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Kitten/cat owners

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Started 5 months ago by gracie
Latest reply from gracie

gracie

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How do you stop a young cat from "attacking" your hands? My six month old is full of energy and her target for play time is me. I know she is bored/lonely while I'm at work but she does have a ton of toys to play with but prefers me. My left hand especially I look like I'm an injecting drugs. And I actually have some scars.
I've tried "NO", just ignoring her when she gets rambunctuous but nothing is working. Can one of you help me with a good suggestion? I love love this little munch but this biting is getting a little old with me.

Posted 5 months ago #
BuffaloHawk

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When we got the kittens back in the Fall the woman asked me if I had another cat. I informed her no so per the policy you need to adopt a 2nd kitten if you don't already have one. That is how I wound up going for one and coming home with two.I am thinking maybe get it another kitten to play with and keep it company. this is the place we went to.

http://www.animaltalkrescue.org/

We are a non-profit no kill rescue in Seattle. If you are looking to adopt a cat or kitten, please come visit us, or learn more about our adoptable pets on Petfinder.

Posted 5 months ago #
MrINTJ

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Biting back helps. Clipping nails helps also, duh. Do a scruff lift and put the cat on the floor. The cat is not the problem. You are. You must be consistent and, wait for it… direct!

Posted 5 months ago #
clamster

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Do you have some interactive toys you can use to play with her when you're home? Like those feather bundles on the end of a 2 or 3ft plastic rod or a very thick cotton cord (or extra thick cotton shoelace) attached to a short rod or just free for her to chase. My cats have liked those sorts of things and I can sit on the sofa and wave the wand around. Paper bags and empty cardboard boxes are fun for them too, they can chew up the edges of the cardboard instead of your hand. Also, they really like the one toy that squeaks by itself when it moves. I got that at Cats Exclusives store up on Aurora. They also like the donut-shaped plastic toy that has a ball inside of it that they can bat around in circles. They are just very energetic at that age. Also, the laser pointers for cats are great fun, just make sure the beam is never pointed at their eyes, or yours, and never out the window. I have an adult cat who bites me if I don't pet him and when I do pet him he gets excited and wants to bite me more. Everything I tried was just making the situation worse until last week when I realized that I needed to appeal (or unappeal) to his sense of smell because he is very easily excited by fragrances, my shampoo, my unscented hand lotion, etc. So, I remembered that cats really hate citrus smells so I peeled an orange, dug my fingernails into the peel and then wiped the peel across my hands and arms in the spots that he likes to bite. It's really helped. In the past he just got more aggressive if I pushed him away or loudly said "no", but the orange oil on my hands seems to be working because he's having to make the decision not to bite me. Try the interactive toys first and maybe some empty cardboard boxes, they do tend to want to chew on things at certain ages.

Posted 5 months ago #
gracie

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I had thought of using a squirt gun on her as I have repeatedly done everything else. Including the scruff thing. She is a baby still & has lots of energy to use by time I get home from work. (she is indoors during the day)
And Buff - I came very close to adopting this other kitten (about same age) and my kitten wasn't having anything to do with it. I suppose they would have learned to like each other.
I love this kitten with all my heart just wish she would stop this stuff. It's been so long since I had a kitten & can't remember all the stages of their personalities.

Posted 5 months ago #
PDaddymom

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hi Gracie - First off, do not use your hand as a plaything with her. I know it is hard to resist wiggling your fingers and watching her attack them but as you are finding out - it teaches her that hands are toys to be roughed up. So stop that right now. Whenever she goes for your hands, grab a toy and play with her with that. It can be helpful to get her a big stuffed toy - big enough so that she can grab onto it with her front paws and kick it good with her back legs. She can wrestle with that instead of with your hands. Put some catnip on it to attract her to it at first. Whenever she attacks your hand - put that in front of her and let her go at it :-) I have heard that some people will play with their cats with their hands after putting an oven mitt on but I still think that encourages cats to look at your hands as play things. Bite back? For real? Um, no. That will just piss them off - violence begets violence. Sheesh. That is the way their mother and littermates would teach her if she had stayed with them longer, but there is obviously a different relationship here.

