AboutDear Tabbi Expertise I try to help people understand their cats and their cat's behavior.
I do not answer questions about pedigreed cats as mine are, and always have been, from questionable parentage. Please remember I am NOT a veterinarian.
Experience At the current time I have 13 cats. All are spayed and neutered!
Since I was a child I have been owned by lots of cats and kittens of almost every temperment, behavior, and personality. I have experience with neurotic, disabled, stray, feral, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats has taught me that I want to share.
Expert: Dear Tabbi Date: 6/30/2008 Subject: Fed up with cat's behavior...
Question Hi,
We have a cat that is approximately 9 months old. Our neighbor found him abandoned at his workplace when he was just a tiny kitten, around 4 weeks old. We took him in, bottle fed him, so he's like a part of our family. But, I'm at my wits end on what to do about his behavior. He is a highly energetic & aggressive cat. We had him spayed several months ago, and ended up getting him front declawed because he was ruining our brand new furniture. We were hoping the spaying would calm him down, but it doesn't seem to have had any effect on him. He bites all the time...I can just be standing in the kitchen doing the dishes or standing at my bathroom mirror, and he'll run up, bite the crap out of my leg or foot, and run off when I yell. It really hurts! I have three children, but he seems to be particularly aggressive towards my daughter. She has scars all over her arms from Spooky biting her. When she goes to bed at night, he goes into her room and constantly jumps up and bites her in the bed...it takes 30 minutes to an hour for my 6 yr. old daughter to be able to go to sleep because the cat won't leave her alone. We've tried squirting water, putting him down when we're holding him & he bites, swatting him w/ a rolled up magazine...nothing works! He also constantly licks and bites on my feet, which drives me insane! I take my foot and push him away and say a firm "NO", but he just comes right back and does it again. I'm due with our fourth child in 6 weeks and I'm worried how the cat's gonna react to the baby. I don't want my newborn getting bitten by the cat. I have a sister who is severely handicapped & in a wheelchair. The last time my mom brought her to our house, Spooky would just go up and bite her feet, plus he usually bites anyone else who visits. I'm also having trouble keeping him off the counters. I have always forbid it and am very firm w/ him when I catch him, but the behavior hasn't stopped yet. I'm sorry this is so long, but I'm about to the point of getting rid of the cat even though I really hate to. Any advice you can give would be greatly appreciated! God bless!!!
Answer Misha,
Too bad you had him de-clawed (you should NEVER do that to a cat...there are other ways!) because I would probably suggest that he would be happier as an outdoor cat.
It sounds like your cat may be bored and he is trying to play with you like he would another cat. It also sounds like you have a lot of people and activity that is either getting him over-excited, or he is trying to get attention. He gets a reaction from you (whether good or bad) when he bites...and that is what he wants. And if it works, he will continue doing it. The same with the counters. Any attention he gets is better than no attention. Normally, with your your cat's behavior, I would suggest getting a kitty friend to play with to help burn off some of his energy, and to roughhouse with, but in your household, I think you have enough going on without adding another cat to it!
Some cats who had a feral mother do not ever really adapt. They are not like regular housecats. They carry a lot of baggage and behavior that is inherited and inbred. Another reason for not declawing, expecially a cat who could have a feral history, is that they are hunters. And being locked in a house without the ability to hunt can make them 'hunt' anything that moves...which includes feet, hands, etc.
It is my opinion, though I'm not suggesting that you do it, with the cat's behavior, a new baby coming, 3 children, a handicapped sister, and numerous guests, I would seriously consider re-homing the cat to prevent further pain and possible serious injury, especially to a child. Also, though it is not common, the cat may see the new baby as the reason for him not getting enough attention and may increase his ways to try to get it...which MAY include the new baby. Normally When a new baby is due, there is a months-long process to acclimate a cat to the fact of a new baby in the home.
Even though you may love your cat very much, I think the safety of your family from an unpredictable cat that may have mental and emotional problems would have priority. Is it possible for a friend or neighbor to take him for awhile and see if his behavior changes? That would tell you if it is due to lack of attention and chaos.
Congratulations on the coming baby. I hope you can work out something that will make you happy, the cat happy, and keep your children safe.
