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RE: Naughty Cat!

blueeyes — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 06:22:30 GMT

Just wanted you to know I love your pictures. Just rejoined today. Maybe when I get used to the website I can post pictures of my two.

RE: Naughty Cat!

Jax-Cat — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 21:52:37 GMT

To Nicky's Mom:

About the nail clipping. Relax. It's no big deal whatsoever to a cat if you start when the cat is young. Let the cat see you clipping your nails with a nail clipper. Cats are soooo curious about things. They will see that you are doing it to YOUR nails, so when you clip theirs, they figure it's "all in the family."

Everyone I speak to is afraid they will clip too short. Well, this can happen, but there is absolutely no reason to do so. Just clip a little bit each time. Even the least little bit dulls those needle claws a bit. You'll get the hang of it, plus your cat will soon learn that you are not going to hurt it. My cats have always "Adjusted" to nail clipping after about 2-3 times. No sweat. I am very gentle, talk through the clipping in a very normal voice as if nothing going on unusual, and am finished in about 2 minutes without so much as the least resistance. I usually clip my nails just before I clip their nails (in the beginning, training months.). After that, they never protest. Just push one toe out at the time, gently, and clip. NEVER clip where the blue or red area is. That hurts and will bleed. Just clip the clear tips. ..little at the time.

PS - -don't forget to give your cat a scratching post. Cats love to scratch and "hone" those claws back up into sharp little needles again. On top of that, it "feels" goot to a cat to stretch its claws on the post.

RE: Naughty Cat!

Jax-Cat — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 21:37:56 GMT

I have a tabby Siamese which likes to nip. It's very irritating to me. I've never had a cat do this and I have had lots of cats all my life. Baffled me, so I did a lot of research on the web. Also talked to my vet. Here's the scoop...and it seems to work (and also be true).

Your cat is bored and seeking attention. Wants to play. Wants you to spend some time with him/her. (You were decorating and busy, right?). So the cat communicates in cat-language (nip) it wants to play and is bored. Now, if you flick (something I was doing, but stopped!), the cat actually thinks you are playing with it, only rough! So, it flattens out its ears and prepares for the "rough" play. (My cat did this too and I thought, "Well, she knows its wrong! She's prepared for a flick or a swat. " Nope-she just thinks I am playing rough. I learned to stop that as it was not the solution.)

If the cat starts to play hard and nip or bite too hard, do as others suggested and immediately allow your hand to go limp. Remain still...-- like a dead mouse, dead bird, dead something. Go "dead." Cats will not play with an object or animal that will not move. Slowly remove your hand and do not give the cat any other attention when it engages in biting. It will learn that biting does not work...as the playing stops. Also, be sure and shout or say a loud OUCH when she/he bites. My cat has learned that OUCH and NO-no mean to stop. She quickly stops now on verbal command.

The nipping, as aggravating as it can be, is simply their way to communicate. I keep "human-talking" to my cat about using "meow" or a "lick" instead - -but she is determined to communicate with a "nip."

I also learned a great behavioral procedure on the internet. It says that mama-cats teach their young to stop nipping and biting by biting them in the back of the necks and pushing the neck to the floor and holding for a few seconds, as a sign of disgrace or control or humiliation over them. Then, mama-cat walks away after rendering the humiliation sign to them. The cats soon learn to stop nipping. Well, you can emulate this and it does work when your cat nips or bites. Grab the tuff of the back of the neck (don't hurt him) and push down and hold about 2-3 seconds to the floor or whatever. It's a humbling experience to a cat of control by another, so the behavioral experts write. Then, move away. Do not engage in anything else to do with him. Well, I tried it and it works. Painless and it works.

Also, I learned that "some" cats are hypersensitive to petting. (Never knew this. Always had cats who loved to be petted. Not this cat.) The behavioralists state that some cats have whiskers that are hypersensitive and after about 5 rubs and pulls against their whiskers (Unbeknownst to you), they nip to tell you, "Enough." As it turns out, my cat does indeed have super long whiskers. I have learned to only pet or rub away from the whisker area and to only pet for a minute or two. She's had enough.

And then, there are the times my cat comes up out of nowhere and just nips for the pure heck of it, it seems. Well, she is bored and wants attention or wants to play or for me to actually rub her. It's her way of communicating. I've learned now she wants attention. Unfortunately, she has learned that she gets it.... ;- ) . .... but I blame that on myself. She doesn't have anyone else around and she is bored.

