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Cat Forum / General Topics / February 2004first time poster
hello. i'm a first-time poster to this group. my name is julia, and i own a black and white kitten (or....well.....my black and white kitten owns me). she was a stray who was probably put out by someone because they had too many cats (that happens a lot around where i live). she doesn't have a name other than "Kitty", but...... question. do they *ever* grow out of that biting stage?? she's an indoor cat (she's scared to go outside.....i think because of the fact that she was tossed out by whomever), has all claws, all teeth (ouch), and hasn't been spayed yet. so, will she grow out of it? Hi Julia and welcome. Well as a kitten, alot of the bitting is similar to teething in a baby. But its important that you dont encourage her to bite by playing with her paws with your hands. Use toys for her to play with I have 3 cats (one being a kitten actually who is on her way to the vet in a few hours to be spayed) When she bites I hiss at her and tell her "no bite" (the way her mother would do) Its a form of cat scolding. By re-enforcing that biting is not acceptable, she should out grow it. Never play with her in such a manner that encourages biting > hello. i'm a first-time poster to this group. my name is julia, and i own > a black and white kitten (or....well.....my black and white kitten owns me). [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > because of the fact that she was tossed out by whomever), has all claws, all > teeth (ouch), and hasn't been spayed yet. so, will she grow out of it? Hi Julia and welcome. Well as a kitten, alot of the bitting is similar to teething in a baby. But its important that you dont encourage her to bite by playing with her paws with your hands. Use toys for her to play with I have 3 cats (one being a kitten actually who is on her way to the vet in a few hours to be spayed) When she bites I hiss at her and tell her "no bite" (the way her mother would do) Its a form of cat scolding. By re-enforcing that biting is not acceptable, she should out grow it. Never play with her in such a manner that encourages biting Julia wrote: I agree with telling her "no bite". Hissing has worked for me also. You could also put her down and stop playing after saying "no bite". I don't think paws have to be off limits tho. Gently touching the paws from time to time might get the cat used to having them handled and make it easier when it comes time to clip the claws. I completely agree with this. Its important to get a cat used to having their paws handled. I was referring more to when the cat starts to play with their paws in conjuction with biting > "XMar" <xxxx@xxx.com> wrote in message > news > > I don't think paws have to be off limits tho. Gently touching the paws from > time to time might get the cat used to having them handled and make it > easier when it comes time to clip the claws. in response to how to deal with the biting.....the thing is, i've been finding out that while *i* don't allow her to bite me, my fiancee loves to rough-house with her. so, when she starts to bite me, i just stop moving my hand....and when i do that, she calms down and starts to lick or goes away. but he keeps it up until she draws blood, and *then* he yells at her. then he wonders why he can't "pet her nicely" without her biting. :) maybe i should train HIM rather than the cat. ---julia "XMar" wrote... > I completely agree with this. Its important to get a cat used to having > their paws handled. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > time to time might get the cat used to having them handled and make it > > easier when it comes time to clip the claws. | in response to how to deal with the biting.....the thing is, i've been | finding out that while *i* don't allow her to bite me, my fiancee loves to [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] | | ---julia Erm ... looks like it! BTW if you can't say *no* to a pet then you can't do it to a child either. There's good practice ground here ;-) Carola > while *i* don't allow her to bite me, my fiancee loves to > rough-house with her. so, when she starts to bite me, i just stop moving my [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > then he wonders why he can't "pet her nicely" without her biting. :) maybe > i should train HIM rather than the cat. Actually that is a very valid point, and in your case definitly the way forward. He must be consistant with you , becuase as it stands, he is teaching the cat that is OK to bite. Ruff play is OK, as long as there is no biting of any kind, so just ask him to yell when she does bite, and like you, stand still til she stops. | hello. i'm