I have a three year old cat. He is a bit on the fiesty side sometime but is never mean. He has taken to chasing and biting at my son's feet, but he only does this after my son has just gotten out of the shower! At first I thought it was becasue my son had a long towel wrapped around him and the cat was just playing with the towel, but last night I told my son to come out in pj's and the cat still chased his feet!! The cat only does this to my son. Why?
2006-10-26 04:17:02 · 12 answers · asked by Sunspot Baby 4 in Pets ➔ Cats
Male cats can be fiesty and they like to rough house. Your cat at three years old is like a teenager and he has lots of energy. He views your son and a playmate and by nipping at your sons feet he is signalling that he wants to play. Now if the cat is actually bitting hard and breaking the skin then your cat is acting aggressive towards your son. He might view your son and competitor or infringing on his territory. Male cats are very territorial. But, if he is just nipping then he just wants to play which I think is more your case. To take some of the energy away from you cat and give him something else to play with. I would get one of those laser light pointers. I think you can pick one up and a hardware store or Walgreen's etc for a couple bucks. My girlfriends male cat just loves chasing after that light. Try that. He will have fun with that. You son can play with him that way too. Just don't point the light directly into the cats eyes. Just kind of shine it on the floor and move it around and watch the cat play. It can be very entertaining. I hope this helps.
2006-10-26 04:32:19 · answer #1 · answered by MightyRighty 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Bare feet are fun for some cats to chase. I've had a few that absolutely loved to jump out from under something and grab an ankle, pure play and the cat never hurt anyone he ambushed, although at night trying to avoid stepping on a cat that wanted to play with your ankles could get tricky! Your sons feet may be attracting the cat to play because of the scent of a soap your son is using, or possibly because the way your son walks makes his feet more fun to chase. Children walk quite differently than adults do and cats love to chase things that move erratically. If your son doesn't like the cat to chase his feet, have your son arm himself with a squirt bottle of water (or a can of canned air spray for computers will work too) and when the cat starts to attack, spray the water at the cat. Cats usually learn real quick to stop whatever they are doing that makes a person aim the spray at them. Later, your son should also have positive interaction with the cat, like pulling around a toy mouse on string for the cat to chase, or something so that the cat gets both positive and negative attention, not just negative attention.
From what you describe, the behavior is a play behavior. Getting a second cat so the two cats can play rough together is also a good idea, two are easier to deal with than one in a lot of ways. Also, give your cat some toys he can chase, like the little balls with bells inside them, catnip mice, etc.
2006-10-26 11:35:52 · answer #2 · answered by TheSnakeWhisperer 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
He's just playing it's become a game to him now more then likely it started with the towel then he discovered he got an reaction and continued to chase. I'm not sure how old your son is but if he's old enough & it hurts/bothers him, have him stop moving & firmly turn around & tell the cat 'NO!' Any running or crying or carrying on will only encourage the little guy. If he's too young to do it himself, then you do it. Make sure the cat knows this behavior is not acceptable, and that it's no fun for him to do it anymore!!
2006-10-26 15:16:08 · answer #3 · answered by Little Nell 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The cat is just being a cat and playing. However, to stop this have your son or you have a spray bottle handy in the shower and when your son leaves the bath and the cat does this spray him. Keep up this practice until the cat stops. He may develop yet another play thing and if it is troubling do this again. Good luck
2006-10-26 11:27:23 · answer #4 · answered by rural diva 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it sounds to me like the cat is playing with your son and as long as the cat doesn't hurt your son let them play or it could be the sent of the soap check it out using a different soap for your sons bath time
thank you
2006-10-26 11:45:24 · answer #5 · answered by cooks delight 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the cat trust your son enough to play with him. Your cat is bored and needs another animal or toys to play with.
2006-10-26 11:26:13 · answer #6 · answered by bettyswestbrook 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think that your son's naked toes look like toys? baby mice? My katz chase my daughter's little pinkle toes, so she wears socks most of the time. Just playing I would suppose.
2006-10-26 13:31:16 · answer #7 · answered by ihave5katz 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think he likes your son and he just wants to play with him!!
2006-10-26 11:49:24 · answer #8 · answered by Big Ben 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your son probably sprayed him once or twice while he was in the shower and the cat was just outside. Cats are very vindictive and don't forget.
2006-10-26 11:19:39 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
He sounds like he's just playing with your son. So long as he's not biting or scratching or attacking and being mean, I wouldn't worry about it.
2006-10-26 11:23:41 · answer #10 · answered by BVC_asst 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