Adopted an Adult - hissing, swatting, digging HELP

[Kat Edge]

Oh! A bit more about the living situation, it's not ideal, but I think it's workable. I'm in a small studio apartment with really no room I can separate him into. However, there is basically a cave under my bed for him, a giant window he can do cat things in front of, an 8 foot cat tree, and some cupboards he can lay on top of in the kitchen area (his favorite place)

I was thinking when he's really upset, maybe I should just leave so he can have space? But then again, I don't want him to think he can charge me put of the apartment..

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

I do not think you wish to try to dominate your cat and force an alpha relationship... I didn't even do that with my dog. Positive reinforcement of good behaviors is a much better route. Ignore the hissiness (whilst respecting his space) and rewarding when he approaches for play or food. As Patti says, do not stare at him (as it is a sign of kitty aggression) and give those loving blinks. By being the food giver you already will naturally assume that "alpha" position... you just don't want your cat to fear or distrust you.

if he hisses and charges, stop and look at what is going on...could he be feeling cornered? Is there a way to just nonchalantly back off and take another route?

I would not approach him at this time... I'd pretty much ignore him and go quietly about my way. Even if he approaches and seems to want petting, keep it at a minimum (one or two strokes and stop) so that you don't run the risk of over-stimulating. Give him space to just explore and settle in. He's a lovely boy and the reward is there if you just take it slowly and at his pace

 

[Kat Edge]

I do not think you wish to try to dominate your cat and force an alpha relationship... I didn't even do that with my dog. Positive reinforcement of good behaviors is a much better route. Ignore the hissiness (whilst respecting his space) and rewarding when he approaches for play or food. As Patti says, do not stare at him (as it is a sign of kitty aggression) and give those loving blinks. By being the food giver you already will naturally assume that "alpha" position... you just don't want your cat to fear or distrust you...

Thanks for the response! Establishing alpha is never a negative relationship with an animal, it could be as simple as the things you all have already stated (putting toys away when you are done, walking through the door before your pet can, not turning away when they push you to, etc.) but I think it's only really important in
strong minded dogs and other wilder animals (my past dog trainer has worked with zoos teaching his techniques to handle tigers, lions, crocodiles, etc.). It's all pretty interesting.

I'm all about the reinforcements (was a psych major - working with animals is really the only time I put it to use )

He's still sleeping at my feet! I completely ignored that he was there, and it's working! I'll definitely try not to stare too much, but man! This boy can stare me down!! It's almost scary.

He's also, seemingly aggressively, put my hand in his mouth after hissing, but hasn't bit me, should I do anything about that? I just stayed calm and talked to him in a loving pet voice haha.

 

[Becki]

There are so many great threads and resources on here. Get little Ziggy in a quarantine room, grab a cup of tea, your iPad or laptop and get yourself in there, too. Hang out in there with him reading and reading and reading this site! Let him explore while you are just around not expecting a thing from him. Follow the advice of the experts here, I know it helped me immensely with socializing my own "special needs" f2. She has transformed into an (almost) normal Savannah. I never had a time table, I never expected her to be a snuggly cat, and I think letting go of expectations removed stress on me, which in turn removed stress on her.

Both of my f2s hiss as part of their "talking" and not because they are angry or being mean. They make a number of oddball sounds. I am curious as well to the dynamics of the other household too, as that agression of chasing seems odds. I wonder if ziggy hisses like mine do and the old owners took it as a sign of agression, perhaps punishing him? As for the child, again, did the child run with something fun to chase? Did the child chase the cat without being corrected? Kovu is not above stealing a stuffed toy from my 2.5 year old, but that is because as a cat he doesn't know those are Ry's toys, not his. Nyah stole fairy wings for the same reason, which resulted in a mad chase of 2 cats, a sobbing 2 year fairy with no wings, and a frantic daddy trying to get the wings while reinforcing our rule that you are not allowed to chase cats! Chaos, thy name is my house.

Freeze dried chicken is a fantastic treat. My cats love, love, love it and will now do tricks for it (sit and shake). I second that recommendation and again, can't stress enough how much there is in the way of good information on these kitties on this site. Good luck, and keep us posted on his progress. He is a gorgeous boy. I hope things all fall in to place for both of you as being loved by these amazing creatures is a very cool experience.

 

[WitchyWoman]

When he's hissing at you are his ears flat or twisted back? Does his body posture suggest fear, aggression, anger? There's the possibility that his hissing is one of his ways of communicating -- if he appears relaxed, pupils a bit dilated, ears forward or in relaxed position. One of my cats hisses in instances where the other 2 meow. I've learned to differentiate between his "hi, let's play, scratch my chin please, ooohhh new toy" hisses and his angry/fearful hisses.

 

[Kat Edge]

There are so many great threads and resources on here. Get little Ziggy in a quarantine room, grab a cup of tea, your iPad or laptop and get yourself in there, too. Hang out in there with him reading and reading and reading this site! Let him explore while you are just around not expecting a thing from him. Follow the advice of the experts here, I know it helped me immensely with socializing my own "special needs" f2. She has transformed into an (almost) normal Savannah. I never had a time table, I never expected her to be a snuggly cat, and I think letting go of expectations removed stress on me, which in turn removed stress on her.