a first-time poster to this group. my name is julia, and i own | a black and white kitten (or....well.....my black and white kitten owns me). [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] | because of the fact that she was tossed out by whomever), has all claws, all | teeth (ouch), and hasn't been spayed yet. so, will she grow out of it? Yes, she will; and push her away when she does it - with a definite NO! Carola > hello. i'm a first-time poster to this group. my name is julia, and i own > a black and white kitten (or....well.....my black and white kitten owns me). [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > because of the fact that she was tossed out by whomever), has all claws, all > teeth (ouch), and hasn't been spayed yet. so, will she grow out of it? Firstly, it's a wonderfull thing you;ve done, to adopt this sweet little creature. They do come to own your heart in no time at all. I thought mine 5 not to bite by screaming when they did bite. Literally scream in a high pitched voice. They hate it, probably becuase their ears are sensitive. Also screaming is how kittens react with each other when they are hurt, so will teach them quickly biting is a no no. It took no more then a week for each to stop biting for good. But you must be constant and do it EVERY time they bite, no matter how little it hurts. Second, pls make note females can stay pregnant as early as 4.5 months old, so do get her done soon. Even though she is scared of the outdoors, heat is a very strong instinct and given a chance she will run outside in hope of finding someone to mate. Finally , claws, pls do not declaw her, that is considered pure animal cruelty as it doesn;t do any good to cats, and can be downright dangerous. If you feel she is scratching something she shouldn;t , get her a scratch post and show her what to do there, althogh cats usually just know. Also you can buy the nail clippers, and get someone who owns cats/vet to show you how to tream the nails, without cuttin a vein in there. Enjoy her! And take many pictures while she is this young and cute. They grow too quickly! Gee, Tiara, Shadow, Tigger and Charlie with QT in our hearts ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gee" <Gee@canttellya.com> > > hello. i'm a first-time poster to this group. my name is julia, and i > own [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > Firstly, it's a wonderfull thing you;ve done, to adopt this sweet little > creature. They do come to own your heart in no time at all. well, she sure did. i swear i almost slaughtered about 5 people that i work with cause they were throwing water at her (when it was below freezing outside) and kicking her.... (i work at walmart, and she was trying to come in our receiving bay cause it was warmer. they didn't want her in there. keep in mind these people are between the ages of 22 and 30 or so) and having fun with it. so my fiancee clocked out early (we work at the same place) and took her home. > I thought mine 5 not to bite by screaming when they did bite. Literally > scream in a high pitched voice. They hate it, probably becuase their ears > are sensitive. Also screaming is how kittens react with each other when they > are hurt, so will teach them quickly biting is a no no. It took no more then > a week for each to stop biting for good. But you must be constant and do it > EVERY time they bite, no matter how little it hurts. well, she never usually bites hard....but when i lived with my parents, we got a kitten who we used to let bite cause it was "just so cute" and it didn't hurt. he grew up to be a very nasty biter. only, with this cat, i usually just yell, "hey!" or if she tries to attack me when i'm walking, i stop and look at her and say, "WHAT are you trying to accomplish??" however, if she ever starts to bite hard, i'll try the screaming. > Second, pls make note females can stay pregnant as early as 4.5 months old, > so do get her done soon. Even though she is scared of the outdoors, heat is > a very strong instinct and given a chance she will run outside in hope of > finding someone to mate. oh, don't get me wrong, she tries to run outside. but she only makes it about 5 steps before she freezes up and won't move until one of us sets her back inside. > Finally , claws, pls do not declaw her, that is considered pure animal > cruelty as it doesn;t do any good to cats, and can be downright dangerous. ....one of my mom's cats ended up with deformed feet from declawing... :( > If you feel she is scratching something she shouldn;t , get her a scratch > post and show her what to do there, althogh cats usually just know. Also you > can buy the nail clippers, and get someone who owns cats/vet to show