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Bitins and ambushins
My kitty is about eighteen months old. She's Siamese / Himalayan, came from
the shelter at about four months' of age. She bites. Not just little nips, but puncture wounds sometimes. I don't tease her, restrain her or pet her to distraction. She'll come to me, roll her head over and butt it against me to pet her, and when I do pet her, sometimes my reward is a snake-like strike and scrapes or bleeding puncture marks. I used to pick her up and pet her, but she started punishing me for that behavior. She'd immediately turn, stand up with her front legs splayed out, hit me like a boxer, turn her head sideways and bite either my shin or my stocking foot. She'll sometimes hide out behind a piece of furniture and attack me from ambush in a similar fashion even when I haven't picked her up or broken any other of her rules. She's a pretty cat, and a good companion otherwise. Mostly now on her terms. I have a feeling she's trying to assert dominance and be the Chief Kitty in what she considers a two-kitty household -- her and the Assistant Chief Kitty who is me. I've tried squirting her but she's pretty quick, and I don't carry the squirt thing around waiting for her to do something like this, so there isn't the immediate feedback. Funny -- her feedback in reaction to being picked up was immediate, and I learned quickly. Pity I can't do the same for her. |
#3
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in article , Maria Teresa Chupacabra at
wrote on 12/20/03 4:53 PM: My kitty is about eighteen months old. She's Siamese / Himalayan, came from the shelter at about four months' of age. She bites. Not just little nips, but puncture wounds sometimes. I don't tease her, restrain her or pet her to distraction. She'll come to me, roll her head over and butt it against me to pet her, and when I do pet her, sometimes my reward is a snake-like strike and scrapes or bleeding puncture marks. I used to pick her up and pet her, but she started punishing me for that behavior. She'd immediately turn, stand up with her front legs splayed out, hit me like a boxer, turn her head sideways and bite either my shin or my stocking foot. She'll sometimes hide out behind a piece of furniture and attack me from ambush in a similar fashion even when I haven't picked her up or broken any other of her rules. She's a pretty cat, and a good companion otherwise. Mostly now on her terms. I have a feeling she's trying to assert dominance and be the Chief Kitty in what she considers a two-kitty household -- her and the Assistant Chief Kitty who is me. I've tried squirting her but she's pretty quick, and I don't carry the squirt thing around waiting for her to do something like this, so there isn't the immediate feedback. Funny -- her feedback in reaction to being picked up was immediate, and I learned quickly. Pity I can't do the same for her. Well, have you tried the yelling REALLY loudly and then ignoring her or even giving her time out in another room for several minutes? It's really calmed the behaviour of my nipper down. Although, I must say, she never bit really hard. Karen |
#4
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Hi Maria..heheheheh Chupacabra- I like that. What you are experiencing is actually a common thing. I had a cat long ago that did the same thing- I would be petting him and he'd be purring and head butting and then all of a sudden I would get a paw swipe across my face....SHOCKING! I was confused about this until I read the book "SUPERCAT: Raising the Perfect Feline Companion" by Michael W. Fox....here's the excerpt... Someone wrote in with the question: My cat will suddenly bite and scratch and then run off sometimes when I'm petting him. Is he schizophrenic or what? It seems as though I can't trust him anymore. He Answered: Some cats will suddenly attack while being petted, or withdraw abruptly, clearly showing that they don't wish to be touched any more. These sudden changes in temperment are often misinterpreted as being, variously, a mean streak, wildness or schizophrenia, aloofness or unfriendliness. In the first instance, the cat, as it relaxes, (especially when it is on its back while its belly is being stroked), may suddenly feel vulnerable and act defensively by scratching or biting. The seemingly "aloof" cat withdraws because stroking can be overstimulating and actually uncomfortable when the animal is tense or has been fully charged with a few strokes and has had enough. So don't overstimulate your cat, and when it is in a potentially vulnerable position, avoid contact!" I've also read somewhere that cats are sometimes feeling vulnerable (like dr Fox said) and will bite or scratch as if to say "hey, I can hurt you. I don't want to but I want to let you know that if I needed to, I could".... I suggest Dr. Fox's book to anyone who owns a cat- it's a fountain of information...there are even little tests you can set up for your cat to check it's IQ....My cat was completely disinterested in anything to do with the measurement of his IQ...which I think proves that he had a superior intellect...hahahaha Has anyone else read this book? What did you think? -Jenny --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.553 / Virus Database: 345 - Release Date: 12/18/2003 |
#5
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Hi Maria..heheheheh Chupacabra- I like that. What you are experiencing is actually a common thing. I had a cat long ago that did the same thing- I would be petting him and he'd be purring and head butting and then all of a sudden I would get a paw swipe across my face....SHOCKING! I was confused about this until I read the book "SUPERCAT: Raising the Perfect Feline Companion" by Michael W. Fox....here's the excerpt... Someone wrote in with the question: My cat will suddenly bite and scratch and then run off sometimes when I'm petting him. Is he schizophrenic or what? It seems as though I can't trust him anymore. He Answered: Some cats will suddenly attack while being petted, or withdraw abruptly, clearly showing that they don't wish to be touched any more. These sudden changes in temperment are often misinterpreted as being, variously, a mean streak, wildness or schizophrenia, aloofness or unfriendliness. In the first instance, the cat, as it relaxes, (especially when it is on its back while its belly is being stroked), may suddenly feel vulnerable and act defensively by scratching or biting. The seemingly "aloof" cat withdraws because stroking can be overstimulating and actually uncomfortable when the animal is tense or has been fully charged with a few strokes and has had enough. So don't overstimulate your cat, and when it is in a potentially vulnerable position, avoid contact!" I've also read somewhere that cats are sometimes feeling vulnerable (like dr Fox said) and will bite or scratch as if to say "hey, I can hurt you. I don't want to but I want to let you know that if I needed to, I could".... I suggest Dr. Fox's book to anyone who owns a cat- it's a fountain of information...there are even little tests you can set up for your cat to check it's IQ....My cat was completely disinterested in anything to do with the measurement of his IQ...which I think proves that he had a superior intellect...hahahaha Has anyone else read this book? What did you think? -Jenny --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.553 / Virus Database: 345 - Release Date: 12/18/2003 |
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