Last night I found my kitten in the computer room chewing on cords she I loudly clapped my hands and said "Hey!" so she stopped and then continued. This happened a couple of times and she looked really confused every time I scolded her. Finally I took her out of the area of cords by her neck fur and she went completely limp in my arms as if she was paralyzed. Is this normal?
2006-09-19 05:39:46 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
(1) I will assume you didn't shake her violently or other, which could, of course, kill her for real!
(2) cats do NOT understand scolding. For some reason, and unlike dogs, they seem to detach our behaviour from what they might have done, apart from when our reaction is immediate and repeated each time. Scolding a cat with a delay, even modest (say 1 minute) will tend to lead the cat to think that you simply can be dangerous and a bit weird, at times.
(3) it seems that you did the right thing, each time saying "hey" and clapping hands, i.e. showing a clear and immediate reaction.
(4) I would make it a rule to close the door to that area, and to continue to make it clear it's a no-no. It shouldn't take more than a couple days for this to register.
(5) going limp is a passive defense strategy typical of kittens, either with their mother, or an attacker. The fact that your kitten still uses this is probably a symptom of what I say in the note below.
Note: One potential bigger problem is that you say your kitten is only 2 month old. It is normally advised to leave the kittens about 3 months with their mother, this helps them receive feedback about what can and cannot be done, and tends to allow them to be better adult cats. Cats taken from their mothers too early will typically display anywhere between minor, and very major, behavioural issues. Hope it'll work out for you.
Anyway, good luck
2006-09-19 05:47:50 · answer #1 · answered by AntoineBachmann 5 · 5⤊ 1⤋
Her mama would've done the same thing. Picking up a kitten by the scruff of the neck at 8 weeks of age is okay, but as a kitten gains weight, it becomes very dangerous to do this. If you must reprimand your kitten by grabbing the scruff of the neck, always support the weight of the body by holding the feet up with your other hand. Kittens are incredibly naughty. At this age, you best bet is to distract the kitten with an "approved" toy that's more fun than your computer cords. Kittens need lots of toys to keep them out of trouble. They will learn, but like all children it takes time for them to understand. Distraction with "play therapy" can be your best friend. When that doesn't work, a quick squirt with a water bottle can help...but again you have to understand the age issue. An 8 week old kitten is like an 11 month old baby. They don't really "get it" just yet. So we must supervise and we try and placate them with distractions. Good luck!
2006-09-19 05:45:55 · answer #2 · answered by Alleycat 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Any time you pick a cat up by the scruff of the neck, they instinctively go limp. It makes it easier for the mother cat to carry her babies if the kitten was limp, instead of thrashing around and tense. Nothing to worry about, although don't make it a habit to pick a cat up by the scruff of the neck. It's OK when they're babies, but not as they get older.
2006-09-19 05:51:53 · answer #3 · answered by Zzyzzxzzyx 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's the way their mother picks them up, so it relaxed to be carried.
My sister's cat chewed cords and was very difficult to stop that. I recommend putting a cover strip over the cord, get a wireless mouse and hide the cords when you aren't at the computer. Also keep the door shut to the room where the computer is.
2006-09-19 07:05:39 · answer #4 · answered by Ginger/Virginia 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi! Yes, its perfectly normal. Its a reaction that cats, especially kittens have in response to the way the mother cats carry them! Its also the way a mother cat would reprimand a kitten by restraining them, or removing them from a situation. Dont worry, your kitty was just doing what nature built it to do! (Do always make sure though that if you do pick up your kitten, or hold your kitten by the "scruff" that you also support its body weight with your other hand for its safety and comfort!!!!
2006-09-19 05:47:18 · answer #5 · answered by Candy 1 · 4⤊ 0⤋
this in all fairness commonplace for any submissive canines. How and why are you "scolding"? Scolding is barely for catching a canines interior the act of something and it will possibly no longer encompass lots better than a rapid & company "no". additionally, canines that weren't good socialized can act like this. despite if it is from leaving mom too youthful (8-12 weeks is the MIN), being stored in a crate for too long, or no longer having been taken out adequate to fulfill different human beings and different canines, poorly socialized canines could have undesirable reactions to punishment.
2016-10-17 06:48:21 · answer #6 · answered by lagrone 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, dont worry. Keep up the good work with the scolding, though. You can train your cat to be quite obedient, we used to use a spray bottle of water when they were getting into something, and that works too.
A kitten is used to being picked up by the scruff from its mommy, and going limp is a natural reaction, likewise when it feels threatened. My "Terrorist" used to go limp in our arms when she wanted to be babied. Cute.
2006-09-19 06:09:02 · answer #7 · answered by ? 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Kittens do go limp when picking them up by the scuff of the neck, it's a natural reflex. This purpose is so the mother can move them from one location to the next, but once they are weaned from the mother, your not supposed to pick them up like that, it can cause physical damage and mental damage. Just scoop her up from her middle and move her. You did the right thing by trying to alert her away from the are and then by physically moving her when she didn't listen. But if she is acting normal right now, I wouldn't worry. Your a good mama... teaching her well. Good luck.
2006-09-19 05:49:39 · answer #8 · answered by Michelle Lynn 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
the other posters are right. Going limp was a natural reaction to being picked up by the neck. Don't do that anymore though. You can really hurt her that way. Only mother cats should do that to babies.
2006-09-19 05:48:53 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Kittens go limp when you scruff them, which sounds like what you did. It's a natural reaction because their moms pick them up by the back of the neck like that.
2006-09-19 05:42:50 · answer #10 · answered by Lee 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