you how > to tream the nails, without cuttin a vein in there. is it the same as clipping a bird's nails? i've owned many birds and had to clip their nails. so i know you can only clip *so far* before you hit a vein. and if it's still too sharp, use a file. .......is it like that with cats? > Enjoy her! And take many pictures while she is this young and cute. They > grow too quickly! ha. yeah. i would have loved a picture of her sitting among my SHREDDED dried flowers. ---julia | so my fiancee clocked out early (we work at the same | place) and took her home. Very good of the two of you, hope you'll never regret it. <snip> | is it the same as clipping a bird's nails? i've owned many birds and had to | clip their nails. so i know you can only clip *so far* before you hit a | vein. and if it's still too sharp, use a file. .......is it like that with | cats? Yes, exactly! | ha. yeah. i would have loved a picture of her sitting among my SHREDDED | dried flowers. Oh, you grow this type of flowers too?? I know exactly what you're talking about!! LOL I got this most wonderful bunch of roses which I dried - look at them now! But what about it? Carola >>They do come to own your heart in no time at all. > > well, she sure did. i swear i almost slaughtered about 5 people that i work > with cause they were throwing water at her (when it was below freezing > outside) and kicking her.... That is disgraceful! This people really should be slaughtered! Unfortunately there is too many of them in the world, but I swear, the world be muich better place if animal haters were forced to live in some secluded island where they can only hassle each other, and not the innocent creatures. >and she was trying to come > in our receiving bay cause it was warmer. they didn't want her in there. > keep in mind these people are between the ages of 22 and 30 or so Well, they are not exactly young, and they should have the essential knwledge and understanding of animals. I believe the problem is the luck of education, both at home and school. Just like Sex education, a subject should be introduced in every primary and secondary schools which should teaech people essential skills in how to treat not only animals, but also other people! ) and having fun with it. so my fiancee clocked out early (we work at the same > place) and took her home. Bless you guys for that. > well, she never usually bites hard....but when i lived with my parents, we > got a kitten who we used to let bite cause it was "just so cute" and it > didn't hurt. he grew up to be a very nasty biter. You made an excellent point for everyone reading this. If you allow kitten to bite when it doesnt hurt, it will become a habbit, and s/he will grow into a nasty biter. You must be firm and consistant. > she tries to run outside. but she only makes it about 5 steps before she freezes up and won't move until one of us sets her back inside. I do believe you. But I must stress that when she gets in heat,NOTHING will be more important then finding a mate, and she will NOT stop at 5 steps. > ....one of my mom's cats ended up with deformed feet from declawing... :( That is sad, but an unfortunate common complication of declawing. > is it the same as clipping a bird's nails? i've owned many birds and had to > clip their nails. so i know you can only clip *so far* before you hit a > vein. and if it's still too sharp, use a file. .......is it like that with cats? Unfortunately, I;ve never owned a bird, so haven;t got a clue. But it does sound exactly like you described. You should be able to see the vein, unless cat has dark pigment on her paws, where it may be more difficult to judge. I usually hold Tiara and Tigger upside down on my lap while clipping their nails. Shaddow and Charlie however will only let me touch their feet over their dead bodies :) so we tend to have a proper strugle when I do them. I have to hold them from the back presing their body genrtly but firmly down, dismiss the warning growls and clip the 2-3 nails at the time if I'm lucky :) >> i would have loved a picture of her sitting among my SHREDDED > dried flowers. Awww....She must have looked like: "who? me? It wasn;t me" :) > ---julia *wow*. i'm sorry guys.....but i JUST got this message today. gotta love newsreaders..... "Gee" wrote..... > "Julia" <kia8008@cox.net> wrote... > > well, she sure did. i swear i almost slaughtered about 5 people that i > work [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > better place if animal haters were forced to live in some secluded island > where they can only hassle each other, and not the innocent creatures. but the thing is, they aren't animal haters. it's just that one of the managers at work said "keep the animals out" (sometimes