Expert: Norman Auspitz - 11/29/2011

Question
We rescued a kitty and we have 5 children. The cat will mostly attach my 2 year old Olivia specially while she's sleeping. My baby has scars on her arms and hands. I first thought that maybe my daughter was doing something wrong. We've shown her how to hold it and be gentle to it and the cat will not stop attacking her at any time. I correct him all the time.

This morning was my final straw, he was cuddling with me on the couch, we both got up to check on Olivia to see if she had woken up and when he saw me turn my back and start heading toward the living room he ran and attacked her. When I heard her screaming I went back into the room to realize he was attacking her face. He looked at me and hid immediately. I'm strongly considering to declaw him although I feel it to be inhumane. I don't know what else to do to correct him. I use timeouts for him and scold him when he does improper things it has worked as far as how he is with me but has not worked with the toddlers.

Answer
Margarita,

I have no idea what is going on.  Have you had the kitty to a vet to see if there is a medical problem? E.g., ongoing pain or discomfort, elevated thyroid levels, etc.

When you rescue a kitty, you have no idea what it has been through or how it may have been abused.  It is possible, the children are way too much for the kitty. Cats tend to be distrustful of small children since small children are unpredictable.

Also, cats have to learn to be gentle. What you may think is an attack is normal cat behavior for play. Cats need to be socialized to play nice with humans. Cats have very, very tough skin and must learn that we humans do not. If you saw how kittens (especially very young kittens) play with each other they engage in very rough biting and scratching behaviors with each other. They need to be taught this is inappropriate with humans.

Timeouts and scolding will not help.  What you need to do is to reward gentle behavior with extra affection, petting, and treats. If the biting/scratching behavior starts up you just walk away.

How old is this kitty?  Often kittens and young children are a bad combination. Kittens may not have the good sense to get out of the way and young children often do not understand the harm they can do to kittens.

Please let me know.

Best regards... Norm.