Adopted an Adult - hissing, swatting, digging HELP

[John Campbell]

Or shin guards

LOL, Not from being kicked, but Elsa loves to attack my feet... Does not hurt too often, sometimes a claw breaks out... I wear Bed Room Shoes most of the time... Works great.

 

[Becki]

I hope this isn't offensive and I could be way off here........... But do you think there is any chance someone kicked him previously? The fear he has of your legs seems way extreme to me and it almost sounds like he associates pain/fear which to me would make me wonder about possibly having been kicked.
Like I said, I could be way off base here but it sounds very strange....
Also have you had any Savannahs before? Taking on a difficult F2 could be extra challenging if you have never had a high gen cat before. It sounds like he has lots of promise though, especially if you can get past the legs thing! Have you considered maybe wearing a skirt?

I was wondering the same thing. We probably won't ever know, but I wonder if slower movements with the towel suggestions may help him.

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

Do you get the freeze dried chicken from pet stores or grocery stores?

You can find the freeze dried chicken treats in the pet section of Whole Foods Markets... some pet stores will carry them but likely you will find them in the dog section. And of course online...

LOL.. I could definitely see that happening. Which actually means that he may just need some direction and patience, and he'll be a good boy. Can you teach older SVs tricks (obviously this won't be any time soon for Ziggy)?

As far as the digging at the doors, just put out a mat? Should I be doing anything else?

Yes, you can teach an adult cat tricks...it's a matter of earning their trust and then being able to motivate them. I see them somewhat like my beagle, who just doesn't think like normal dogs do. A normal dog wants to please you so will obey your commands to make you happy...the beagle wishes to do what he wishes to do and oh well if it doesn't please you, and so the motivation has to be there! For the beagle, food motivation is key, LOL!

I would try the hard plastic mat and see if that fixes the issue. Often it is making the activity not as rewarding...like they will unroll the toilet roll as it is fun to spin it and watch the paper come off to be shredded. But if you make it so the roll won't turn, they quickly lose interest. So, when he's not getting to dig into the carpet, or make scratches or even get the human's attention by that behavior... the reason to persist doing it dwindles...

 

[Kat Edge]

I hope this isn't offensive and I could be way off here........... But do you think there is any chance someone kicked him previously? The fear he has of your legs seems way extreme to me and it almost sounds like he associates pain/fear which to me would make me wonder about possibly having been kicked.
Like I said, I could be way off base here but it sounds very strange....
Also have you had any Savannahs before? Taking on a difficult F2 could be extra challenging if you have never had a high gen cat before. It sounds like he has lots of promise though, especially if you can get past the legs thing! Have you considered maybe wearing a skirt?

I apreciate the guess. I don't think this is the case. When I spent time with him in his previous owners house, he never swatted or hissed at me. So I'm thinking it's probably the change? Or he's trying to claim some areas of the apartment? He literally does it any time I walk by. I've had bare legs, boots, jeans, pajamas.. Doesn't seem to matter. But he's literally been curled up by me the entire night. I got up once, and he hissed at me when I got back on the bed, but quickly got over it and went to sleep.

 

[Patti]

I am also thinking that someone kicked or otherwise hurt this poor cat - over and over - while standing or walking, whether it was the adults or a child, but this is beginning to piece together.

Does he swat at you if you just stand still? It might also be more of a height thing since he doesn't do it when you are sitting down. He is still very new in your home but you might want to try playing with him with a wand toy while standing, feeding him a treat while standing, offering your hand to sniff while standing, etc. You will have to be very patient with this because it may take him a long time to develop new associations, but the eventual goal is to get him to associate good things with you standing or walking.

 

[Kat Edge]

He also didn't go after my friends' feet, he actually head butted/brushed their feet. And didn't hiss or attack the feet when they walked in or out.

He lays right at my feet on the bed and stays there. I think it might be whenever I'm taller than him? Ie not laying or sitting down level with him..

 

[Patti]

But isn't this the behavior he was exhibiting toward the child in the other home?

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

Interestingly, anytime I am sitting down on the floor or my bed, he has no problem curling up right next to me. When I am walking around though, he becomes Zigister.. sinister, hostile.. he will hiss A LOT and swat at my legs many times, it's increasing in frequency. Pretty much any time I walk past him.

But like I said, literally as I am typing this, he is laying right next to me with his paws on my knee. So I guess I just need to figure out what is causing him to be so defensive..

I think this tells you that something bad has happened and he associates people walking next to him with it... kinda heartbreaking to think that way. But possible. He just doesn't sound mean, but misunderstood..

 

[Kat Edge]

No, he doesn't normally attack when I am standing still.

I tried to give him a treat and he hissed (ears back) at my hand. So I put the treat down and he swatted my hand and decided not to eat the treat, lol. I guess that's not the right treat for him.

I was playing with the wand with him today! So that was good!

 

[Kat Edge]

it must have been the child. The family said that Ziggy charged at their au pair once and it took weeks before he wouldn't hiss at her.