Both of my f2s hiss as part of their "talking" and not because they are angry or being mean. They make a number of oddball sounds. I am curious as well to the dynamics of the other household too, as that agression of chasing seems odds. I wonder if ziggy hisses like mine do and the old owners took it as a sign of agression, perhaps punishing him? As for the child, again, did the child run with something fun to chase? Did the child chase the cat without being corrected? Kovu is not above stealing a stuffed toy from my 2.5 year old, but that is because as a cat he doesn't know those are Ry's toys, not his. Nyah stole fairy wings for the same reason, which resulted in a mad chase of 2 cats, a sobbing 2 year fairy with no wings, and a frantic daddy trying to get the wings while reinforcing our rule that you are not allowed to chase cats! Chaos, thy name is my house.

Freeze dried chicken is a fantastic treat. My cats love, love, love it and will now do tricks for it (sit and shake). I second that recommendation and again, can't stress enough how much there is in the way of good information on these kitties on this site. Good luck, and keep us posted on his progress. He is a gorgeous boy. I hope things all fall in to place for both of you as being loved by these amazing creatures is a very cool experience.

This is great to hear! Gives me hope! Not that I didn't have any, if anything I have too much! did you do anything else with your F2 besides quarantine? How long did it take for your F2 to warm up to you? How old was she? I know Ziggy is not your F2 and will be different, I'm just curious about your journey! And I have read a lot on this site, it just seemed like most of it was for kittens that didn't have previous behavioral issues.

The family I got Ziggy from also have another F2 that is perfect. So I'm not sure what happened differently with Ziggy haha. They also tried for a very long time to work with their breeder to figure out what their options were. I think the main issue was Ziggy ripping the heads off of their sons' toys and hissing at their son's little friends.

 

[Kat Edge]

When he's hissing at you are his ears flat or twisted back? Does his body posture suggest fear, aggression, anger? There's the possibility that his hissing is one of his ways of communicating -- if he appears relaxed, pupils a bit dilated, ears forward or in relaxed position. One of my cats hisses in instances where the other 2 meow. I've learned to differentiate between his "hi, let's play, scratch my chin please, ooohhh new toy" hisses and his angry/fearful hisses.

Thank you for taking the time to talk this out with me! I wish it was him talking, but his ears are back, his back is arched, and he's actively trying to scratch me when he hisses. When he charges, it starts like this, but I'll step back so he doesn't scratch me, and he advances forward trying to "get me". I just stay very calm, and slowly keep stepping back until he stops. I haven't noticed any correlation with anything that might start this behavior.

There have only been one or two times that his tail bristled (puffed out) and I immediately stepped away because I'm pretty sure that's him being scared not necessarily aggressive? Most of this is happening when I am simply walking past him, not trying to engage him.

He's still sitting at my feet though!!

 

[WitchyWoman]

If you read that little piece I wrote about the demon under the bed, you saw that I repeated the word "patience" numerous times in the tips 'n tricks part. You seem prepared to work hard to gain his trust and that is surely what he needs -- time. And you surely are a patient person or would not have taken on this challenge. Kudos to you for giving this beautiful boy a chance at a normal life.

You said you got to know the family who gave him to you so you must be aware of some of the factors that lead to his aggressiveness toward their child. Animals are usually very tolerant of kids but there is a line that they will draw.

 

[Becki]

Nyah's start was different than ziggy's as I got her from the breeder, and she was about 6.5 months old. When we got her home, she dove under the bed and didn't emerge. When we looked under the bed to check on her, she used words that were not lady like, and certainly not appropriate for a kitten. It took well over a month to be able to touch her, a few months until I could pet her and she enjoyed it, and a few months before she crawled in my lap. She would lay near me, but if I moved or looked like I was going to pet her, she would take off. She crawled in my lap when I was sick, just cautiously climbed in, I was scared to even breathe (though I did promptly post the milestone on here!). I was able to pick her up without her having a total melt down after about 6 months or so. Not that she wants to carried around, like many f2s, she does not. She is still quirky, I am sure she always will be, and I think it has taken the good part of a year to have her be really out of her shell. Adding my very crazy kitten helped a bunch, too. She is very, very bonded to me and my husband. She tolerates my 15 year old, but doesn't always allow her to pet her. She stays within arms reach of the baby, and would not play with her ever like Kovu does.

 

[Kat Edge]

I'm really curious about what lead to this aggression too. I can't say that I actually know. The owners are very nice, holistic kind of people, so maybe Ziggy was able to get away with too much and started taking it too far? I have no idea. Most of my communication was via phone conversations and emails. When they were interviewing people to see who they wanted to adopt him to, I walked in, sat next to Ziggy, put out my hand, and he gave me kisses. They had never seen him do that with anyone!! After the interview, it was just us talking back and forth waiting for the right time to make the "transplant".

I would say I'm patient enough to handle the task. I'm not fearful around him at all, despite my scraped up legs lol, I just need to figure out the kind of owner I need to be to benefit him best.

I read that piece actually! Love the title. I'm going to have to read it again now that I actually have the stinker in my apartment.

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