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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / March 2005Toe Biter - Angry Hubby
My cat has a toe biting problem. I've had her since she was weaned. While she was in her first year, she would bite toes in the middle of the night. She's now 3 years old, I learned to close my bedroom door to curb that behaviour. She's grown up with another cat since she's lived with me. The other one is on a diet and we feed them once a day just before bed. Now she bites my husband's toes or knees. She has plenty of toys and is an affectionate cat. (Sometimes we can't keep her out of our lap, she wants fusses so bad. Very big change that occurred when we spayed her.) I just want to know why she bites and what I can do about it. This is my toe biting little ball of fluff. Love her to bits. Love hubby too. Don't like hubby angry at kitty. http://familygeek.com/gallery/Cats/Squint > My cat has a toe biting problem. I've had her since she was weaned. > While she was in her first year, she would bite toes in the middle of [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > too. Don't like hubby angry at kitty. > http://familygeek.com/gallery/Cats/Squint Cute kitty! You either make the toes unattractive... First determine if kitty dislikes Tabasco sauce. Place a bit on the tip of your finger and approach your cat with it... hopefully she will retract rather than lick your finger. If she retracts, give toes a smearing of Tabasco sauce. You will have to go through one more biting, but it may be the last one once she gets a taste of the Tabasco. Or keep them out of sight... Stay under the covers. :) > My cat has a toe biting problem. I've had her since she was >weaned. Her looks like her is *vewwy* pweased with the toe biting behavior! LOL! I would put some bitter apple spray on your socks - you can buy it at pet supply stores. HTH, -L. > My cat has a toe biting problem. I've had her since she was weaned. > While she was in her first year, she would bite toes in the middle of [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > too. Don't like hubby angry at kitty. > http://familygeek.com/gallery/Cats/Squint Aughggh! What a great shot! She looks like she's thinking "you have to take those shoes off some time, buddy." Tell me, does she only bite his toes when he is lying down? Or when does she? Have you and he tried a loud "NO!" or "OW!?" A can of marbles on hand to rattle would be good too. Does she bite your toes? And has he been around the whole time she has? > Aughggh! What a great shot! She looks like she's thinking "you have > to take those shoes off some time, buddy." Tell me, does she only > bite his toes when he is lying down? Or when does she? Have you and he > tried a loud "NO!" or "OW!?" A can of marbles on hand to rattle would be > good too. Does she bite your toes? And has he been around the whole time > she has? She'll bite toes when sitting at the computer desk, watching tv mostly. As we don't let her in the bedroom anymore she doesn't get the opportunity to get us in the night. And sometimes it's knees too. It's not hard enough to draw blood, but hard enough to get your attention. >> Aughggh! What a great shot! She looks like she's thinking "you have >> to take those shoes off some time, buddy." Tell me, does she only [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > And sometimes it's knees too. It's not hard enough to draw blood, but > hard enough to get your attention. You said "get your attention" That is indeed what she wants. If you cannot do it, perhaps a little friend to play with might work. MLB I heard when cats bite it is because they are bonding with you. Don't know who true it is. > >> Aughggh! What a great shot! She looks like she's thinking "you have > >> to take those shoes off some time, buddy." Tell me, does she only [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > If you cannot do it, perhaps a little friend to play with might work. > MLB > I heard when cats bite it is because they are bonding with you. Don't know > who true it is. There are love bites (both of our cats do this) but they are usually not sneak attacks, and happen to our hands when we are petting them. My reaction when nibbled (hasn't happened in a long time) is to lusly say "ow" and make distress sounds. My husband has been known to hiss at the cat and that works. They know exactly what it means :> > My reaction when nibbled (hasn't happened in a long time) is to lusly > say "ow" and make distress sounds. My husband has been known to hiss at > the cat and that works. They know exactly what it means :> > She'll bite toes when sitting at the computer desk, watching tv mostly. As > we don't let her in the bedroom anymore she doesn't get the opportunity to > get us in the night. > > And sometimes it's knees too. It's not hard enough to draw blood, but hard > enough to get your attention. As others have mentioned, she's probably trying to get your attention. What about giving her a "time out" when she does it? Put her somewhere that's no fun, like a bathroom, for a few minutes when she does it?  Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca >>She'll bite toes when sitting at the computer desk, watching tv mostly. As >>we don't let her in the bedroom anymore she doesn't get the opportunity to [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > about giving her a "time out" when she does it? Put her somewhere that's no > fun, like a bathroom, for a few minutes when she does it? I've been doing this a bit. Do cats understand this? I don't want her to think I'm being mean for no reason. I also gently flick the nose and blow in her face as punishment too. "I've been doing this a bit. Do cats understand this? I don't want her to think I'm being mean for no reason. I also gently flick the nose and blow in her face as punishment too." IME, if you are consistent and prompt about using the time out whenever the behavior recurs - they do. Put her somewhere that's no > > fun, like a bathroom, for a few minutes when she does it? > > > I've been doing this a bit. Do cats understand this? Chris She understands I use the bathroom for time outs myself.It works most times as long as its done immediately. Cats have short memories when it comes to misbehaving so if you leave it a few minutes she will think "Why are they doing this to me?" If Sarrasine (It is almost always Sarrasine) is doing something she shouldn't then it's straight over pick her up and take her for a time out. She's usually fine within 5-10 minutes Lesley Slave of the Fabulous Furballs (even when they are both in the bathroom) > My cat has a toe biting problem. I've had her since she was weaned. > While she was in her first year, she would bite toes in the middle of [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > too. Don't like hubby angry at