Posted 5 months ago #
MrINTJ

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Good advice, gracie. Use it. ChimpLady, only kidding about biting back.

Posted 5 months ago #
gracie

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Clamster - good idea about the oranges. Will definitely try that. She does like to lick my hands a lot - especially after I've had something to eat..no matter what I've had. But will try the orange thing.
And toys - this little one has so many toys it's crazy. She loves anything with feathers on it. I go to All The Best & they sell individual peacock feathers. She loves them. And the thing with feathers dangling down, soft little balls, grocery bags & boxes her favorites. I actually had for awhile paperbag in bed so she would go after that instead of me.Consistency is the answer in getting her to stop this biting hands, that's for sure.
And bite her - never. Just like I would never ever hit her.

Posted 5 months ago #
Edog

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I find a dog is a great solution to this problem.

Posted 5 months ago #
bambooboy

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A squirt gun, water in the face. They don't like it. Also if they are attacking your hand, chances are that at some point they were (more or less) told it's OK to do so. the squirt gun will chaqnge their attitude though

Posted 5 months ago #
crownhiller

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Yes - she's gotten the idea (and it doesn't take much) that hands ARE toys - so you'll never get her to stop until she relearns that behavior. PDM is spot on - you either give her something else when she goes for your hand, and it has to be fairly immediate or won't work - OR as others have said, make the object unattractive either via scent, water spray or sound.

One of our cats had developed a love affair with chewing on light switches and power cords recently - after trying every suggestion I could find, and getting her checked out for something organically wrong (cats can develop pica for a variety of reasons) I accidentally stumbled on to the cure. Was unpacking some Christmas stuff that was in an old metal candy box - suddenly had the brilliant (for me) idea to fill it with coins and use it to make noise - man oh man has "shaky box" worked - she absolutely HATES the sound of it and will stop whatever bad thing she's doing at one shake - and even better, it's been weeks since she tried to chew on the light switch or anything else that could do her in prematurely - yippee ;o)

Though I suppose you don't want her to associate your hand with bad things...hmmmm...

Posted 5 months ago #
SmartsyArtsy

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Ch has a very good point. I would never make my hands Unattractive to any animal. With all the rescues I have had, I have see the result. Even Lillie, after nearly 8 years sometimes still shrinks from my hands.

That means no bad scents or squirt bottles.

Shaking a noisy tin, tapping an aluminum pie plate or throwing down a noisy chain (not at her) can be done surreptitiously without her connection to your hand as the cause.

Btw placing pie tins will deter clawing furniture or digging plants also.

Try several things but be consistent with each. Taking her by the scruff of her neck when she bites to place her away from you is a good idea also. It says "I won't play with you". It is what her momma would do and is effective also. (Mr intj had it right with that one)

Posted 5 months ago #
bambooboy

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They won't associate your hand with a squirt gun. They aren't that smart. What they will pick up on is the sound of the squirt gun though, because it will immediately preceed a squirt in the face, which they don't much care for. As long as you don't hit them with your hand, that's when they make an association of hand being a bad thing.

Posted 5 months ago #
Cheese

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Crownhiller: We use the "voice of God" to stop our cat in her tracks when she is doing something she shouldn't. Works like a charm. We sing a nonsense vowel in our highest falsetto and somehow she has associated that sound with bad things, it probably hurts her ears :-(. She looks around extremely warily like the boogeyman is out, and hopefully associates the boogeyman with whatever she was just doing she shouldn't have. The key is maybe because of the high frequency she doesn't associate it with us.

Posted 5 months ago #
gordy

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It will get better-really it will. Our now 15 year old cat was a terror when she was a kitten. Be consistent on the training, don't allow her near your hands or fingers at play time. If she starts trying to bite you-divert her attention with a cat toy. The shake can is a great idea to distract her from bad behavior.

