Cat problems!!?

Question

my mum recently got a new cat. he is 8 years old and he is a lovely cat, but when i put my face up to his he wil lash out and scratch and bite. i cant pick him up or play with his paws and he will not let me tickle his belly which my 1 year old cat loves. i have had cats before but this one is not as friendly as the others. its probably because we did not have him as a kitten but i need to find out a way of getting him to be more tame.
any training ideas.?

Answer 1

Was this cat a rescue do you know the history because it might not have been used to being picked up and cuddled or if it has been hurt in the past, I had the same problem i had a 5 week old kitten Tiggy and she loves being cuddled and picked up because she was used to it. a few months later we got a rescue kitten Misty and she hated being picked up we later found out that this was because the previous owner used to throw her around and scare it but we were told not to approach Misty and let her come to us in her own time and she did in time and she saw that Tiggy was alright and she followed Tiggy sometimes Misty will still not let you hold her for long but she is better than when we first got her maybe if you let the cat see the one year old is safe he might sense that it is ok, or it could be that he is just nervous being in a strange surroundings and strangers around, but let it come to you in it's own time

Answer 2

Umm at 8 years old I'd be a little grumpy too. Cats are different. I have some cats that just adores being kissed on the head and face and I have one that will duck her head away like nope no kisses on my face. I think what it is she don't like my face coming at her's for some reason she takes it as a threat and I think the same is going on with that cat. But some cats are lap kittys some aren't, some love having thier bellys rubbed some don't. It varies in cat's I think depending on thier upbringing. As far as training I think just be patient the cat may just be VERY independent and may have not have had a lot of attention. I don;t know where you got the cat from but he may have a background of abuse or teasing. so just be patient if the cats wants to be left alone and is content with that then let him be. God willing if you show patience and love he'll come around and it could also be that he's in a new home and is getting used to it. Good luck

Answer 3

I have had my cat since she was 4 weeks old she has always been very timid. She is almost 3 now and everything is on her terms. She rarely sits on anyones lap unless she wishes to and this is so rare that if she is on anybody lap they yell for somebody else to see it as they would never believe it.

Prince is her name. She took a while to get used to living with the rest of my family and still hides when people visit.

A cat is at its not vulnerable when it allows you to tickle its belly. Prince has only just got to this stage. It has take a lot of time and patience and playing and letting her have time and space and learning to trust. And nobody can touch her paws unless she is sleeping. The vet makes suck a shoddy job trimming her nail and still charges me £7!

As humans some of us are more affectionate than others that's just the way it goes. Maybe knowing some of his history will help you understand him better. Try find some books about cats behaviour they are interesting reading and you are bound to find out something new.

Answer 4

You can't bribe him, but you can make friends with him! Get on the floor (on his level) and play with him with a bit of string (or buy one of those ones with a stick type handle, if he gets too claw happy when he's excited from playing) for a while and give him a pat on the head or tickle behind the ears for playing nice. Try this when he is pooped out from all the running around you have treated him to: His scent glands are in front of his ears on the bit where the hair is thinner. make your hands smell like him by rubbing him with your thumb there (this feels good to him too). Once he accepts you doing this, try rubbing your thumb from his nose all the way back to behind his ear (this should remind him of mumcat licking him clean, also the dominant cats always get groomed by the subordinate family members, so show him some love!) and dont forget to go under his chin. Go gently tho, and slowly, especially over his eyes until you can tell he is enjoying himself. Give his ear a gentle tug on the way round as well (dont ask, but I havent met a cat that doesnt like this) go at his pace, he will show you what he does and doesnt like. He will look to come to you as soon as he realises you are a source of pleasure to him. Leave his belly alone if he really doesnt like it (I know its hard to resist that soft fur!) but you never know, if you can break the ice gently, you might find he will let you do anything for a some playing and a special tickle! Please let me know if this works for your cat, as I only have first hand experience with settling in new baby cats, and friends cats I have met

Answer 5

1) Don't put your face in his!
2)Don't tickle his belly!
3)Don't play with his paws!
Cats are cats! First rule of all cats is that cats don't do what cats don't want to do. Patience!!! Love the cat. Give the cat time to decide that he loves you ( still doesn't mean that he will be more affectionate). Every cat is different (we have 3) He will let you know how to love him>

Answer 6

As he's 8 years old already I don't think he'll change much. Maybe he had a bad experience in his life. All cats are different, I own 5 beautiful cats all of them with different personalities. One of them is like a puppy, I can stroke his belly all day long and he's very affectionate. My ginger one however is a bit of a devil, he'll come for a stroke and then bite only to be back for more a minute later. Cats (like humans) have their own qualities, you'll just have to accept that as I'm sure you won't be able to change your mum's cat.

Answer 7

you are still a stranger to him buy him some treats or even some chicken. let him come to you don't keep on pushing him otherwise he wont change. i have just got a second can 3 weeks ago from a rescue. she was found at 5 weeks old by her self she had a broken tale and also a hernia it was about the size a pin pong ball.she has only just started to look around the house and come for cuddles. but i say leave the cat to do his own thing at the moment..good luck hope this helps

Answer 8

these actions are probably do to his past life. There is no way to bribe a cat, sadly. People say there is, but there actually fooling cats, wich can destroy the relaionship. It will take time to disipline andtrain it. You have to gain its trust. When it's good, you reward it with a treat, catnip or some Deli turkey( cats go wild for it.)
When he's bold lock him in a room, and only give him his litter-box, food/water, and mabie a small toy(without catnip).
If he cries, let him go. Keep him in there lenthwise, depending on what he did. Base it on his regular behavors, and your talerance.

Levels=

1. 10min.

2. 20min.

3. 25min.

4. 40min.

5. 1hour

This may sound cule, but it works. Make sure you don't give in and let him out ealy.
I did this with my cat, and it worked!
Once in a while though, your cat may go back to his old ways, but it will be once in a full-moon.

Answer 9

TLC is the best policy. Tender loving care and most importantly, TIME. Cats need time to settle in and develop a trusting relationship with their human caregivers. Not all cats enjoy having their belly rubbed or being held. Just like people, their likes and dislikes vary. So, plz be patient and kind. I am sure that he is frightened when you try to get too close and that is why he is lashing out. Just allow him to come to you and when that starts taking place try again.

Answer 10

I have two cats of my own and they can be finiky at times. My suggestion is to give him time to adjust. He is in a strange place with strange people. That can be intimidating to almost anyone including a cat. If after that he is still acting this way, it may just be his nature and you cannot change how friendly he is unfortunately. In the meantime keep your face away from his!