topic Re: Petunia is still clawing & biting............ in Pet Lovers

Petunia is still clawing & biting............

CrazyKittyLvr2 — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 14:17:54 GMT

We have been doing the firm NO, putting her on the floor and ignoring her when she gets riled up and bites. So far it hasn't worked. She goes from 0 to 60 in a split second. Sweet and cuddly to Hanibal Lector.

We don't want to use a water bottle. It seems mean to me, plus I think she would think it's a game.

She has a vet appt. Thursday for her next shot maybe they can give us an idea. She is getting so big. Her Dad is a very big boy and we are hoping she doesn't get that big.

At least she and my old cat aren't fighting. The head slaps seem to have stopped although Little P likes to poke the bear and swat at the poor old cat's tail. Instead of bopping her just just hisses now and runs away.

We are talking about getting one of those tall cat tree things for them. Keep them entertained with something new for awhile. I will say she is good about using the scratching post and not my furniture.

Re: Petunia is still clawing & biting............

lynne6was7 — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 14:27:05 GMT

She might be one of those kitties who is easily over stimulated by petting and/or petting in certain areas. Start watching for clues: the flick of her tail, changes in her eyes, direction of ears. These will tell you when she's at her limit and you need to stop with the pets and cuddles.

I have one kitty right now who will let me massage her from nose to tail 24/7 but not all are like her.

Re: Petunia is still clawing & biting............

Sooner — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 14:36:33 GMT

@CrazyKittyLvr2 wrote:
We have been doing the firm NO, putting her on the floor and ignoring her when she gets riled up and bites. So far it hasn't worked. She goes from 0 to 60 in a split second. Sweet and cuddly to Hanibal Lector.

We don't want to use a water bottle. It seems mean to me, plus I think she would think it's a game.

She has a vet appt. Thursday for her next shot maybe they can give us an idea. She is getting so big. Her Dad is a very big boy and we are hoping she doesn't get that big.

At least she and my old cat aren't fighting. The head slaps seem to have stopped although Little P likes to poke the bear and swat at the poor old cat's tail. Instead of bopping her just just hisses now and runs away.

We are talking about getting one of those tall cat tree things for them. Keep them entertained with something new for awhile. I will say she is good about using the scratching post and not my furniture.

@CrazyKittyLvr2 I had a cat growing up (long story) that came from a cat family with a long history of evil temper. It was the smartest cat we ever had, but not a cuddly type.

It chased and terrorized the neighbors dogs--big dogs. It would sit in your lap and you could pet it a little, but not much. You had to be aware and not overstep. It would give you a little bite if you petted too much.

We had to tell new guests to not pet the cat. A few learned to heed the warning the hard way. People who came with visitors would warn them "DON'T bother that cat. They mean that."

So maybe your cat has a personality that is prickly like some people. I will say we loved that cat and it was a joy to the whole family--and it loved us. But you had to respect it for how it was.

Good luck!

Re: Petunia is still clawing & biting............

2blonde — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 14:54:59 GMT

@CrazyKittyLvr2 I've had a lot of cats, and they are so much like people......all with unique personalities.

My former cat, Zoe, was like that too. A couple pats, and she'd had enough. She did mellow in middle age, and actually became quite the lap cat. My current cat, Al, is a mama's boy (I've had him since he was 6 weeks), but he's also a biter at times (his parents were both feral).

One thing I've learned with these cats is to never approach them (to pet them) with your hand in front of the face. Always approach from behind the head. There's something about seeing your hand that starts the trouble. I won't guarantee this will stop all the craziness, but it will help a lot, and don't be afraid to ream her out when she misbehaves.

P.S. The only thing the water bottle ever did with my Al was get water all over my condo!

Re: Petunia is still clawing & biting............

Havarti — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 15:06:57 GMT

I thought the same thing about the spritzer water bottle but....I have come to see its value. If you ever get desperate enough to try it you don't let the the animal see it coming. One quick spritz to the back is like someone tapping you on the shoulder/back when you are busily engaged in an activity. It stops them in their tracks, interrupts the unwanted activity and they turn to see about it. You just look innocent. Often (not always) that break in obsession with the negative activity is enough to get them to move on to something else. Redirect their attetnion - have a toy ready to play, or call the animal to you for love, offer a treat, etc. - only after they stop. It does not hurt them, they don't know where it comes from, and it helps break the negative obsession/activity. Hope that helps give a new view point if you ever get to where you might consider it. I have found it a very useful training tool and I once thought it was cruel.

Re: Petunia is still clawing & biting............

2blonde — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 15:02:43 GMT

@Havarti My cat is ROFL laughing. Sure, he would stop for a second, then resume his activity, I had to resort to a broom, yelling, and scratching pads all over the house. At 4-1/2 years, and with much perseverance, he's much better now.

Re: Petunia is still clawing & biting............

Sooner — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 15:20:43 GMT

@2blonde wrote:
@Havarti My cat is ROFL laughing. Sure, he would stop for a second, then resume his activity, I had to resort to a broom, yelling, and scratching pads all over the house. At 4-1/2 years, and with much perseverance, he's much better now.

@2blonde I have never had a cat that was not TERRIFIED of a broom. Nobody in our house ever hit a cat with a broom. I guess it is when you are sweeping they see that and perceive it as a threat. But get the broom and off they'd go!

One cat was terrified of ceiling fans and would slink on his belly around the edge of the room when the fan was on, looking up occasionally to make sure it wasn't coming down to get him.

Re: Petunia is still clawing & biting............

Love my grandkids — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 15:32:18 GMT

@CrazyKittyLvr2 I agree that she may be getting over stimulated. Hopefully the vet can help.

