Conference misery::feline_v1

    
    
      I'm not sure about the biting, but I do know that i've used the
      squirt bottle technique and it has worked, but it takes time.
      When my Sylvester had the urge to claw at my new recliner, I would
      squirt him with the water bottle & when my little one wanted to
      claw into my rugs, she would get the bottle, so after awhile I
      could be laying in bed and hear one of them in the hallway doing
      it and I only had to make the noise and they would run.. So now
      I don't even need the actual bottle..
      Also I had left the bottle (once they knew what it did) by that
      particular corner of the recliner and he wouldn't go near it.
    
      It sounds strange but maybe just a thought would be to leave the
      water bottle (after the cat knows really well what it does) either
      at the bedroom doorway (providing you don't trip over it in the night)
      or by the bed where the cat jumps up, til Sol gets the hint.
    
      Good luck
      Diana                                                          

    why don't you lock the cat in the bathroom or other safe room
    for the night?
    

    ha, ha, ha, ha. Sorry, couldn't help it.  Of course if she
    "rewards" him for biting her by feeding him, he's going to
    repeat the behavior.  It's going to take a while to stop this
    behavior now that it's ingrained, but I second the previous
    suggestions.  On no account must she do anything that leads him to
    believe that his causing a commotion in the morning causes food to
    appear.
    

I did a keyword check for you and came up with these other notes on Biting.  
You may want to check them out too.

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Jo

    She could wait until the cat starts biting her and THEN lock him
    in the bathroom.  He'll get the message real quick that that 
    behavior is going to get him sent to kitty jail.
      Nancy

    When I had behavoural problems with Mushroom my vet told me to build
    her a home outside, like a kennel, and leave her outside for about 2
    weeks, inclusive of feeding times, wind, rain, snow and the rest.  To be
    honest I never had the heart, she is such a small cat, but I did kick
    her out at nights or shut her out of my bedroom, which is now out of
    bounds to her, and although she is still an absolutely nutty cat she
    doesn't bite or scratch anymore.  
           
    Chris

    re: .6
    
    Dump that vet.  Or better yet, put him outside for
    2 weeks in the rain and snow.
    

leaving a kitten outside is animal abuse.  Kittens have mom and litter mates
to keep them warm...without these, they simply would not generate enough
body heat to stay healthy - even in a "little house".  Egad!  I sometimes
wonder how vets do get qualified.  Some vets don't even like cats, and we
all should be on the lookout for them.

re: biting cat - you can unconsciously encourage a cat to bite by:

	1) responding to the cat in a positive manner when he/she bites.
	   another words, don't get up and play with or feed the cat....do
	   remove the cat to another part of the house - where cat litter
	   may be found - and place the kitten there.
	   If the cat doesn't learn in a few days to leave you alone
	   until you wake up, put the cat to bed at night in "his/her room"
	   and close the door....opening it only when you get up.  Needless
	   to say, leave water with the kitten.

	2) playing with your hand with the cat - your hand should be
	   the gentle touch in his/her environment.  Play with the cat
	   by dragging toys across the floor, dangling toys in the air,
	   anything else but directly playing with your hand with your
	   cat.  They can be so cute when they "attack" the hand...at
	   first, but as they get stronger, etc. that game gets old fast.

    My suggestion would be to reprimand the kitten everytime if does that. 
    It may take while...but if you keep it up, the kitten will usually
    learn that that behavior is unacceptable.
    
    Reprimand with a strong "NO" and and tiny pat on the nose [I'm probably
    going to get accused of kitty abuse now...]  They learn........
    
    michele

    I need some help with a nasty cat that I am looking after for a friend.
    We have an arrangement with one of our neighbours that we feed her cat
    when she is away and she feeds ours when we are away. She goes away
    *ALOT*! This isn't a problem cos she lives so close. What is a problem
    is her cat! Not only does it bite, but it will actually jump at you and
    try to bite when you are in there trying to feed it. I got bitten at
    the weeken - quite a nasty bite. Gemma (the cat) jumped at me, climbed
    up onto my shoulders and started attacking me. I was terrified! She was
    always a bit nasty at times, but this really is too much!
    
    What can I do to calm her down? If I stop this arrangement, then we
    have to find someone else to feed ours when we go away. I have tried
    speaking to my neighbour - asked her to take Gemma to the vet and get
    her checked out. She has taken her to the vet in the recent past and
    there is nothing wrong.
    
    What shall I do - I've got to go back there tonight :-( I will be
    wearing gloves etc, but she actually bit me on the head!
    
    
    HELP! I am scared of this cat!
    
    Lisa.

    Does she do this to her own people? Maybe she's trying to protect the 
    house? Is it possible that the feedings are too few & far between & the 
    cat is famished? I've never had such an experience! 
    
    My cousin has a nasty cat. She's a petite, black w/ whit spot on chest,
    little lady. She's VERY jealous of ANY female in the house, ESPECIALLY
    if she (the OTHER female) goes near my cousin! Kitty (that's her name)
    even sleeps between him & his wife!  He doesn't think she's nasty at
    all, since she LOVES him SO much! He feels protected! I keep my guard
    up, I must say!
    
