Constant head butting

[BigBoyz]

Hi i haven't been on in a while and missed everyone some of you helped me in my most needed time with the loss of my two Bengals and the adjustment of my two F2 Savannah males. I posted recent pics . Can't believe they are two yrs old and 26 lbs later, my house is no more but a memory (lol) no lamps lost patio furniture had to purchase new living room and Safari now tolerates my husband. Safari hits my husband and only allows him to pet him on his terms only but me , I am mom. Recently Safari has become in my opinion aggressive with me? He head butts my legs and circles around me where I can't walk without tripping over him. When I tell him to stop he grabs a hold of me and quickly bites me and refuses to leave. Does anyone know what that means? I looked up inn google and they called in aggressive play but we are not playing , I am trying to walk and he won't stop head butting my legs and forces his way into any room I go into to try and get away and he I walk fast he runs and then bites while purring. Should I be scared since he doesn't like my husband since day one?

 

[WitchyWoman]

I get constant head butting and body rubs on my legs from my F1 but no biting. He may simply be asking for affection at those times or in need of playtime. Have you tried firmly saying "no" and scruffing him when he bites, then removing yourself from whatever room he's in? You may have to lock him out of the room you're in.

Marilyn Krieger is an animal behaviorist who I'm sure would have some suggestions for eliminating the behavior.
http://www.thecatcoach.com/

 

[BigBoyz]

Thank you for responding. Yes I have calmly but firmly told him no and he gets mad and will strike and bite harder and won't allow me to move , the purring stops and he puts his ears sideways and I know I made upset. He will run like a horse to beat me to the room so I can't lock him out. I don't like to upset him but I am going to break my neck tripping over him and I had a heart attack, on blood thinners his bites turn to black and blues

 

[Tara]

Sounds a bit like Charlie. He's nuts for getting his hugs and kisses. Generally starts with tripping you so you can't take a step. Escalates to biting my kneecaps if I don't pick him up and hug on him for a few minutes, purring madly all the while. If I put him down and he's still at the head butt/trip stage, he's usually pestering for lunchtime. Feed him and all is good. (At least until I step outside for 5 minutes and the poor abandoned baby needs a whole new set of pick me up, love me's )

 

[Carykd7kau]

Sheesh. That sounds a lot like my Regulus. LOL

 

[dice]

I get similar treatment from Sampson. It usually means I haven't paid enough attention to him. I'll pick him up and rock him like a baby saying, are you my buddy boy?? a good loving will usually fix it. Though when petting him, and not minding where I rub him, occasionally he will nip at me.

If I have been highly negligent, he'll pea on me foot.

Has there been any changes in the household lately?? I just added two F2's and things have become a bit more complicated, and all the kids have a way of letting me know, it's their turn fur love.

One time I neglected the proper ritual and proper amount of loving, Sam gives me a couple nudges, then got frustrated of no attention, and screams at the top of his lungs, right into me ear.

 

[Patti]

This sounds like attention seeking behavior, with some dominance thrown in as well. I would try to distract him with with some play using a wand toy, laser light, or playing fetch if he likes that sort of thing. However, if he will not be distracted then you need to step up and show your dominance and disapproval - time outs usually work well, even if you have to scruff him and physically remove him or put him in a crate. Five minutes is more than adequate for time outs. If the behavior escalates rather than improves then I agree with Deborah that contacting a cat behaviorist such as Marilyn Krieger is the next step.

 

[BigBoyz]

Thank you all. He loves me for sure, did from day one. He has always been the dominate one in the house, with my other F2 son and especially with my husband. It took a year before he will now tolerate my husband, he still hisses at him and still growls when he has something he wants no one else to have. He still hits no wacks my husband every chance he gets but never me. He is a wild one where my other son Jaspurr doesn't have a mean bone in his body, Safari is mean, I have to say it. He takes no crap from no body! Distraction doesn't work, when he gets this way he won't move away from me, gets worst the more I try and pull away - I will try the I'm more dominate than him and see if that works. You're all so sweet to help me. I really appreciate the advise.

 

[Eddies]

I WORRY because you ask if you should be scared...the real question is ARE YOU? I hear you talking about bites/blood thinners/ bruises. Hi, I have Eddie & Mojo, Mojo has bit me twice hard enough to leave scars (but I scar VERY easily, just like you bruise), Mojo wanted attention NOW but did NOT receive it for bad behavior, I waited till he calmed down. Eddie... well Eddie went thru uhmmm ? Preadolescence ? like a Mac Truck, I assume your Safari is neutered & was a great energetic ball of flashing fun before this started & it slowly escalated to where you noticed it more due to the possibility of actually hurting him or getting hurt because of him...I made my husband make 1 promise before I brought Mojo into the house: START NO HABIT YOU CAN'T LIVE WITH...lol 3 suggestions (of which only #3 works with Eddies crazy similar behavior:: 1) The Mom said NO, scruffing is optional dependent on how hard the love bite is. 2) The kitty calmer air freshener thingy that calmed Mojos defensiveness. 3) When you see him coming with that tail kinky,straight up, ears up & forward, & narrowed eyes deadpanned on you...sit down & open your arms...surprise him & give him all the time you can, those dishes will wait, if you have to get to the bathroom pick him up & carry him with you, I set Eddie in the tub as I am busy, he loves that I let the faucet drip... Oh & that promise my husband made...well...I DIDN'T MAKE THE PROMISE!!!! HONESTLY if you're scared of him, talk more to the breeders here, JP, & WW but if he is being dominant it's because you let him think he could be & it's going to be a fight to take that spot back...he doesn't really want it but instincts run high in these fur babies. Hopefully he is ONLY doing this to you & not bullying Jaspurr as Eddie bullied Mojo for awhile...till Mojo himself had all he could take & fur flew... Mojo has NEVER bit my husband, but....Eddie chews on his ankles...lol.

 

[BigBoyz]

Good morning, Safari was for sure seeking my attention. I work a lot - sometimes leave @5 am and don't get home until around 8 or 9 pm. Jaspurr seems ok with it, he doesn't have a mean bone in his body, he is my loverboy! doesn't stop licking me (LOL) Safari needs my attention so I tried what you told me , spent extra time playing and that didn' work, hugged and kissed he just would bite - I tried the time out but he cried and broke my heart so I firmly said "NO" and scruff him and physically remove him and I would go into the bathroom without him. He through his body against the door and made some sounds but I stayed in there for 5 minutes OMG was he excited to see me. Stayed outside that door (LOL) He laid infront of my feet the rest of the night and slept with me all nigh. Not too happy when Jaspurr would come over but I kept saying no and he listened. These last two days have been better.
"THANK YOU"!