with deeper
cuts and bite
marks. The only thing that worked was to stop struggling and relax.
He, then,
relaxed. FYI, a cat's natural instinct - hunting instinct - when
seizing a
prey is to hold it tighter and tighter as it struggles.
So...one would logically stop struggling....worked for me.

Mmm hmmm. And probably for all the others who come from your planet.

"Mary" wrote in message
. com...

"Diane L. Schirf" wrote in message
ink.net...
In article ,
"ChakaShiva" wrote:

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?

Please. In this case you are allowed to slap the cat right across
the
chops. I had a hard biter--for two months. When she bit me, I yelled
"OW!" and slapped her. Then I had a cat that gave me sweet little
love
bites and licked me as soon as she heard "OW." for 20 years.

It should go without saying that I did not slap her hard enough to
hurt her. But there, I've said it anyway.



sigh
If a cat has bit you, you have overstepped the bounds of closeness.
Cats (like other animals) bite in self-defense even if we don't
understand /why/ they felt the need to be defensive. Punishment (and
for that matter, anything they consider punishment or don't
understand) will only deepen their need to keep a boundary between
their *true* affection and trust, and you. I firmly believe that
violence of any type is non-productive. Submissive behavior is a
learned response, too, and is really kinda sad when you think about
it. I too, have a biter cat, but I have never hit him. Even when I
/really/ wanted to because he has hurt me several times. I
overstepped the bounds. I didn't see the signs of aggression and act
on it first. I (as a human) have the gift of forethought, and the
ability to comprehend consequences; animals act from instinct.

"Mary" wrote in message
. com...

"Diane L. Schirf" wrote in message
ink.net...
In article ,
"ChakaShiva" wrote:

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?

Please. In this case you are allowed to slap the cat right across
the
chops. I had a hard biter--for two months. When she bit me, I yelled
"OW!" and slapped her. Then I had a cat that gave me sweet little
love
bites and licked me as soon as she heard "OW." for 20 years.

It should go without saying that I did not slap her hard enough to
hurt her. But there, I've said it anyway.



sigh
If a cat has bit you, you have overstepped the bounds of closeness.
Cats (like other animals) bite in self-defense even if we don't
understand /why/ they felt the need to be defensive. Punishment (and
for that matter, anything they consider punishment or don't
understand) will only deepen their need to keep a boundary between
their *true* affection and trust, and you. I firmly believe that
violence of any type is non-productive. Submissive behavior is a
learned response, too, and is really kinda sad when you think about
it. I too, have a biter cat, but I have never hit him. Even when I
/really/ wanted to because he has hurt me several times. I
overstepped the bounds. I didn't see the signs of aggression and act
on it first. I (as a human) have the gift of forethought, and the
ability to comprehend consequences; animals act from instinct.

"Cheryl" wrote in message
...
sigh
If a cat has bit you, you have overstepped the bounds of closeness.

So sorry, Cheryl, but in this case you are wrong. In my first
encounter with this cat, I fed her, and she walked right up to me and
bit me on the arm--and drew blood. We worked it out and had a happy
life together for 20 years. I never slapped her after that, either.


Cats (like other animals) bite in self-defense even if we don't
understand /why/ they felt the need to be defensive. Punishment
(and
for that matter, anything they consider punishment or don't
understand) will only deepen their need to keep a boundary between
their *true* affection and trust, and you. I firmly believe that
violence of any type is non-productive. Submissive behavior is a
learned response, too, and is really kinda sad when you think about
it. I too, have a biter cat, but I have never hit him. Even when I
/really/ wanted to because he has hurt me several times. I
overstepped the bounds. I didn't see the signs of aggression and
act
on it first. I (as a human) have the gift of forethought, and the
ability to comprehend consequences; animals act from instinct.

That was beautiful. *sniff*