Expert: Dear Tabbi - 10/3/2008

Question
I have a 4 or 5 year old male who was either a runaway, a stray, or an abandoned cat.
He is definitely an alpha cat. (He was found by a woman who had 5 other cats and he fought with four of them; he liked the female.)
He is now (and for the last 3 years) the only cat. He is a social and affectionate indoor cat spending most of the time in the same room as his humans.
He comes running to get groomed each morning and evening. After his grooming, we walk together to the kitchen to get his cat treat. On the way to the kitchen, often he will swat my leg with his paw and sometimes nip my calf. I suspect that his is affection but the nips smart.
What is he doing and how can I stop the nips? The swats with his (declawed) paw is cute.

Answer
Roy,

Indoor cats have surpressed hunting urges that they can't satisfy if they don't go outside. Cats who exhibit this behavior are usually trying to utilize their natural instinct to hunt and attack something that moves...in your case a leg.

Try getting some little furry stuffed mice that you can throw and he can catch; get a pet laser light (PetSmart, Petco, etc,) where he can chase the 'little red bug' on the floors, wall, and ceilings. They also love the sparkly craft balls that you get in a package in Wal-Mart's craft dept., or at a craft store. Mine carry those around in their mouth

Another thing that hunter type cats like, periodically for a treat, is a raw beef rib bone. I have the butcher cut some in half. The cats satisfy their 'fresh kill' instinct by pulling on the meat, the protein is good for them, and the fibers in the meat help clean their teeth. Not all cats are interested in them (some of mine aren't...one of mine won't touch meat, raw OR cooked) but the 'hunters' usually have fun with them. Sometimes they will growl at you if you look like you might take their prize away!

Have a folded newspaper handy or carry one when you think the cat is going to attack your leg. Whap him with the newspaper when he goes for your leg to scare him, and at the same time loudly say "NO LEGS!"
That is so he can associate the scaring and loud voice with your leg. Make sure to wait a few minutes then love on him. You want him to be scared to attack your leg but NOT to be scared of you!

Tabbi