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About Norman Auspitz
Expertise
I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.

Experience
I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.

Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.

Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook

Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.

Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.

You are here: Experts > Animals/Pets > Cats > Cats > Vicious cat

Cats - Vicious cat

Expert: Norman Auspitz - 11/2/2009

Question
My cat is a spayed female house cat of about a year of age. I found her at a shelter when she was 16 weeks old. She had been found wandering. She used to attack me but this is getting better. She also used to bite my toes at night but has thankfully stopped that too, though she will sit and look at them so I know she wants to.....

She is still a little tricky to pat. I scratch her head and she will immediately wrap her arms around my arm and start to bite and lick my fingers. These she almost consumes and I am very familiar with her soft pallet as a result. Makes her an easy cat to give pills to. There is also a lot of saliva involved in this licking and biting. Her grip gets increasingly intense and her nails come out. Then she starts paddling my arm with her rear feet, sometimes also with her claws out.

I always stop her at this point and ignore her, but it is only getting better very slowly.

Will she grow out of this or will it continue and why does she do this? Don't mind the nibbling, but the nails are no fun. I would also like to pat my cat without it turning into a saliva fest. She will only let my dog pat her and clean her head. My dog raised her so any emotional issues she has are probably his fault :-) Btw, she is better at a lot of dog stuff than my dog.

Thanks in advance.

Answer
Margot,

This kitten has never really been socialized to humans. Cats and kittens have very, very tough skin and exhibit much biting/scratching behavior in play. They need to learn that such behaviors are not appropriate for us softer skinned humans. We socialize our kittens by picking them up, stroking them, and talking softly to them. Kittens love this "game". If the kitten begins the biting/scratching behavior, we scruff the kitten, put it down and walk away. It usually does not take long for kittens to figure out they must be gentler with humans.

Given the age of your cat, I am not sure this will work or how long it might take. You are doing some of what needs to be done when you stop and ignore her. If you consistently apply this process whenever she begins the biting/scratching behavior, she may grow out of it.

The good news is that she is exhibiting very affectionate behavior that you need to channel to a less painful display!

Good luck and best regards... Norm.

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