Re: Adopted cat who wants to bite and grab

beach-mom · ‎03-09-2010

@Kitty Galore - I can give you DH's advice tomorrow. We also have a Tonkinese (our second), and we got a Siamese as a wedding present from the vet tech in charge of boarding at the veterinary hospital where DH worked!

It sounds to me like she could be giving you "love bites." Still, you don't want that to become a habit. Sometimes they ****** lightly, and sometimes they can hurt.

Our Siamese lived 19 years. He was one of a kind, and although many kitties have found their way to our home and our hearts, we still miss our wedding present!

luvmyteddy4 · ‎09-04-2010

You can train them not to bite you with a firm no and redirect with a toy. Some younger cats don't know any better.

I do TNR work so I do get some biters with the feral cats. I trapped a 5 month old tortie who didn't know any better but she did outgrow the biting.

I had one adult feral that bit me every time I went outside to feed him. I had him neutered but had to release him because he was so aggressive. I eventually brought him inside because he got in a bad fight and he stayed under the bed for a year. It took awhile but he stopped biting me and now he is so lovable I can't stand it. One of my favorites.

I keep all the cats I trap and socialize them inside. They all get along and are very social and loving to me and each other. Who knew!

I would get some advice and I'm sure it will get better.

Tinkrbl44 · ‎08-23-2010

@smoochy wrote:
12 month old Stanley Cup has done this since we adopted him at twelve weeks. He is like a feline Chuck Norris, always lying in wait to get my hands. He play bites pretty hard too. He's just a normal kitty. It's been years since we had a cat so I went online to see what the cat behavior expert Jackson Galaxy had to say. Basically it's normal stalking, hunting, catching prey behavior. Everything a domestic cat does can be related to those things

@smoochy

Sounds like the biting is in the range of playfulness, but I have to ask ... are you up to date with your tetanus shots? I believe it's good for 10 years. Just a suggestion.

candys mine · ‎08-20-2012

Good ideas have been given here.

Agree the key is redirect the energy from your fingers to maybe a wand toy.

Watch for her "Tell" that she's about to mip.

Before you got her you say she had a Playmate to expend her energy with.

She doesn't have that now. She has you must learn that rough and tumble kitty play is out of bounds but toy play and snuggles are allowed.

It's hard to keep a kitty quiet after surgery but do your best to keep her off the top of the refrigerator for a few more days.

Enjoy your new fur friend!

CalminHeart · ‎03-09-2010

My sister adopted a cat last summer who does this. My sister's legs and arms look like she was whipped with a cat o' nine. She's tried everything and can't get the cat to stop.

Imaoldhippie · ‎06-10-2015

If I were put in a room by myself and someone only came in when it was convenient for them I would bite and grab too.

My idea of adjusting to her new home is being with her new humans. Maybe she is just not the kitty for you.

BE THE PERSON YOUR DOG THINKS YOU ARE! (unknown)

Venezia · ‎03-09-2010

@Kitty Galore - I just reread your post and realized that this only happened when you patted the bed. To a cat (especially a kitten), that can be a signal to pounce.

It doesn't sound like this is a constant problem, as you only mention the one incident.

I have to agree with another post - if she's the only cat you have now, I wouldn't keep her confined to one room. That's usually only suggested, if there are other animals in the home (at least by the vets and shelters around here).

Let her explore her new world and come back and let us know how you get on.

One last suggestion: you might try Feliway plug-ins. They helped a lot to calm the situation with our existing cats, when we brought a new cat into our home. Even with one cat, they could help calm her down.

"" A little learning is a dangerous thing."-Alexander Pope

Kitty Galore · ‎03-16-2010

@beach-mom I guess having 2 Tonks for 18/22 years we just didnt except this behavior . our Tonks we're so gentle never any biting or grabbing our hands etc. we realize though every cat is different plus not knowing her background at all we don't know how she was treated or interacted with her previous family . Also they played with each other which I'm sure makes the difference. If they are love bites which I didn't even think of , but that sounds like what it may be need to work with her. We need to be patient I had a Siamese growing up and we had 2 when we first married , both lived ..one 13 other 15. 😺

Kitty Galore · ‎03-16-2010

@Imaoldhippie wrote:
If I were put in a room by myself and someone only came in when it was convenient for them I would bite and grab too.

My idea of adjusting to her new home is being with her new humans. Maybe she is just not the kitty for you.

@Imaoldhippie that's just not the case !! we spend much time with her , petting, holding , interacting with her . My husband even has stayed in the room sleeping there so she feels safe . We give her alone time as well, but we are in and out if the bedroom all day ! This is what our veterinarian and shelter suggested we do .

Kitty Galore · ‎03-16-2010

@Venezia wrote:
@Kitty Galore - I just reread your post and realized that this only happened when you patted the bed. To a cat (especially a kitten), that can be a signal to pounce.

It doesn't sound like this is a constant problem, as you only mention the one incident.

I have to agree with another post - if she's the only cat you have now, I wouldn't keep her confined to one room. That's usually only suggested, if there are other animals in the home (at least by the vets and shelters around here).

Let her explore her new world and come back and let us know how you get on.

One last suggestion: you might try Feliway plug-ins. They helped a lot to calm the situation with our existing cats, when we brought a new cat into our home. Even with one cat, they could help calm her down.

@Venezia actually this morning she wanted to follow me out of the bedroom when I was with her feeding her . I had opened the window for her to sit on the sill to watch the birds as well , we have feeders right outside that window ., which she loved . She explored a few rooms cautiously as cats do , but preferred after 10 minutes to go back to the bedroom where I guess she still feels safe.

never heard if this feliway but will look into it today . Sounds like a great thing to try , thanks 😺