Posted 5 months ago #
gracie

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I had tried the "Voice of God" when she got up on my dresser where my bedroom flat screen TV & cable box is located. For whatever reason likes to sit on cable box. I did "NO, PICKLES GET DOWN." She looks at me like "did you say something?" So I started doing the sing-song higher voice thing & amazingly it works.
I also think the squirt gun will work when it comes to attack mode on my hands. She hates the rain, snow and when sitting in the bathroom watching me get ready, if a drop of water happens to go her way - bam, she's out of there.
Aside from this, like I said, she is really the joy of my life.

Posted 5 months ago #
bambooboy

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You don't even need an actual squirt gun. One of those small spray misters with the nozzle unscrewed so it's a stream works just as well.
Cats are good

Posted 5 months ago #
MrINTJ

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I use a loud "eh because I once read an article about humans using multi-syllable and animals using mono syllable sounds, makes lens to me

I am trying to find a pic of my cat who likes to sleep on the older TV but I can't find it

Posted 5 months ago #
pandabur

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Agreed with getting her used to the fact that the hand is not the toy. Depending on what you're doing, some kitties are just not interested in tummy rubs, so it might be defensive.

We use the water bottle (squirt gun) method for behavior issues. My trick is to shake the water bottle, squirt at said feline, and then shake the bottle again. Pretty quickly, naughty kitty associated the sound the water with the offensive water attack, and would cease bad behavior when the bottle was shaken. Pavlov (I think).

I should try the falsetto V.o.G. That's pretty funny.

Posted 5 months ago #
gracie

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pandabur - when I'm really irritated with her (like when she "escapes" out the front door when I come home & won't come back in (too much fun running around) I do the falsetto VOG voice but I'm saying "Pickles you little sh*t you are pissing me off. Colme here, baby." When she does her escape she likes to play cat and mouse with me. I show disinterest & that seems to work - that and the falsetto VOG

Posted 5 months ago #
pennygirl

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Put lemon juice on your hands.

Posted 5 months ago #
Edog

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Can't you just leave Gracie alone, Penny?

Posted 5 months ago #
pennygirl

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At least I offered something constructive Edog :-)

Posted 5 months ago #
Edog

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My dog comment was very constructive!

Posted 5 months ago #
pennygirl

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No it wasn't! You want something that deters the kittie not something that eats it!

Posted 5 months ago #
Edog

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No, it was not about eating. It was about selecting the right pet before you get an animal.

Posted 5 months ago #
pennygirl

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She already has the kittie. To late to second guess.

Posted 5 months ago #
SmartsyArtsy

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OK you two knock it off or I will get the spray bottle out.

Posted 5 months ago #
crownhiller

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Oh trust me - we've done a veritable chorus of voice related things - She is just toooo smart to be fooled by most stuff - she even "liked" bitter taste stuff that the Vet reccommended. "Shaky Box" is the one and only thing that works - the younger one is so scared of everything that just a mother cat style hiss does the trick. She is petrified of "shaky box" so I have no worries about keeping her in line :o)

Posted 5 months ago #
Cate

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I had an "attack kitten." Three things helped. Getting her a playmate (really helped). Not scratching her tummy except when she specifically asked for a tummy scratch. Not involving my hands/feet in her "wild" play with her toys. She is four now and has completely outgrown her attack kitty status.

Posted 5 months ago #
lakreitz

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I've done a lot of kitten fostering. Allowing kitties to 'play' with hands is a big no-no. Some cats don't outgrow it and then it's a 10 lb cat attacking.

The foster program suggests very loudly yelling 'ow' to stop undesirable behavior. I always felt silly doing that. Personally, I found that blowing in a cat's face was an effective deterrent. They really don't like it. It seems to distract and disorient long enough for the attack moment to pass. Also, I offer up a small (hand-sized) plush type toy. I keep these toys in big jar with catnip so that they are attractive to cats.

You might think about a shelter foster program as a way of introducing Pickles to another kitty. I've mixed lots of unrelated young cats with zero problems. I'd suggest a young, under one-year old male. It could be she really is best as a solo cat, some cats are. However, after the hissy intro & adjustment period passes, she might love a playmate. If not, the foster kitty would still be listed on petfinder and soon find permanent home.

