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Biting !
- Thread starter xumi's mom
- Start date
Cats are not supposed to like citrus oils...maybe that?
Or Tabasco...
Or Tabasco...
l.i.t
Site Supporter
Oh, heavens, yes. We have tried everything with the exception of the bitter and the blowing on his face. He actually likes the finger down the throat.....he doesn't gag, just uses it as an opportunity to chew. Shrieking, yeowling, etc doesn't put him off. When I relax my arm/hand, he keeps biting for about a minute....then will backup, pounce, and bite again.
Walking out of the room doesn't work because he will follow and jump on/bite my ankles. So far, it doesn't seem to bother him much if i stop playing....he backs away, and tries again and again.
Compressed air works, but it is difficult to have that accessible all the time, and he won't give up my arm for a toy. Apparently my arm is much more fascinating.
If I scruff him, hold him down on the floor, and say 'no', he will mew, and usually stop attempting.....then run like a bullet through the house. But, again, it hasn't stopped him from initiating the behavior.
He seems to have the same problem with our other cats. He doesn't seem to respond to the 'clues' about what is appropriate play and when. He pounces and play attacks them when they are sleeping, using the litter box, when they walk in the kitty door.
They hiss and growl and swat him, one will 'nip' at him. Again, he will stop for the moment, but doesn't stop trying in the future.
I know it is 'play' for him, but he just doesn't seem to understand that he is hurting us. Or that it's inappropriate.
He's always taken everything in stride, so maybe he just doesn't get the seriousness of it all. But I'm at a loss of where to go from here....aside from bitter and blowing in his face.
Heck, we even got him neutered hoping that would help!
Liz
Walking out of the room doesn't work because he will follow and jump on/bite my ankles. So far, it doesn't seem to bother him much if i stop playing....he backs away, and tries again and again.
Compressed air works, but it is difficult to have that accessible all the time, and he won't give up my arm for a toy. Apparently my arm is much more fascinating.
If I scruff him, hold him down on the floor, and say 'no', he will mew, and usually stop attempting.....then run like a bullet through the house. But, again, it hasn't stopped him from initiating the behavior.
He seems to have the same problem with our other cats. He doesn't seem to respond to the 'clues' about what is appropriate play and when. He pounces and play attacks them when they are sleeping, using the litter box, when they walk in the kitty door.
They hiss and growl and swat him, one will 'nip' at him. Again, he will stop for the moment, but doesn't stop trying in the future.
I know it is 'play' for him, but he just doesn't seem to understand that he is hurting us. Or that it's inappropriate.
He's always taken everything in stride, so maybe he just doesn't get the seriousness of it all. But I'm at a loss of where to go from here....aside from bitter and blowing in his face.
Heck, we even got him neutered hoping that would help!
Liz
How old is he and how recently did you neuter him?
Have you tried giving him timeouts? So not leaving the room but he gets put into a room or crate instead?
Have you tried giving him timeouts? So not leaving the room but he gets put into a room or crate instead?
l.i.t
Site Supporter
Hey everyone.....
he was neutered last Friday, and this week he is 4 months old.
Brigette - I have not given him timeouts by shutting him in another room (probably couldn't get him in his crate when he is like that) because I think I read on Marilyn's thread that timeouts weren't good. But I'm definitely willing to try it.
As for getting enough food, I hope he is. I also have a thread on the 'diet' forum because he is an extremely picky eater. He won't eat anything except dry cat food, dry cat food mixed with water, and mango juice. I did figure out this morning that he will eat the freeze dried chicken treats after he has 'play time'. Any other time, he will take it or leave it. But his kibble is always out for him (which he eats quite a bit of), and I feed him kibble with water in the morning and in the evening. If he's hungry, I just don't know what else to feed him since he's so picky.....but that's another thread.
Thanks for the suggestions. I am going to try blowing on his face and timeouts.....something is bound to work.
he was neutered last Friday, and this week he is 4 months old.
Brigette - I have not given him timeouts by shutting him in another room (probably couldn't get him in his crate when he is like that) because I think I read on Marilyn's thread that timeouts weren't good. But I'm definitely willing to try it.
As for getting enough food, I hope he is. I also have a thread on the 'diet' forum because he is an extremely picky eater. He won't eat anything except dry cat food, dry cat food mixed with water, and mango juice. I did figure out this morning that he will eat the freeze dried chicken treats after he has 'play time'. Any other time, he will take it or leave it. But his kibble is always out for him (which he eats quite a bit of), and I feed him kibble with water in the morning and in the evening. If he's hungry, I just don't know what else to feed him since he's so picky.....but that's another thread.
Thanks for the suggestions. I am going to try blowing on his face and timeouts.....something is bound to work.
D
Dantes
Guest
l.i.t
Site Supporter
Wow...I've typed this response 3 times, and twice Lotto ran over my keyboard and deleted it....then once it just changed screens. Let's try this again.....
Jacq, it may be that he is still hungry. And I am certainly open to suggestions. So far, meat (raw or otherwise) seems to literally repel him. He gets within 3 in of it, smells, then rears his head and neck back, and starts walking backwards. If I mix it in with his kibble, he won't touch it. Same with eggs, fruits, veggies, bread, pasta, sauce or gravy, ad nauseum. Repeat with multiple brands of wet food and kitty treats. Heck, I'm even having difficulty changing him from the baby to the kitten kibble. He WILL eat the freeze dried chicken after a round of 'play', however.....but not at other times.
Someone on my food thread did suggest grinding the kibble with the meat, so I'm going to try that. I will also try sprinkling the Whole Life dust on some food when I get it in the mail.
I did speak with his breeder (who is also a vet) about this, because I was concerned. She mentioned that perhaps his tastes would change with age.
So any suggestions are greatly appreciated for a picky eater. But, I hate to hijack this thread for that.....
I certainly would love to find something he will eat....trust me! I hate to think he may be walking around hungry.
Jacq, it may be that he is still hungry. And I am certainly open to suggestions. So far, meat (raw or otherwise) seems to literally repel him. He gets within 3 in of it, smells, then rears his head and neck back, and starts walking backwards. If I mix it in with his kibble, he won't touch it. Same with eggs, fruits, veggies, bread, pasta, sauce or gravy, ad nauseum. Repeat with multiple brands of wet food and kitty treats. Heck, I'm even having difficulty changing him from the baby to the kitten kibble. He WILL eat the freeze dried chicken after a round of 'play', however.....but not at other times.
Someone on my food thread did suggest grinding the kibble with the meat, so I'm going to try that. I will also try sprinkling the Whole Life dust on some food when I get it in the mail.
I did speak with his breeder (who is also a vet) about this, because I was concerned. She mentioned that perhaps his tastes would change with age.
So any suggestions are greatly appreciated for a picky eater. But, I hate to hijack this thread for that.....
I certainly would love to find something he will eat....trust me! I hate to think he may be walking around hungry.