Expert: Dear Tabbi - 11/23/2008

Question
Dear Tabbi,
 I was hoping that you would be able to help me, and tell me where I went wrong. I little over a year ago I took in a stray kitten. She is about a year and a half old at this present time. I am up to date on her medical care, diet, attention, and activity. This is my first cat, so I cant read her behavior well. I was playing with her waving my hand at her as she tries to bite and paw at it like we have done many times before. Usually she grabs my hand and softly bites it. I also noticed that she moves her tail side to side when she plays like this. However this time when she grabbed my hand she bit hard and scratched me with both front and rear paws. I am ok but the scratches are deep, numerous, and painful. I do not know why she turned on me; as I love my cat and take good care of her. I cant understand how she could do to me. At present I am having trouble getting close to her, as I am concerned she will bite again. Can you please tell me what I did wrong, what warnings did I miss. Can you play fight with cats or is that not how they play. could it be that the cat simply does not like me. I thank you for your time and consideration

Cassius

Answer
Cassius,

That is typical behavior of a cat that had a feral parent(s). They are not like domesticated housecats and will not behave like one.

She is becoming an adult and her inbred and inherited tendancies are coming out. Feral cats (even tamed ones) will bite when they get mad, want attention, or don't want attention. They can be loving, follow you around, lay next to you, etc. but they DO NOT like to be petted very long or held. That is their nature.

This is one of the few behavior problems for which a second pet might be recommended (after the 2 week introduction period).  A second cat about the same age and temperament will usually solve the problem by satisfying the pet’s need for active play, especially if the cat is trying to play with you like she would another cat. Humans can't play rough and play kitty games like another cat can. A cat also needs company and companionship when they are alone. 2 cats are easier to care for than 1 because it takes the pressure off of you to keep the one amused. This is just a suggestion.

When you play with the cat NEVER use your hands! Hands are only to pet. Use interactive toys. Get a pet laser light (from Petco, PetSmart, etc.), pull a rope or shoestring around, get some dangly fishing pole type toys (they like them with feathers), get some stuffed toy mice that you can throw and the cat can bat around, get some little balls to roll around, etc.

When you pet the cat, and you see the tail moving from side to side or jerking, and/or the ears go back, that is the time to stop petting or playing...NOW! Those are warning signs that the cat is going to bite, or claws are going to come out to swipe at you.

If the cat is on your lap or next to you and she bites then say loudly "don't bite!" and dump her on the floor and ignore her for a bit. Then pick her up again and pet her. If she bites again then dump her again and say "don't bite!". She will start associating biting with not getting petted and dumped on the floor and should eventually quit doing it.

Here is a copy of an article called "Don't Pet Me Anymore Aggession" from the Sacramento SPCA that you may find informative:

"Some cats will suddenly bite while they're being petted. This behavior isn't well understood, even by experienced animal behaviorists. For whatever reason, petting which the cat was previously enjoying, apparently becomes unpleasant. Biting is the cat's signal that she has had enough petting. Cats vary in how much they'll tolerate being petted or held. Although people often describe their cats as biting "out of the blue" or without warning, cats do generally give several signals before biting.

You should become more aware of your cat's body postures, and cease petting or stop any other kind of interaction before a bite occurs. Signals to be aware of include:
Restlessness
Your cat's tail beginning to twitch
Your cat's ears turning back or flicking back and forth
Your cat turning or moving her head toward your hand
When you observe any of these signals, it's time to stop petting your cat immediately and allow her to sit quietly on your lap or go her own way, whichever she prefers. Any kind of physical punishment almost always makes the problem worse, because your cat is more likely to bite either because she is fearful and/or because petting becomes even more unpleasant if it's associated with punishment."

I hope this helps,

Tabbi