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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / March 2004Scratching and Biting
My 9-month old Siamese kitten has a tendency to bite and scratch me. I wonder if this is common to the species, and if it will ever end. I don't recall this happening with any other cats I have ever owned, but that was over a decade ago. I keep his food and water constantly replenished, he has just about every toy imaginable, and I am diligent in giving him affection. Any responses or suggestions, anyone? Thanks in advance, Ruby Tuesday > My 9-month old Siamese kitten has a tendency to bite and scratch me. I > wonder if this is common to the species, and if it will ever end. I don't [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Ruby Tuesday My bengal (another oriental breed) lies in ambush and he will jump out in killer cat mode, and I definitely have problems walking upstairs with him going into attack mode. He is easily distracted with a toy, but to try and get him out of it I have taken to using a water pistol. As you may know Bengals actually do like water so he doesn't run off but it does make him stop in his tracks if only to clean the water off himself! > My bengal (another oriental breed) lies in ambush and he will jump out in > killer cat mode, and I definitely have problems walking upstairs with him > going into attack mode. He is easily distracted with a toy, but to try and > get him out of it I have taken to using a water pistol. As you may know > Bengals actually do like water so he doesn't run off but it does make him > stop in his tracks if only to clean the water off himself! Your bengal sounds exactly like my Hodge . . .  Signaturehttp://www.mindspring.com/~slywy/ http://slywy.diaryland.com/ > My 9-month old Siamese kitten has a tendency to bite and scratch me. I > wonder if this is common to the species, and if it will ever end. I don't [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > toy imaginable, and I am diligent in giving him affection. Any responses or > suggestions, anyone? Does he bite while playing, or is it random sneak-attack-biting? No-discernible-reason scratching and biting is harder to deal with, but it can be dealt with as well. If he's play-biting, make sure that first and foremost you're -never- playing with him with your hands. Hands are for petting and giving food and occasional treats, but not for playing. If he bites while you're trying to pet him nicely, keep a stuffed toy handy to give him when he starts biting. Is he getting overstimulated and then biting? Is he the sort of cat that will tolerate three full body pets before sort of freaking out? If that sounds about right, then learn his limits and work to expand them. Watch for his signs that he's getting ready to bite. Head turned slightly, ears back, body tense. Once the signs start, stop petting him. Let him choose what to do, whether it's staying on your lap or wandering off. Just no more biting or scratching. If he follows you around and demands attention only to bite once he gets it, promptly deposit him on the floor and ignore him. Cats -can- learn what "no" means. If he's randomly biting, he may need more extensive play sessions with a distance toy like a Cat Dancer or even simple yarn or string. Something that'll keep him busy a while and tire him out. If you have no other cats, he may need a friend. It may sound silly, but whenever he bites, make a high-pitched EEP! noise. It should startle him and give you a second to get your bits away from his teeth, and perhaps give him that stuffed toy with which he can appropriately and safely wrestle. Good luck! I've never had a problem with my Siamese biting or scratching but I have a rescued feral tabby and white who does. I just tell him lovingly to be "A good boy." and he is. You can tell by his eyes and ears he really doesn't want to be good but he is. Same thing works when he wants to attack our other cats. > > My 9-month old Siamese kitten has a tendency to bite and scratch me. I > > wonder if this is common to the species, and if it will ever end. I don't [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > No-discernible-reason scratching and biting is harder to deal with, but it > can be dealt with as well. This may sound silly, but he starts when I wake up and then go to the kitchen. On my way there, he tries to hang onto my legs and to scratch and bite. I have to walk dicey to make my way there. Then, once I'm sitting at the table, he attacks my feet. It's usually at this time of day when he's full of energy. I've gotten into the habit of keeping my feet above ground while eating, somehow. He digs deep - I'm glad he's got all his shots, because usually he makes me bleed when he gets me. I don't hit him - maybe I should spray water at him, but I'm too groggy at that time... help! And thanks for the suggestions otherwise - I should have told you this habit before. - Ruby Tuesday > If he's play-biting, make sure that first and foremost you're -never- > playing with him with your hands. Hands are for petting and giving food and [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > Good luck! > Then, once I'm sitting at the table, he attacks my feet. It's usually at > this time of day when he's full of energy. I've gotten into the habit of > keeping my feet above ground while eating, somehow. He digs deep - I'm glad > he's got all his shots, because usually he makes me bleed when he gets me. Sounds to me like an only cat who just is trying to play with you as he would with another cat. He gets excited when you wake up for him this means play time. You need to comunicate with him in cat talk that he's hurting you. Ever hear the sound a kitten makes when a litter mate is playing to rough? Its more of a screech, it should get the message if you do that when ever he's to rough. Maybe getting him a real play mate would help too. > > Then, once I'm sitting at the table, he attacks my feet. It's usually at > > this time of day when he's full of energy. I've gotten into the habit of [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > playing to rough? Its more of a screech, it should get the message if > you do that when ever he's to rough. Usually I scream "OW!". That seems to do it, then again....sometimes