I just adopted a kitten who i believe is 10 months old. I have always had dogs, so this is very new to me. She wants to bite and play all of the time, so how can i stop her from biting sooooooo much? Also she has some mighty sharp claws and I don't want to declaw her, but I'm afraid she'll mess up the furniture with them. Is it safe right now to get them trimmed? Also, what can i wash her with, as far as shampoo is concerned? What is the best way to bond with her, because she loves my husband more than me. I guess because I tell her no and to quit biting, while he doesn't....And finally what is the best way to keep from her spreading germs through the house?
2006-07-11 04:14:33 · 10 answers · asked by Carolinagurl00 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
try carrying a squirt bottle full of plain water. everytime she bites or scratches you, squirt her with the water once & say in a firm & strong voice, "no!". she'll learn not to be so wild. ^^
2006-07-11 04:19:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't allow her to bite you as part of play. Your husband needs to adhere to this as well. If she starts to bite, you stop patting, stop paying attention to her. This is negative reinforcement (if you continue patting her or paying any attention to her, it's positive reinforcement b/c she has your attention....even if it's not rewarding). You can also make a noise (clap, tin can with some coins in it, hissing type sound with mouth) if you think she needs extra reinforcement to stop the behavior. Keep in mind that punishment really doesn't work with cats. It can change their behavior but probably for the worse. I think the "making noise" method counts more as creating an environmental unpleasant response for the behavior. Whichever response you use, consistency and immediacy is important.
I use a squirt bottle/water gun (not a super soaker, just a small one) with my cat when he is doing bad things like starting to climb up onto a utility shelf or sharpen his claws on the speaker. These days I just shake the squirt gun and he will stop. Squirting for biting might be a little hard b/c it might lack the immediacy of just making a noise and giving her as little attention as possible for a few moments.
It's safe to trim her claws. Please refer to link [1] below for a graphic on how to identify the "quick" and where to cut so you don't accidentally injure her. Make sure your husband trims her claws too so she doesn't associate the unpleasantness with just you. Also you can look into a scratching post [2, 3]. It needs to be tall/long and sturdy enough for her to really stretch out and dig into. Some cats prefer carpeted posts, some will be happy with a cardboard scratcher, and some prefer sisal. You might have to experiment to find what works best for her.
You shouldn't need to shampoo her. In fact, doing so might make her dander worse. You can ask the vet if you think she needs a wash, but healthy cats don't usually (unless they mess with a skunk or something).
The best way to keep her from spreading germs through the house is to keep her healthy. Make sure she's up to date on shots and has been dewormed. If she's healthy, she's not "spreading" anything worse than what you encounter every day outside your house - touching a doorknob in a women's bathroom, pushing a grocery cart, or handling money.
As for bonding with her - you may just have to be patient. Here are two suggestions to try though:
- Try patting her with your husband. My bf and I will sometimes lie on the floor and pat my cat together. The cat adores my bf (and me).
- When you first come in the house, greet the kitty and pat her, even for just a moment. Cats can get lonely during the day and if you do this, she will learn that your homecoming signals (a) an end to the loneliness and (b) direct love and attention. This association may generalize so that she comes to look forward to your presence and your attention as much as to your husband's.
2006-07-11 13:25:53 · answer #2 · answered by perseph1 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
all the cats i have love my dad the best it is just the way it is with some cats...i would recommend getting a spray bottle full of water every time she does something wrong spray her. as far as the bitting thing and the claws get a garden glove and play with her with it on...I do that with my kitten she is the same way...that way she doesn't hurt your hands....I would try putting double sided tape on anything you don't want your cat on or messing up (furniture for example.) wash her in baby shampoo johnson and johnson works wonders on my kitten and 7yr old cat....I would also look into cat nails...they clip onto your cats claws so she can't tear up your furniture and you won't have to get her declawed...
hope this all helps
2006-07-11 11:24:51 · answer #3 · answered by Ashley 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She is still young, she will sleep all day very soon like most cats, as for germs , you probably have more germs then the cat, they are naturally clean, as for the claws good luck, try a scratching post or a spray for the furniture from a pet store, like an animal repellent
2006-07-11 11:21:26 · answer #4 · answered by airpolicejohn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can definately trim her claws. When you're petting her, take a look at her claws. there is a line that comes up into it..that would be the quick. make sure when you trim, you stay above that line.
I wouldn't worry about washing her. Cats clean themselves, and they learn themselves. My six year old cats were abandoned at 2 weeks at the side of the road and turned into my vet. I took them about a week later and never really taught them about grooming (I wiped them down with a warm wet rag when they were really little and dirty)
Kitten play. She'll outgrow it in a few years.
2006-07-11 11:21:36 · answer #5 · answered by Gabby_Gabby_Purrsalot 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Like the guy above said. Also, you can get claw caps. Talk to your vet. It's a humane alternative to declawing. The caps prevent the cat from scratching furniture.
2006-07-11 11:22:53 · answer #6 · answered by phantom2921 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They make littles claw covers you put on kitty's claws to protect the furniture. I never used those. I just live with shredded furniture. It's the trade off you make for those sweet kitty faces. Also, there is nothing you can do to make your cat love you more than she loves your husband. Cats pick their people.
2006-07-11 11:39:44 · answer #7 · answered by bionut63 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd recommend that take her to your veterinarian first. He/she can help you with many of these matters. The veterinarian can show you how to trim her claws, or do it for you, recommend a shampoo that is safe for kittens, and give you all kinds of advice on how to deal with the addition to the family. Plus, the kitten will need a health checkup and vaccination updates.
2006-07-11 11:27:16 · answer #8 · answered by Gigi 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a cat owner of 2, i can tell you that cats tend to have 1 master and it sounds like it may be your husband. Provide her with lots of toys and reward her with affection everytime she listens to you. And as for the clawing, buy her a scratch pad, and put catnip on it, she will figure it out.
2006-07-11 11:25:00 · answer #9 · answered by totallyinnocent 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Best thing to do is get another cat around the same age so it has a companion/play partner. My cat used to do the same thing to me until we got a second cat, then they played and got their aggression out.
2006-07-11 15:08:16 · answer #10 · answered by Defender 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