Your cat is not naughty. Just wanting attention and to play.. or to communicate. OR- -to tell you to cease rubbing too much. Communication. Like I said, I sure wish my cat would learn to meow, lick or something a little less painful. But do not flick. Try playing with your cat for a good 15 minutes periodically with a string or something that is active play. Also, don't forget the "I am annoyed with you" routine on the back of the neck that mama-cats use to teach their young to "cease and desist." Just push down the scuff of the back of the neck, hold neck flat without hurting or force - - and then have nothing else to do with the cat.

I have not solved all my cat's issues, but she understands most of the time. I immediately state "ouch" and she freezes, almost looks like she is thinking about it with a "Ooops, I goofed up again." . ;- ) My cat is almost feral. Adopted her from Humane Shelter. She seems to have some genetic habits I've never noticed in my ownership of lots and lots of cats. I've just resolved myself to the fact I have a slightly neurotic cat who wants a more interesting life and interaction with me. Sometimes, she comes up and nips me on the shin and "scampers away" - -almost like a football tackle who just "tagged and ran." She wants to play. Cat communication again. She's not being naughty. I have got to start using the spray bottle on that little habit, however. At times, I do show my teeth and hiss at her --and she seems to understand, "This is not going down so good. She's angry. Better refrain."

Good luck.

RE: Naughty Cat!

Nicky's Mom — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:41:06 GMT

He might also think he's playing a game with you. My girl Nicky likes to attack my feet under the covers, even sometimes my hand above the covers. She thinks it's a big game she's playing with me and that it's great fun! Even if I say ouch and pull my foot away, she continues because she's purrsistant and thinks it's a game. I don't get mad at her because she doesn't intend any harm, her claws are just sharp that's all. (She especially loves to play this game right after I go to bed and around 6 in the morning when she thinks I should get up!) Maybe one of these days I'll get around to clipping her claws . . . (although because of a health condition my hands are not too steady and shake a lot, so I'm afraid I would cut too much of her claw.)

Nicky's Mom

RE: Naughty Cat!

Maruul — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 04:38:20 GMT

I am lazy and have decided it's easier to just live with it. He actually isn't doing it as often, and when he does it doesn't draw blood or even leave a mark. I think the new couch may have something to do with it. I guess he's finally found something to like about the new layout. He's always on it now. Both of them are. It drives mom nuts, cause it's cream colored, and they shed on it.

RE: Naughty Cat!

tiggerwiewel — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 07:02:35 GMT

Sounds like he's upset by the changes, like others have said. He'll get over it in time.

RE: Naughty Cat!

ScarletDreams489 — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:54:06 GMT

Whether the flicking is painful or not, it wont work. Cat's do not respond to negative reinforcement. I don't know of any animal that will respond to negative reinforcement.

You don't really have to "yell" to get his attention. Just by saying "ouch" loudly then letting your hand go limp will let him know that when you say ouch you wont pet him anymore or play with him. Eventually when you say ouch he'll just stop what he's doing. Honey will actually lick my hand when I say ouch now. In my experience, just removing the cat from the room wont necessarily work. Just ignoring the cat would be better, so that he's right there and sees that you are purposely not paying any attention to him.

RE: Naughty Cat!

Maria3 — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 05:25:53 GMT

I've seen my she-cat putting her paw on my male-cat head in order to tell him "enough" and it works for her. But it doesn't work for me!. I've seen also how they nip the other's ear or neck as a warning (they only grab, they don't bite really). Also on a leg. But I've never try that!

When they are naughty on my bed, I expel them. If necessary I close the door. So they can understand they must choose between their behavior or my presence. If you do that immediately they can associate their behavior with the expulsion. Usually they want to be with you and learn not to behave in such a manner you expel them. But you must be quick and constant. They won't learn if sometimes is allowed and other times not.

Sorry if I thought you where abusing your cat. I've advised putting the fingers on the forehead to other people, and sometimes it works

RE: Naughty Cat!

Maruul — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 01:24:50 GMT

I don't flick him hard. I don't want you guys to think I'm abusing my cat or anything... Usually the tip of my fingernail will graze his head. It's unpleasant, not painful. The equivalent on thumping yourself on the head with two fingers. I've tested this theory.

Also, I don't think yelling or anything will work. Mom yells at him so much he's come to ignore it.