catfood or dogfood bags spill, and they try to come indoors), and they took it a little too far. but i have a feeling that it was *one* person who was doing this....but the others just didn't do anything about it. (and i'm still VERY hateful to him for it.) > >and she was trying to come > > in our receiving bay cause it was warmer. they didn't want her in there. > > keep in mind these people are between the ages of 22 and 30 or so > > Well, they are not exactly young, and they should have the essential > knwledge and understanding of animals. hell, i don't care if they had understanding of animals or NOT. they're old enough to know better. that's all that matters. (and i will have you all know that since then, i have filled out a formal complaint report with my work, against the people who were bragging about it. i don't care what their role was. one guy got fired. :) ) > > well, she never usually bites hard....but when i lived with my parents, we > > got a kitten who we used to let bite cause it was "just so cute" and it [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > to bite when it doesnt hurt, it will become a habbit, and s/he will grow > into a nasty biter. You must be firm and consistant. oh yes....this cat we had was VERY nasty. he bit, scratched, attacked us by jumping out from behind chairs, he was jealous (he even sprayed ON my new pet bird one time....like, backed up against the cage and sprayed the bird.), killed two of our fish (he swiped them out of the tank), almost killed a hamster, and killed two of my birds. but he wasn't like that when he was under a year old. quite possibly it was just a major personality problem.....but it probably could have been at least partially stopped if he wasn't allowed to scratch or bite or be mean. > > ....one of my mom's cats ended up with deformed feet from declawing... :( > > That is sad, but an unfortunate common complication of declawing. this is also the same cat that i just talked about....who was really mean. > >> i would have loved a picture of her sitting among my SHREDDED > > dried flowers. > > Awww....She must have looked like: "who? me? It wasn;t me" :) no, it was more like, "yes. i did this. and you can't stop me." since then, she has also killed my houseplant (a pretty little ivy-vine that i've been growing for a year). the shredded flowers were all over the livingroom, and the hallway, and the kitchen, and part of the bathroom....... she knew what she was doing. but i have new flowers now. hanging up VERY HIGH. :) ---julia | but the thing is, they aren't animal haters. it's just that one of the | managers at work said "keep the animals out" (sometimes catfood or dogfood | bags spill, and they try to come indoors), and they took it a little too | far. but i have a feeling that it was *one* person who was doing | this....but the others just didn't do anything about it. (and i'm still | VERY hateful to him for it.) Why? Because of him you got yourselves a cat :-) | hell, i don't care if they had understanding of animals or NOT. they're old | enough to know better. that's all that matters. (and i will have you all | know that since then, i have filled out a formal complaint report with my | work, Good! | no, it was more like, "yes. i did this. and you can't stop me." since | then, she has also killed my houseplant (a pretty little ivy-vine that i've | been growing for a year). Not to worry - ivy is poisonous anyway. | she knew what she was doing. but i have new flowers now. | hanging up VERY HIGH. :) SIGH :) Carola > > Well, they are not exactly young, and they should have the essential > > knwledge and understanding of animals. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > work, against the people who were bragging about it. i don't care what > their role was. one guy got fired. :) ) This is the best news I heard today! I am so glad this happened! It may teach him a lesson. I hope! > oh yes....this cat we had was VERY nasty. he bit, scratched, attacked us by > jumping out from behind chairs, he was jealous (he even sprayed ON my new > pet bird one time....like, backed up against the cage and sprayed the > bird.), I always thought spraying is marking a territory? Could it be that he sprayed it for that reason? >killed two of our fish (he swiped them out of the tank), I know it wasn;t pleasant, but i would kind of expect that from a cat. My neighbour has a fishtank and gets many visits from mine and other neighbour's cats, and has learned fast he must keep the lid on it :) >almost killed a hamster, and killed two of my birds. but he wasn't like that when > he was under a year old. quite possibly it was just a major personality > problem.... Can you think if anything that happened