Here's an odd one

[admin]

Jengo doesn't attack but he will bite on occasion when he gets really going - he might be on his back getting pet and suddenly he'll grab your hand and bite - so far I'm just telling him no ans walking away from him. I feel like squirt bottle is too after the fact and he won't understand why he got squirt in the face. Hopefully as he gets older he'll learn not to bite.

And I don't think he's biting out of malice, I think that he is biting for play - I know he could chomp harder if he wanted to.

Stopping and walking away is what I was taught is the right way to do it...sometimes they just get overstimulated when playing as well...

 

[WitchyWoman]

I'd had enough so I picked him up, put my mouth to his stomach and bit a little. Not enough to hurt him, but to make a point. I also growled while I was doing this.

If I told my friends that I did this, they would run away faster than a speeding bullet and send to my house those guys who like to fit you in a jacket that ties around the back. This info is best kept confined within the SV community

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

Personally, I don't think it is the Serval in him or the "wild" coming out in him. It is a domestic cat behavior, as Deborah has pointed out. Domestic cats can behave erratically and I do believe we do our breed a huge disservice to label behaviors as "wild" in origin. We have to fight anti-hybrid legislation all the time, and stories like this just give the Animal Rights Extremists ammunition!

 

[Wyldthingz]

I had a domestic as a kid that would just go nuts on you. I never knew why. I would have to take my shoe off and beat her back. She would sink her teeth into you. So yes, any cat can do something wacky. I think it sounds like he is getting over stimulated. I would be reluctant biting him as I wouldn't want my face at that level with his claws but if it works, then it works.

 

[Wyldthingz]

If I told my friends that I did this, they would run away faster than a speeding bullet and send to my house those guys who like to fit you in a jacket that ties around the back. This info is best kept confined within the SV community

Oh, I am going to post this on your FB page. LOL

 

[mhardy12]

Thx for letting Me know about beingcareful to blame the "wild" in him. I dont want to cause more problems for the breed. They are amazing loving cats. I never realized how laid back my previous DSH was until I got Taz. I tried to research the breed before purchasing, but really all I came across was the "just like a domestic with a dog like personality". Yeah right. I never saw anything about how high energy these great cats are. Just how intelligent. It's been a trial by fire for the past couple of years but I wouldnt trade him for anything. He is realy so much fun. These forums are a great source of information. Thx to everyone for the replies.

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

I'm sorry you didn't read how high in energy they are... the literature we hand out at cat shows definitely mentions energy, we stress over and over that these are on the very high energy side of the kitty spectrum...very like Abyssinians that way and completely unlike sedate cats like persians...

Working in Rescue we always are careful to warn about how much trouble they are and how they are not appropriate for all homes due to that energy and intelligence. You have to like that type of cat!

I guess if we think "dog-like" they are kinda very like a fox terrier? LOL!

 

[Jacq]

So late last night/early this morning Taz decides he's going to attack my arms while I'm sleeping. He totally lost it and the wild came out. My arms are torn up and it's like he didn't recognize me. I'd had enough so I picked him up, put my mouth to his stomach and bit a little. Not enough to hurt him, but to make a point. I also growled while I was doing this. Put him down and he was like "What the heck?", jumped off the bed and didn't bother me the rest of the night. Almost like a momma cat saying "knock it off". Am I just crazy or is he really getting the point? Any thoughts?

I would scruff him firmly and hld him to the ground for a few seconds. That's what his mamma would have done, and it really does work. DO NOT allow that behavior, ever.

 

[Kronos]

I would scruff him firmly and hld him to the ground for a few seconds. That's what his mamma would have done, and it really does work. DO NOT allow that behavior, ever.

I have found that scruffing makes Kronos go completely limp and mellow. My Ragdoll really hates being scruffed, but Kronos takes that discipline gracefully and seems to get the point.

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

It's very useful when they retain that lovely scruff reflex and relax and go limp when you scruff their neck... the only ones I have had that don't react well to it are the studs. I guess I understand why they don't want anything at the back of their neck, and usually when they grow those stud jowls it is really hard to even get a scruff anyway!