Do you think kicking him out of my room will work? It usually happens when we're lounging on my bed. So any time he bites or scratches, I toss him out.

RE: Naughty Cat!

Maria3 — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 02:27:45 GMT

Cats doesn't understand they are bad. They don't have the pack thinking you need for that. They understand that you are angry and that you are going to hit them, and they try to protect themselves.

I also leave then alone, and don't let him follow you. And of course, you need to know when they don't want to be petted, but that isn't the problem you are describing

RE: Naughty Cat!

SuperCat — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 16:40:23 GMT

I agree with ScarlettDreams -- when my cats do that I let my hand go limp and say OUCH really loud and sharp and as soon as they let go I pull my hand away and get up and leave. My cats seldom do this anymore -- only once in a very great while will Rusty do it. (I can't remember the last time even.)

Your hands should only give pleasure -- never hit your cat -- especially using your hands -- even flicking their ears (ouch!) -- the way your cat readies himself to be struck or flicked after he is naughty is not a good thing -- he must be thinking a pain for pain -- I bite/claw and then I get snapped in the head! He now thinks pain is an acceptable way of interacting with you. He claws and you snap him!

If needed, keep water spray bottles around where you sit so you have easy access and spray them in the face when they do this or anything else you don't want them doing. Make a loud hissing noise when you spray. Pretty soon you don't need the water bottle -- just hiss at them and they will quit whatever they are doing.

RE: Naughty Cat!

ScarletDreams489 — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 14:51:23 GMT

This sounds a lot like what honey does. When she's feeling playful or even just really cuddly she'll grab my hand with her claws when I pull away and she'll either bit it or start licking it. She's just rough when she cuddles. But flicking your cat will not do any good. instead of flicking him try just yelling ouch when he hurts you and pulling your hand away. Then don't pay attention to him for a few minutes. After a while he should just know that when you say ouch that he should be a little more gentle. Honey learned this after a couple of weeks. She still does it but she is much more gentle about it.

RE: Naughty Cat!

Maruul — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:49:28 GMT

Mm. If we had a cat that would actually play with him it probably wouldn't be an issue. He never did this when we had the other cats. But Mom insists that we will never get another cat. I yelled at her, "What kind of cat person are you?!"

I'll try playing with him more.

RE: Naughty Cat!

PeaLoki&Gabe — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 09:00:39 GMT

While all this stress is going on around him, have you been too busy or stressed yourself to play with him? My trio do similar things when they want me to play and I want to cuddle. Or if they feel i've ignored them. Sometimes a toy just won't do for them, and they want or need to feel contact with "mom" that isn't just love and food (sometimes love and food are the same thing). and when they get tired of turing my arms hand or foot into a mess of scratches, they crawl into my lap and go straight to sleep purring loudly the whole time.

RE: Naughty Cat!

Maruul — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 08:49:01 GMT

Or maybe it's just his newest thing... he's changed a lot over the years. Example: He used to sleep on my pillows, then against my chest. Now he's migrating from my chest to my butt. -.-

RE: Naughty Cat!

annthreecats — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 07:53:39 GMT

My little calico was doing something similar. She doesn't do it as often now and I'm not sure what changed. She is trying to establish herself into the household with two older established cats and I know that is stressful for her or it could have been that she loves to play and I thought she was trying to tell me me that she wants to play, or it could have been that I had petted her too long and she gets tired of me petting her. I find that if I play with her for about 5 minutes and then pet her she is more relaxed and not as agressive. So I try to give her about 15 minutes of play time each time I want to get real close to her and she is more receptive to me.

Good luck.

RE: Naughty Cat!

slegned — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 07:40:38 GMT

He is probably just upset by the changes in the house. I'm sure once things settle down and he gets a chance to thoroughly explore the "new" stuff he'll be ok.

Naughty Cat!

Maruul — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 07:05:23 GMT

Lately Cheshire has gotten a rotten streak about him. If I pet him, as soon as I try to pull my hand away he swats and claws it. And he knows it's bad, because as soon as he does it he cringes and folds his ears back like he's waiting for me to strike him (which equals a flick to the head). I just don't get why he's doing it. Also, if I rest my hand on him he'll reach over and bite it (which earns him another flick).

Come to think of it, he could be stressed out. Mom's been redecorating, and it's been stressful to all of us. The carpet's gone and everything's been moved. Could that be it?