My one year old cat is hitler incarnate. We can't pick her up or even pet her. When we first got her she was so sweet and when she was pregnate she loved on us but after we gave the kittens away (kept 1) she has been a terror once more. I have scars all over my hands from trying to hold her. None of my other cats are like this, they are all darling lap cats but Dinah (Devil Cat) acts like a wild cougar! She has been pampered and loved all her life, she stays indoors and has all the ammenities a cat could ever need but she acts like shes been abused!! I want to declaw her but my aunt is an animal rights activist and won't let us. We tried to keep those plastic claw things on her but she just bit them off! PLEASE HELP ME!!
2007-04-23 16:23:46 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
Sorry she's almost 2 and her baby is almost 1. he is way bigger than her! and she is even mean to him!
2007-04-23 16:43:23 · update #1
Start by getting your cat spayed if she is no longer nursing. That will help calm her hormones down a bit. Also, catnip is a wonderful sedative once the initial racing around the house is done. It's a very calming herb and relaxes them after a while.
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I'm very happy that you kept a kitten for her. That was a super kind thing to do. She and her kitten will eventually become playmates. And your cat having this much energy means that you're doing something right! It's wonderful that she is so active!
Now to really get to the problem of who's the boss - to curb the biting and scratching, I have always found that you need to let them know that you're the alpha cat and that your cat needs to respect you.
If you're in the middle of holding her, and she starts to scratch or bite, if you hiss and growl at her, she will stop what she's doing and likely cower. You need to become the momma cat and treat her the way mom would. Her mom would put her paw over her while holding her with her teeth and growling. That's cat language.
You can duplicate this by holding your cat against her will when she scratches and by growling at her. Then take her to a separate room and say 'bad girl' and close the door. Don't leave her in there for any length of time. 5 minutes is enough time for her timeout. When she comes out, ignore her so that she doesn't think bad behavior equals reward. Repeat to her 'bad girl' and walk away. Cats are very intelligent and catch on fast. She'll understand quickly without hurting her.
On the other hand, when she's not biting and scratching, be sure to give her plenty of positive reinforcement by telling her what a good girl she is and play with her - toss a mouse, etc.
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As to declawing, your aunt is right. See the links below.
Understanding declawing :
Declawing involves several separate, painful amputations. It is a serious surgery, not just a manicure. The British Veterinary Associations calls declawing an "unnecessary mutilation." Indeed, it is illegal in most parts of Europe. Declawing a cat involves general anesthesia and amputation of the last joint of each toe, including the bones, not just the nail. Possible complications of this surgery include reaction to anesthetic, hemorrhage, bone chips which prevent healing, recurrent infections and damage to the radial nerve, pain, and possible abnormal regrowth of the nails. The nails may grow back inside the paw, causing pain but remaining invisible to the eye. Declawed cats need regular X-rays to monitor this problem. Declawing results in a gradual weakening of leg, shoulder, and back muscles, and, because of impaired balance, declawed cats have to relearn to walk much as would a person who lost his or her toes. Without claws, cats are virtually defenseless, and this often leads to neurosis and even skin and bladder problems.
2007-04-23 16:53:38 · answer #1 · answered by Naturescent 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Kittens like to play! They are crazy :) I would start spraying him with water. To keep our cat from scratching things we put like a spicy powder or a little bleach on the item. Cats have a great sense of smell and if something smells really strong they tend to stay away. Cats also respond to tone. When he's good give him treats and talk in a higher tone to him. When he is bad shake your finger at him and speak in a loud or deep voice. Give him some more time he will learn!
2016-03-18 06:10:46 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You would be doing a medical thing to try and fix a psychological problem, which won't do anything but shred her cofidence in those meant to look after her.
Your cat should trust you, and depend upon you for protection. Don't betray that trust by declawing your cat.
There are ways around what she is doing, but declawing will just lead to half a cat, and mad as heck at that. The sites below will explain that, as well as ways around it.
Please look at these sites:
http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/aggression.html
www.catsinternational.org/articles/aggression_to_people/index.html
http://www.thecatsite.com/Behavior/40/Cat-Aggression-toward-People.html
2007-04-24 01:24:33 · answer #3 · answered by Unicornrider 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's possible that she is feeling a very strong sense of "seperation anxiety" from the kittens. I recommend lots of positive reinforcement to reward her when she's being good and try to accept the fact rhat she may feel long-term impact from being seperated from her litter. If she starts to become destructive, you may want to discourage her by rattling a small coffee can full of change. (it generally pulls the devil right out of the cat and reminds them that they are being observed by someone with the upper hand at all times).
2007-04-23 17:09:08 · answer #4 · answered by aahz22271 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
She's probably angry at you for getting rid of her babies. Don't try to make her be a lap kitty: Some cats never are, and some prefer to just choose their own time.
You might try to see a groomer about clipping her claws.
Good luck!
2007-04-23 16:34:49 · answer #5 · answered by Tigger 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Scary! Get her declawed. That won't fix the biting problem, but at least then you'll have a chance. Or let her go out into the woods where she can be a cougar all she likes :)
Cats can be ungrateful can't they?
2007-04-23 16:39:26 · answer #6 · answered by Sligo 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Maybe getting her spayed will help. I don't know. Sometimes they just cop an attitude. I feel she will calm down in time, but if she is going in and out of heat from not being spayed, her hormones are really high. It is better for her health to have her spayed.
2007-04-23 16:54:57 · answer #7 · answered by bonnie g 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Declawing won't change her behaviour! I am against declawing, i think it is cruel.
I would ask your vet for some help, perhaps she can be prescribed something to change her behaviour like vallium, clomicalm and some feliway!
I would also desex (fix) her too, this can help change their behaviour dramatically!
Good luck!
2007-04-23 16:33:21 · answer #8 · answered by redfroggirl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have a very mean aggressive cat and my vet put him on female hormone pills. sounds wierd hu? well it worked good.
he use to not let you pet him,and he would run up and bite you for no reason and he would hiss and growl all the time. But now he is fine and he is sweet(except when its his time to himself)
ask your vet for hormone pills it should do the trick
2007-04-23 16:36:48 · answer #9 · answered by cradle3 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My cat has her funny turns as well. She was fantastic as a kiten but when I had her spayed ... she became quite evil.
She is very timid, and actually "loves me", but as for anyone else she will hiss at them or even claw them if they try to pat her.
Her name is Misty, but family and friends call her "Histy", or "Mysery".
I still love her and thats the main thing.
2007-04-23 16:34:28 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