About the water bottle: We had one cat we had to do this with for a few weeks. We only gave him a squirt on his **bottom** and never in the face.

Re: Petunia is still clawing & biting............

Kachina624 — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 16:05:18 GMT

Wasn't this a feral cat? If so I'd expect bitting and scratching. I've heard they don't make satisfactory pets if that behavior has become a habit.

Re: Petunia is still clawing & biting............

geezerette — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 19:21:38 GMT

Petunia is still a kitten, right? Goodness, my kitten didn't start calming down until he was at least a year old. And a lot of that only came around when my older cat had finally had enough of his craziness and started reprimanding him for real.

If you don't have a cat tree/tower, I would highly suggest getting at least one. Your kitten needs some outlet for his energy. And if possible, put it in a window where he can watch outside activity, especially birds. Your older cat may very well enjoy a tower as well. I have several in various rooms of the house and when my young one gets the crazies, he races from one room to another, up one tree, down, and up another in another room. I don't know what I'd do without them.

Good luck.

Re: Petunia is still clawing & biting............

2blonde — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 18:14:11 GMT

@Sooner It's funny you would say that, because my last cat (now deceased) had the same problem with my only ceiling fan in the dining room. She would run upstairs and refuse to return unless I turned it off.

Cats are weird creatures of habit too. I always have a throw that I put over my legs when I sit on the reclining sofa chair. My current cat, Al, loves to jump up on it and lay on my legs. I recently changed to a different blanket, and he was terrified to get on it. He was actually jumping over it and sitting on the arm of the sofa instead!

Re: Petunia is still clawing & biting............

Sooner — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 18:23:59 GMT

@2blonde I think if I ever start to know why cats think what they think, I will WORRY!

Re: Petunia is still clawing & biting............

CrazyKittyLvr2 — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 19:21:43 GMT

@Kachina624 Yes, she belongs to one our strays. We brought her in at 6wks when she got injured. I think it was 7 wks. ago. At first you could hold her and she was calm and lovey dovey. Once in a while she will curl up and sleep on your shoulder but until she gets tired, she is a tornado w/claws.

@geezerette She has a lot of toys and she plays with them. One especially she beats the living daylights out of. It's as tall as she is but she grabs the top in her mouth and drags it across the LR. She will be running around and suddenly jump up DD's leg (leaving claw marks) and grab her around the forearm and go to town on her.

This morning she was on the back of my recliner and gently took her paws and touched my face, then gently touched my hair. She wasn't mean so I just sat quietly. Then the 3rd touch had the tips of the claws in my head. I reached up and took her paws and said No. When I turned to look at her I got the innocent Petunia face. Innocent my Aunt Fanny. She's a pill.

Re: Petunia is still clawing & biting............

NickNack — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 19:54:35 GMT

@CrazyKittyLvr2 Do you have scratching posts in your house? I have a vertical sisal covered post and a large horizontal cardboard scratching post and a smaller cardboard one. Henry prefers the vertical sisal covered one.

He also has a cat tree in front of a window. I have a bird feeder outside the window for him to watch.

I trim his nails every four weeks. Do you and/or your daughter trim Petunia's nails? It really helps. I can definitely tell when it's time to trim Henry's. I have a feeling Petunia will grow out of this, but you do need to be firm like you've been doing to train her.

Re: Petunia is still clawing & biting............

2blonde — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 19:55:34 GMT

@CrazyKittyLvr2 Your very descriptive reply had me visualizing and chuckling (been there, done that). I know it's not funny when a cat gets their claws or teeth into you, though. My Al was a lot like that when he was little. He still runs through the house like a tornado. He would hit my foot as I was lifting it to walk up or down the stairs......that's no laughing matter. I used to tell him, "If you kill me, who else will take you?"

Be firm with her, as she is going to try your patience. At this point in time, all I have to do is yell his name when he starts doing something bad, and he stops. It will be worth it, but it won't happen overnight.

Re: Petunia is still clawing & biting............

CrazyKittyLvr2 — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 20:06:11 GMT

@NickNack She has a good size scratching post. She uses it alot but I think she prefers flesh. lol

When she's done scratching on the post she climbs on top and lays on her stomach on the 4" round top with all 4 paws just hanging there.

She favorite thing is too see how far across the room she can get without touching the floor. Chair to end table, to another chair (usually across my comuter keys), jumps to my walker seat, then to the coffee table. The she sits there and looks at us like we should clap.

I swear she's a toddler in a cat suit.

Re: Petunia is still clawing & biting............

2blonde — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 20:20:15 GMT

@CrazyKittyLvr2 My best advice during those running rampages is never to sit on the sofa in shorts.

Re: Petunia is still clawing & biting............

CrazyKittyLvr2 — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 20:45:18 GMT

@NickNack I told my daughter we should have the vet trim her talons, oops nails.

Re: Petunia is still clawing & biting............

CrazyKittyLvr2 — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 20:52:17 GMT

@2blonde Learned that lesson. Not shorts but a knee length night shirt. I keep an afghan over my lap and legs.

We know if she takes a long cap nap in late afternoon we are in for it during the evening. She is rested and ready to rumble.

Re: Petunia is still clawing & biting............

NickNack — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 20:57:50 GMT

@CrazyKittyLvr2 wrote:
@NickNack I told my daughter we should have the vet trim her talons, oops nails.

@CrazyKittyLvr2 I know what you mean about talons. That's how I feel about Henry's when they need to be trimmed. I am extremely lucky in that I have a friend who comes over every four weeks and trims them while I hold him. I was determined to learn to do it myself, but I couldn't hold him and trim them at the same time. It seems to be easy for her.