Posted 5 months ago #
Nora Bell

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Nora was always too busy attacking Dash to attack my hands.;-) But when Dash was a kitten that was a big problem. Fortunately, he also really liked those toy balls with bells in them. Every time he would go for the hand I'd use my free hand to throw one of those balls across the kitchen floor. He'd scurry after it and forget about my hand. He soon grew out of the behavior. Good luck! :-)

Posted 5 months ago #
gracie

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Thanks to all of you my little hand biter has changed. She jumped up on the dresser & sat on cable box. Didn't get down when I said the usual no, Pickles, down. So I squirted her once with the bottle squirter. She jumped up in the air, and then ran down the hall. I was afraid she wouldn't come to me after that but she did right away. I'm happy to say she has not gone up there since - well once but all I did was pick up the bottle & shake it as someone here suggested. That's all it took.
And the hand biting - I do not have one new scratch. On my bed now I have a bunch of new toys, a paper bag for her to crawl in to & the squirt bottle on the ready.
She is now the sweet one as she was when I first got her.

Posted 5 months ago #
pandabur

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YAY Gracie! Great news!
Yes, we ended up with two squirt bottles (one for each floor) for a while.

Posted 5 months ago #
gracie

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pandabur - I'm wondering if she was going through a heat period. Her personality wasn't her - she was such a b*tch for a few days. She's at that age - the vet just wanted her to bulk up some for surgery, saying she is too small. I think she's gained enough weight and she's six months old now. Good idea on getting another squirt bottle. She even let me rub her tummy and touch her hind feet - it was a short time but baby steps on that.

Posted 5 months ago #
Nora Bell

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Yay! Good news, Gracie. See? You can train a cat. ;-)

Posted 5 months ago #
Compass Rose

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Glad to hear it's working out, Gracie. It's clear how much you love your baby.

Kitties are the best, aren't they? Ours is such a treat to have around. She makes me laugh every day.

Posted 5 months ago #
gracie

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Compass - they are the best. When i come home now, it's not to an empty house. When my dog died it took me couple of weeks to go automatically home because I missed her compansionship & barking at the door when I drove up. Well Pickles knows the sound of my car & she is at the door meowing quite loudly for such a small thing. And then I get the rubbing of my legs & wanting to be picked up - the best! And when she is playing and does the side "attack" on a toy just cracks me up.

Posted 5 months ago #
Compass Rose

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Gracie, I love the playing and attacks too, especially when she's stalking her mousie and charges at it. She does that butt-wiggling, tail-flicking, flashy eyes thing.

But I think my favorite funny thing is her tantrums when we unload the dishwasher. She absolutely hates the sound of the cutlery tray being unloaded. It must be like nails on a chalkboard for her, because she goes tearing for the stairs and races up them with as much noise as she can possible make. She sounds like a Clydesdale thumping around upstairs. Cracks me up every time.

Pets are the best. They ask so little and give so much. I can't imagine ever not having a cat.

Posted 5 months ago #
gracie

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Your cat sounds like a character. This weekend we were down at Golden Gardens (she likes to ride in the car) and she was sitting on my shoulders. A motorcycle came screaming by & she practically turned herself inside out trying to "escape" from the noise.
A guy just sent me this video and my cat does this with me (even the biting part)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3iFhLdWjqc

Off to PetSmart to get some litter and food for the little "monster"

Posted 5 months ago #
Compass Rose

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She is a funny little creature.

I've seen that video before. Funny that your cat does that. Maybe that somehow led to the hand-biting ... ?

Does she ride in the car without a carrier? I've tried that a few times but inevitably kitty wants to get under my feet. She doesn't mind being in the car in her carrier, though.

Posted 5 months ago #
gracie

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Compass - the day I got her I put her in a carrier. She threw a HUGE fit & wouldn't stop. So I pulled over & let her out. From that day on she has been a perfect car cat. She doesn't try to jump out an open window, sits on top of my leg or in the back window when I'm driving. When parked she gets on dashboard (avatar is her few months back sitting on dashboard with her legs over the steering wheel) or on my shoulders.
It's like having a dog+kitten combo which a friend called her a "ditten"

Posted 5 months ago #