to him before he changed, some major stress or something that could;ve triggered this behaviour? Was declawing done at that time or earlier/later? .but it probably could have been at least partially stopped if he > wasn't allowed to scratch or bite or be mean. Absolutely. I keep telling my friend tthat the same rule is valid for the kids, that if she lets them now when they are small play her around, that they will always do it. Teach a kid/cat/dog some basic rules, and it will respect both you and them, and be much better individual in the future altogether. > > >> i would have loved a picture of her sitting among my SHREDDED > > > dried flowers. > > > > Awww....She must have looked like: "who? me? It wasn;t me" :) > > no, it was more like, "yes. i did this. and you can't stop me." LOL True, that is more like them he he :) > since then, she has also killed my houseplant (a pretty little ivy-vine that i've > been growing for a year). the shredded flowers were all over the > livingroom, and the hallway, and the kitchen, and part of the > bathroom....... she knew what she was doing. but i have new flowers now. > hanging up VERY HIGH. :) Aah! Don;t let the hight fool you! Cats love hights, and if they could, would live on a ceiling. So if a cat is after the plant, it will find a way to jump on it via some chairs/tables/cuboards or just plain UP! I;m sure you love your plants, but it seems your cat does too :) You could perhaps give her her own plant. They sell cat-grass here in UK, in almost any petshop. They LOVE them. I dunno if your cat goes out, but they do NEED grass, and failing that they will munch on plants. I can see that when the weather is bad, and Tiara doesn;t get to go out for a few days(leash and harness only), she will happily munch on my round lettuce! Gee >has all claws, all teeth (ouch), and hasn't been spayed yet. so, will she grow out of it?< Yes, she will. Until then, there are a few things you can do. Biting your fingers: If she bites while you are petting her, just say "Ouch" in a very high pitch voice, withdraw your fingers immediately, and move away from her. Don't pick her up. Else, she will think that biting you is a way to get you to pick her up. Biting electrical wire: The is dangerous. You need to tape all the loose wire down. If there is a wire you can't tape down, coat the wire with bitter apple or Joy dishwashing liquid. Biting your blanket: Well, you can say, "No. Kitty." But shy of negative reinforcements or making your bed inhospitable to the kitten, there isn't much you can do but wait until she grows up. Whatever you do, you need to replace what she can bite on. Get a large cat toy that she can grab and bite simultaneously. Your kitten might also be teething, a wand toy with something to chew on - Kitty Tease or Purrfect Leather toy (sp?) might help release her itches. Don't pull the toys too hard as you don't want to damage her teeth. Dik >hello. i'm a first-time poster to this group. my name is julia, and i own >a black and white kitten (or....well.....my black and white kitten owns me). Looks like your kitty has you well trained then - s/he will do well...:-) >she was a stray who was probably put out by someone because they had too >many cats (that happens a lot around where i live). she doesn't have a name >other than "Kitty", but...... question. do they *ever* grow out of that >biting stage?? she's an indoor cat (she's scared to go outside.....i think >because of the fact that she was tossed out by whomever), has all claws, all >teeth (ouch), and hasn't been spayed yet. so, will she grow out of it? Only if you teach her to. Whenever play gets a little rough, make a yelping noise and put her down, walk away, stop etc. She will get the message but they learn best when they are young so it's time to start now. You may find www.messybeast.com www.flippyscatpage.com good sources for general cat info and behavioural stuff  Signature79.84% of all statistics are made up on the spot. The other 42% are made up later on. In Warwick - looking at flat fields and that includes the castle. >hello. i'm a first-time poster to this group. my name is julia, and i own >a black and white kitten (or....well.....my black and white kitten owns me). [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >because of the fact that she was tossed out by whomever), has all claws, all >teeth (ouch), and hasn't been spayed yet. so, will she grow out of it? Oh also, get her spayed soon. I think female cats can breed at four months old.....! Signature79.84% of all statistics are made up on the spot. The other 42% are made up later on. In Warwick - looking at flat fields and that includes the castle. |
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