I have a mean cat?

Question

She's about 3 months old.

she spends hours playing with her toys, climbing the tree and sitting in the window.

everytime we try to pet her, she attacks us, bites us and scratches us. We leave her alone and she will just pop out from behind something as you walk by her and attack your feet.

She purrs CONSTANTLY. While she is attacking us, she's purring. She loves being scratched behind her ears, and it's almost as if she doesn't understand that she CANT bite/scratch us because it hurts.

We've tried spraying her with water with a firm "NO'. but - it continues.

She isn't sick, she's been to the vet, she's got an appointment to be fixed next week and she's got a clean bill of health.

Is there any way to make her nicer?

Answer 1

My cat did the exact same thing when he was younger. She's not nessicarily being mean, she just wants to play. My cat had a habit of biting when he wanted to be petted. We finally broke him of it by firmly grabbing the top of his head for a few seconds until he tried to back away. When I say firmly, I don't mean to hurt her, just to restrain her for a few moments. He only bites now when someone is playing with him and provokes him, and even then it isn't very often. Don't think that the change in behavior will happen over night. You have to be consistent or she won't learn. You should to this everytime she starts doing it so that she knows its wrong. Also, she may relapse every now and again so be sure to remind her.

Answer 2

Maybe as a kitten someone used to playfight with her, so that she thinks being rough is a form of affection. I've read online that you need to ignore that type of 'attitude' from them. So whenever she acts up, just put her on the floor and ignore her. But when she's behaving reward her w/ a scratch behind the ear or a treat. Keep doing this until she learns that she doesn't get affection by being rough. It actually sounds like this is what's going on if she's purring while attacking. My cat does little nibbles. Not hard bites but so soft that you don't even feel his teeth even though you can sure see em. They love to love us back but you're kitty's idea of love, hurts. Hope she shapes up but love her even if she doesn't.

Answer 3

The bad thing about kittens that are alone is that they tend to be biters. They don't have another cat to "teach" them how to play fight and to attack and when to use each mechanism. That's why kittens do better in pairs. It is very hard to break them of these habits, too. You may try more interactive toys that you can use to wear your kitty out. Maybe string or something that you can do together. Then as kitty gets tired, be sure to be there just as a place setting. She will come to you if she needs to snuggle. That's when you can bond best. Also, cat treats are a good thing to consider as a peace offering. Also, sometimes after they have been spayed, they tend to settle down a little. She just needs to get through that kitten stage. Good luck!

Answer 4

Cats have their own minds. Have you tried not petting her and let her come to you? You can start with trying to get close at feeding time. Give her plenty of space at first by just sitting with her while she eats. Then try briefly touching her with small strokes at the very top of her head. Don't push your luck just a touch or 2 depending on how she reacts, then move on from there. Cats take alot of time with and without contact. She just might need to know your not there to hurt her. Was she a stray and maybe mistreated? She should mellow alot with age to. Grabbing her by the scruff of the neck at an early age calms a kitten fast. Make sure and hold her this way for only a few minutes then let her down. They aslo like being stroked from base of whiskers to base of ears. It mimics the lick of a mother cat. Good luck!

Answer 5

That is normal play for kittens and young cats - they are exercising their hunting and take-down skills on your hands.

Wear gloves, and try to gently pet the cat and talk softly to her, often using her name. This gets her to associate her name to pleasureable sensations. If she bites or claws, pull away and let her settle, then try again.

Eventually she will recognize that the hands are friendly and impart a good feeling. Be patient.

Answer 6

my cat did that exact same thing! he would also ambush us with claws & fangs! it's the way they're trying to play. you have to let her know it's NOT acceptable.

continue telling her no. very loudly. or say "OOOOW" (seriously, this is what we did & it worked!!) then act all dejected & mad at her for a while, push her away whenever she comes by, etc. soon she'll realize she'll just get ignored if she does those things anymore, and she'll stop.

also, try to avoid playing with her with your bare hands. if you want to play with her, use one of her toys so she can really attack it.

Answer 7

Some great stuff already suggested. One thing I would add....

Cats hear in a high range, dogs in a low range. Cats hear sharp consonants, dogs hear vowels. Saying a loud "NO" doesnt work as well as hissing at it. You arent "speaking cat" since it will still be nonsense at first but its a sound they can hear and learn to connect with bad actions.

Answer 8

she has a lot of aggresion,in touch with the tiger .try toys that allow her to attack like feather wands .she has to dissassociate hands and feet as bait. also tapping on the nose while saying no works too.

Answer 9

WHAT TO DO:
- Provide your cat with a selection of toys so you can determine her preferences. In general, cats enjoy batting small toys—think balls and fake mice. They also like to stalk, chase, and pounce on toys that move like prey, such as kitty teasers and cat dancers.
- Regularly provide novel objects for your cat to investigate, such as paper bags, boxes, etc.
- Spend at least 10 minutes (or longer if your cat wants) twice a day playing with your cat, using a cat dancer or throwing your cat’s favorite toys. Schedule these play sessions to coincide with times when your cat is naturally most active and playful.
- If your cat likes to sit under things and ambush your ankles as you walk by, or grab you as you go up and down the stairs, carry toys with you and toss them ahead of you to encourage your cat to chase the toys—rather than attack you.
- Consider getting another cat as a playmate. Make sure the new cat is as playful as your current cat.
- Consider building an outdoor enclosure for your cat, complete with branches, boxes, shelves and perches for your cat to navigate. This more complex environment with opportunities to hunt insects and chase leaves will redirect your cat’s energy.

WHAT NOT TO DO:
- Do not encourage your cat to play with your hands, feet, or any other body part. While this may be cute when you have a tiny kitten, it will become painful and dangerous as the kitten grows into an adult cat.
- Do not buy toys that teach your cat to play with your hands, such as gloves with balls hanging from the fingers. The cat will not be able to discriminate when you are “wearing” the toy and when you are not.
- Avoid putting your cat in “time out” for playing too roughly. This can frustrate the cat and, as a result, make her even more wild and crazy the next time she tries to play with you.
- Under no circumstances should you run from your cat, hit the cat, or try to block her with your foot, as these maneuvers can incite your pet to intensify her play—or to switch from play to aggression.
- Do not punish your cat for playing too roughly. Punishing a playful cat can backfire. If you hit or slap at the cat, she may perceive this as play and become even rougher. Alternatively, she might become fearful of your hands and keep her distance from you at all times—or she might switch from play to real aggression.

Answer 10

Call your vet and ask them about meds to calm her down. If you don't beleive in that stuff then you pretty much have to let her be a kitten and deal with it.