kitty. > http://familygeek.com/gallery/Cats/Squint Simple solution> wear shoes or slippers. She probably enjoys the (negative) attention she gets from him. Perhaps if he were to give her some positive attention it would help. MLB > This is my toe biting little ball of fluff. Love her to bits. Love hubby > too. Don't like hubby angry at kitty. > http://familygeek.com/gallery/Cats/Squint She's pretty darn cute. > My cat has a toe biting problem. I've had her since she was weaned. > While she was in her first year, she would bite toes in the middle of [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > too. Don't like hubby angry at kitty. > http://familygeek.com/gallery/Cats/Squint Get some bitter apple to put on bare bits (sounds like this happens at night after going to bed?) to see if you can get her to associate a bad taste with nibbling those areas. Where slippers? How hard a bite? Is she doing it out of the blue or in play or in overstimulation (after being petted a while)? I'd say either a water spray or rolled-up newspaper to pop him/her with when it happens. Then again, I know some have said they do that to get attention and you don't want to "reward" the behavior by giving them any type of attention at all, but then again--if the biting hurts, it hurts. Good call keeping them out of the bedroom. The main thing to remember--okay, maybe you hate your husband to get mad at the kitty, but your husband's happiness comes first. You seem to understand this, though--just clarifying. LRH > My cat has a toe biting problem. I've had her since she was weaned. > While she was in her first year, she would bite toes in the middle of [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > too. Don't like hubby angry at kitty. > http://familygeek.com/gallery/Cats/Squint For some odd reason, hubby says it only happens when I'm home. After he gets a bite, he goes into the bedroom for the evening/night. Then when I come back out Dots (aforementioned cat) comes over all cuddly and purrs. > For some odd reason, hubby says it only happens when I'm home. After he > gets a bite, he goes into the bedroom for the evening/night. Then when I > come back out Dots (aforementioned cat) comes over all cuddly and purrs. Well, there's your answer. She's got you two trained just perfectly - you do what she wants every time. > > For some odd reason, hubby says it only happens when I'm home. After he > > gets a bite, he goes into the bedroom for the evening/night. Then when I > > come back out Dots (aforementioned cat) comes over all cuddly and purrs. > > Well, there's your answer. She's got you two trained just perfectly - you do > what she wants every time. LOL! Ashley, you're right! >> For some odd reason, hubby says it only happens when I'm home. After he >> gets a bite, he goes into the bedroom for the evening/night. Then when I >> come back out Dots (aforementioned cat) comes over all cuddly and purrs. > > Well, there's your answer. She's got you two trained just perfectly - you do > what she wants every time. That's what I'm thinking. Cat bites hubby's toe, hubby disappears, cat has mommy all alone for a while. Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca > >> For some odd reason, hubby says it only happens when I'm home. After he > >> gets a bite, he goes into the bedroom for the evening/night. Then when I [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > That's what I'm thinking. Cat bites hubby's toe, hubby disappears, cat has > mommy all alone for a while. They may, as my husband says, "have little cat brains" but they are brilliant about getting what they want. >>> For some odd reason, hubby says it only happens when I'm home. After he >>> gets a bite, he goes into the bedroom for the evening/night. Then when I [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > has > mommy all alone for a while. I suppose now we should point out how to stop it! 1. Your husband must stop behaving as he does - ie, he shouldn't leave the room when she bites. Instead he should growl, loudly, at the cat. 2. If you are present at the same time, you must growl loudly too. And a squirt from a water bottle wouldn't go astray. 3. You must not pick her up and cuddle her after these instances. Instead, your husband immediately picking her up - without affectionate interaction - and placing her in the bathroom and closing the door for 5 minutes will soon give her the message this isn't going to get her what she wants anymore. 4. Make sure you cuddle her and show her lots of affection when she is in the room with your husband and *not* biting. Try to show her more affection at these times than you do when you're alone with her. She'll soon get the message. > I suppose now we should point out how to stop it! > > 1. Your husband must stop behaving as he does - ie, he shouldn't leave the > room when she bites. Instead he should growl, loudly, at the cat. Someone recommended using those computer air cleaners -- cats don't like the sound -- and the last two nights I used one on Hodge, and he immediately backed off from my legs and toes (which upset him for some reason that no one can figure out). I may have a winner here . . . buy stock in Office Depot. I sense a trip back to get more. Signaturehttp://www.slywy.com/pages/hodge.html > > I suppose now we should point out how to stop it! > > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > -- > http://www.slywy.com/pages/hodge.html Sprayed air (or any aerosol spray) supposedly sounds like a snake hissing to cats. > I suppose now we should point out how to stop it! > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > She'll soon get the message. Exactly right. Any living thing--whether pet, child, relative, what have you--must understand that in a marriage a spouse's first priority is to their spouse. And anyone who doesn't accept the spouse in their life are not welcome and such disrespect won't be tolerated. Yes, the cat is a cat--you can't exactly have a conversation about it, but the same principle applies, albeitly perhaps in a different way because it's an animal and not a human that understand English. Simply enough, Ashley's advice is right-on. Let the cat know it will NOT succeed in driving away the person who is the top priority in your life, as he should be. LRH >>For some odd reason, hubby says it only happens when I'm home. After he >>gets a bite, he goes into the bedroom for the evening/night. Then when I >>come back out Dots (aforementioned cat) comes over all cuddly and purrs. > > Well, there's your answer. She's got you two trained just perfectly - you do > what she wants every time. I guess she learned this. Because hubby has recently started retreating into the bedroom. Trying to get him to pick up the cat next time it happens, bonk the nose gently, blow in the face, then a 5-min time out in the bathroom. |
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