    Bonnie

    Yes, she does bite her own people. However I have never seen her fly at
    them like she does when I (or Rob) go into the house. Sometimes she is
    very friendly and then she goes for you!
    
    :-(
    
    
    Lisa.
    

    Arm yourself with cup(s) of water AND a spray bottle.......
    when she comes at you, let her have it full in the face!!!!  
    First the cupful, and then stand armed and ready with the spray....
    Do this EVERY time she comes near you.....She will learn to
    stay away from you ALL THE TIME!.  You can then safely put
    down the food & water and leave.  You do not need to do
    anything more than this....She can get the attention she needs
    when her owners come back.
    
    Sheesh! Being attacked!  Wow!   You must be one good neighbor
    to put up with this! :-)
    
    Lynne

    Is the cat actually biting?  Or is a love bite.  I often wake up
    to a nip on the hand or chin, however, I do have an almost bald
    (and almost new) rug through which his lordship issues his demands.
    I would need a fire hose to change that.
    
    
    

    I would also wear a denim or other heavy jacket, and dungerees, etc.
    This is not fun stuff.  It reminds me of Pussycat when i first got him
    and he was feral and petrified.  It sounds like your neighbors
    have let this behavior get way out of hand.  Or is this a feral cat that
    they took in and are training?
    
    What i did with Pussycat is wear heavy stuff, not react as though I was
    hurt when he bit, but make it clear from my scolding tone of voice that
    it was a no-no, so he got no "reward" for biting.  He also got lots
    of love at other times, until he learned he was safe and he
    didn't have to react this way.  You're in a somewhat different position
    as a visior since you don't have much opportunity to do the latter,
    so I'd fall back on the squirt bottle for extra reinforcement.  His
    parents really need to deal with this also.
      

    I chickened out last night and didn't go over to feed Gemma - Rob went
    over in my place! He shut her in the hall while he was in the kitchen
    doing the food and then left (very quickly!). My neighbours are coming
    home today so I will go over and have a word - I will also show them my
    wounds ;-)
    
    Phew, I am glad that's over!
    
    
    Lisa.
    

    I don't blame you!
    
    Good Luck w/ your neighbours! I hope they're willing to continue
    feeding your kids when you're away!
    
    Bon

>    Yes, she does bite her own people. However I have never seen her fly at
>    them like she does when I (or Rob) go into the house. Sometimes she is
>    very friendly and then she goes for you!
    
I'd get a spray bottle full of very cold water - from the refrigerator - and
go visit Gemma.  I'd give her a faceful of the water which should keep her
well away from you.  As you don't live with Gemma, you have little reason to
try tame her - and a cat bite is nasty enough that it should be 
avoided at all cost, even at the risk of scaring Gemma away.  This is not
normal behavior for a domesticated cat, therefore, there must be something
else going on that you are not aware of.  Gemma needs her physical needs
taken care of -- with her attitude, she doesn't seem to need any company,
so I'd suggest you always carry your "weapon" with you - and visit just long
enough to take care of her food and water and catbox needs twice a day.     

Cat bites can lead to blood poisoning - any carnivore bite can - so watch
the bites you get very carefully.

    I spoke to my neighbour again about Gemma. She has just looked after
    our crowd for the last five days without being attacked ;-) Well,
    Florence jumped up and down until she got a cuddle and Rolf kept on
    licking her!!! Gemma is going to the vet tonight. I have been to the
    doctor about the bite on my head. I tried to put my riding hat on on
    Friday - OUCH! The bite is infected :-(
    
    I have the iced spray bottle ready!
    
    
    Lisa.
    

    We adopted Maggie about 7 months ago. She's about a year and a half
    old.  When we first acquired her, she had recently had a litter of 
    kittens, and she needed to be spayed.  She had been found abandoned,
    and pregnant and was taken to the sheter.  When we adopted her, she
    was very skinny, and shy, but friendly.  When we had her spayed she
    ended up having complications, plus a nasty urinary tract infection.
    Since then, though, she has gained weight, and been very friendly.
    At 3:00 this morning, my six year old son came into my room crying,
    saying Maggie bit him on the foot.  She didn't break the skin, so
    I let him sleep with me.  I thought perhaps he kicked her in his 
    sleep, which brought on the bite, or maybe she was playing with his
    foot, if he moved it in his sleep.  but then, when he woke up this
    morning, and walked into the kitchen, Maggie pounced on his foot and
    bit him again!  I don't understand why she did it.  I also have an
    eight year old, and he hasn't been a victim.  Neither have I.  Any
    ideas on why the sudden behavior change?  I'm not sure what to do
    to stop this, maybe it's just an isolated incident.  This morning when
    I saw her do that to Shane, I tapped her on the nose and said sharply
    "no!"  She ran out of the room.  
    
    Suggestions/insight?  I don't know a lot about cat behavior.
    
    thanks,
    
    Kim

    Maggie is bored.  Unsuspecting feet make great toys.  Try more frequent
    and active play with her, or consider getting her a feline playmate of
    a similar (high energy) age.  If you do the latter, be prepared for a
    period of adjustment between the cats before things settle down.