it doesn't. I'll try to screech next time. Maybe getting him a real play mate > would help too. I can't envision more than one cat here at this time. Too much trouble for me. Sorry. But thanks for all your input, I appreciate it. - Ruby Tuesday > > > Then, once I'm sitting at the table, he attacks my feet. It's usually > at [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > > - Ruby Tuesday Try screeching "ouch" and say "no" firmly. If kitty persists you might giving him a time out for 5 minutes or so in another room. It shouldn't take too long for him to get the picture. W > > > > Then, once I'm sitting at the table, he attacks my feet. It's usually > > at [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > giving him a time out for 5 minutes or so in another room. It shouldn't take > too long for him to get the picture. Thanks for the advice. I'll try that. - Ruby Tuesday > > > My 9-month old Siamese kitten has a tendency to bite and scratch me. I > > > wonder if this is common to the species, and if it will ever end. I [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > > - Ruby Tuesday That's such an original name you have there, Ruby. Sounds like a song. But I guess you've been told that before... On the subject of cats, don't let them bite you at any cost! They can put you in the hospital. Even.... kill you! This is fact. Ask anyone here. If one does, chase him/her down and swat him/her with a rolled up magazine. Show them who's the boss. Even if they run and hide, chase them down. This way, they'll know you'll track them down no matter what, so they'll not be tempted to think that running will be a benefit again. It worked for our cat. He's never struck out again after he learned this valuable lesson. Hope this helps.. IBen G. >>That's such an original name you have there, Ruby. Sounds like a song. But I guess you've been told that before...(snip) IBEN Getiner.............at least her name isn't perverted like yours is dumb a.s. I would say smart a.s, but that's giving you too much credit. > >>That's such an original name you have there, Ruby. Sounds like a song. > But I guess you've been told that before...(snip) > > IBEN Getiner.............at least her name isn't perverted like yours is > dumb a.s. I would say smart a.s, but that's giving you too much credit. Your the one that needs the firm hand. Bet you beg for it! IBen G. Begging that you will finish off your bottle of booze and pass out somewhere soon. Have you made that appointment yet with a shrink? This is gonna sound really weird. But Pepita would do that to me on occasion. The first time or two it happened, I thought it was probably my fault. I was playing with her and she got too excited and didn't realize what she was doing. Or else I failed to pick up on the signs that she had had enough. Then she would start to do it without provocation. She likes to sit up here on the deak while I am on the computer. She would be very quiet and still and then out of the clear blue sky for no reason at all, I would get a couple of claws dug into me and possibly a tooth or two as well. So here's the weird part. I started talking to her about it. She grabbed hold of me and chomped down and I went EEEE-OWWW!!! Then I started to softly chide her. Sternly but not in a mean tone of voice. "What did you DO that for? I didn't do anything to you. I wasn't bothering you. How would you like it if I scratched and bit you? You wouldn't like that, huh? Well, I don't like it either. I would never do that to you. I don't want you to scratch and bite. Be nice. Be a good girl." The second time she did that, really hurt my feelings and I started crying when I was talking to her. It started off with the same OOOOW!!! "I DON'T LIKE that. Why did you scratch me? I would NEVER scratch YOU. That hurt my feelings. I don't know why you would DO such a thing to me. I love you. You are a good girl. My arm is not a biting thing. It is not a scratching thing. I don't bite YOU. I don't scratch YOU. I LOVE you. You're my kitty cat. I don't LIKE it when you bite me and scratch me. It makes me feel sad. I don't WANT you to bite me anymore." I swear to God, she understood me. She got real contrite, shrank away, knew she had done wrong. Came up to me a short time later trying to "make up" to me. Was nudging her head against me and licking my arm. I talked to her so she wouldn't think I was angry with her. "I love you. You are a good kitty cat girl. I hope you don't bite me or scratch me. I am not a biting thing. I am not a scratching thing. I am a loving thing. You are a good girl. I love you." That was the end of the scratching and biting stuff. Honest to goodness, I told you it was gonna sound weird. > This is gonna sound really weird. > [quoted text clipped - 43 lines] > > Honest to goodness, I told you it was gonna sound weird. Now, this is the first post that makes me think I really should not have slapped Gnarly when she maimed me. Your cat is lucky to have you. I wish I had your kind of sense 15 years ago. > Now, this is the first post that makes me think I really should not > have slapped Gnarly when she maimed me. Your cat is lucky to have you. > I wish I had your kind of sense 15 years ago. Some cats need/want their people's approval more than others (very much like some children). W > > Now, this is the first post that makes me think I really should not > > have slapped Gnarly when she maimed me. Your cat is lucky to have you. > > I wish I had your kind of sense 15 years ago. > > > Some cats need/want their people's approval more than others (very much like > some children). I see. I'm not sure about Gnarly, she was such a hellion. But Cheeks--she is so polite and so concerned about upsetting anyone. Totally endearing. Then again, she never bites and rarely puts her claws out. It's like Saint Cheeky. Maybe she's still on good behavior! But it has been 2 1/2 years! > > Now, this is the first post that makes me think I really should not > > have slapped Gnarly when she maimed me. Your cat is lucky to have you. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > W Yes, and some children need/should get the firm, forceful hand of the father (very much like some cats). Feminism was only meant to go so far. IBen G.
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