Expert: Dear Tabbi - 5/7/2008

Question
Hi Tabby

I have an 11 month old kitty, that I adopted at approx 8 weeks old from the humane society, he was listed as a stray cat.
For the most part my kitty is very well behaved very playfull and sometimes affectionate.
My cat has always been fairly good at knowing his limitations when playing ie doesnt break the skin etc. Every now and again he gets in a very aggressive mood and will attack me (usually my arm), with his ears back, wrapping his paws around and biting. He gets very angry when you try and remove him or tell him no. He does this in some other situations for example: I was sewing the other day and had my fabric laid out on the floor, my kitty kept crawling underneath and playing, I picked him up a few times, told him no and moved him to another area while also trying to get him interested in another toy (I even gave him his own fabric to play under!). The next time he did it, I moved the fabric back to uncover him and he put his ears back and yowled at me, somewhat similar to if I had stepped on his tail. Usually when he gets in these moods, if I cant distract him with a toy, I give him a 5 minute time out and he is always calm afterwards. I dont understand why he acts like this, I dont hurt him in anyway when he does this, I use a firm No and try and distract him, and on the very rare occasion I have scruffed him if there was no other way to loosen him from my arm.
He is an indoor kitty, and I realize he does get bored and try and spend time playing with him as well as taking him out regularily on a leash to play outside.
I suppose I am wondering what would provoke this aggressive behaviour, as there seems no pattern to it (he has never gotten aggressive when seeing other animals outside for example). Could it be related to him being a stray? or possibly being abused before I got him?
I try not to get mad at him for his behaviour, but I would like to understand it better so I can help him.
I should also mention that he has never been a lap cat, but he would at times sit in my lap while Im at my computer for short periods and he would always let me pet him, now he wants to be petted but will sometimes shy away from me, and he has not sat in my lap for quite a while. Im really confused because I would never intentionally harm my kitty.
(We also have gotten a new ferret a few weeks ago, but my kitty still gets the same attention, and he in fact loves the new addition. The new ferret is kept cage except for playtime)
Thanks so much :)

Answer
Cathy,

You most likely have a cat that was a feral kitten or had a feral parent(s). That kind of behavior and distrust of humans is inbred and that is their basic personality. You need to modify your cat's behavior and get him to understand that you don't like the biting and scratching and will not accept him doing it.

Previously feral kittens or kittens from feral parents can be lovable, but most DO NOT like to be held or restrained. They also do not like to be petted for very long. You need to watch for the signs he's had enough BEFORE he attacks. The tail is the key. If your cat starts twitching his tail in a jerky fashion it's time to leave him alone...NOW! If he's already attacked your arm (or elsewhere) don't fight him or he may bite hard. Sometimes slapping your other hand hard against a hard surface like the top of  a table  may startle the cat into breaking off the attack. But if you stay still, he usually will calm down and release you.

Note: DO NOT look him in the eyes. That is a threatening gesture. When you pet the cat, pet from behind the head. Do not come at the cat with your hand from the front. Wilder cats see that as a threat and strike or bite first before they realize you are just petting them. Watch him for signs for what he likes and doesn't like as far as being touched...and respect that.

If he was not a feral kitten then he may not have learned that biting people is an unacceptable behavior because he was weaned too early. When a kitten is weaned too early it doesn't get a chance to learn about acceptable behaviors from it's mom and siblings. A mother cat will correct a kitten if it uses sharp claws or bites too hard. When kittens play together, they learn that biting or clawing a sibling results in being grabbed and bitten in return. A kitten that didn't get that learning opportunity doesn't know how to act or react.

He may have been an abused kitten and is defending himself (in his mind) the only way he knows how. It can be difficult to break an abused cat of this behavior, but adult cats CAN learn what is acceptable and not acceptable behavior.  It just takes alot of time and patience. Never hit the cat or use any kind of violence when he bites. Be strict and firm, but don't punish. That can make him meaner, and you will lose all trust which can be difficult to regain.

Pain or fear causes his type of behavior also. If your cat is striking out because he's afraid or hurting, the best thing to do is leave him alone and work on the underlying problem. A cat in pain or fear has his ears flat back against his head and his body rolled into a defensive posture low against the ground with claws up and ready. If you suspect that his behavior could be a medical issue then try to get him to a vet for an examination.

Getting him neutered (if he's not) will help calm him down too. Here is a link for state by state low cost spay programs: http://www.lovethatcat.com/spayneuter.html

Don't ever play with your cat with your hands, or 'roughhouse' with him, use an interactive toy instead. Use a fishing pole type toy, a pet laser light (that shines a little 'red bug' on the floor and walls that cats love to try to catch) that you can get at PetSmart or somewhere similar, a rope to pull, or a stuffed mouse to throw. Those are some examples.

This is one of the few behavior problems for which a second cat might be recommended (after the adjustment period and introduction stage).  A second cat of the same age and temperament will sometimes solve the behavior problem by satisfying the pet’s need for active play. It would give him someone to snuggle with, to keep him company, and to comfort him when he is alone. He can also learn to trust from another cat. And it takes the pressure off of you to be company for him.

Give him a raw beef rib bone periodically as a treat to chew on. Go to the supermarket and have the butcher cut some beef ribs in half. Though some cats don't care for meat, most cats enjoy them. It satisfies the hunting and 'fresh kill' instinct that is inherited in some cats. Especially if they are indoor cats and can't go outside to satisfy the urge to hunt. Plus the fibers in the meat cleans their teeth.

To help relax your kitty You can try a popular cat calming spray, or plug-in, called Feliway (or Comfort Zone with Feliway). It is available at pet stores, from a vet (they use it too), or on-line. It copies relaxing pheromones that cats produce from rubbing their faces on things.

There is another cat calming product that you can add to his food or water that reduces anxiety called Bach's Rescue Remedy. It is available on-line and in health food stores. Here is a link about it: (copy and paste, or type the whole links into your address bar)
http://www.bachflower.com/Pets.htm

As a last resort you may want to speak to your vet about putting the kitten on 'kitty Prozac' to help calm him. It is a common medication for that purpose.

I hope this information is helpful!

Tabbi