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Member
 
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Last Login: 11/12/2008 1:29:50 PM
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| 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?
"To err is human. To purr is feline."
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Senior Member
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Last Login: Today @ 6:22:28 AM
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| 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.
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Junior Member
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Last Login: 7/23/2008 1:20:51 PM
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| 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.
Happily owned by Cecelia (the Saint), Taffy (the Brat), and Merlin (the Mellow).
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Member
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Last Login: 11/12/2008 1:29:50 PM
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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. -.-
"To err is human. To purr is feline."
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Supreme Being
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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.
My cats own my house they just permit me to live there. Only cat lovers know the luxury of fur-coated, musical hot water bottles that never go cold."
- Susanne Millen 
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Member
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Last Login: 11/12/2008 1:29:50 PM
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| 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.
"To err is human. To purr is feline."
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Senior Member
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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.
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Supreme Being
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| 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.
SuperCat
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