This must be cat thread day. Here's my problem.

[Cleita]

My cat Benny is biting me and biting hard when I don't move fast enough for him to do his bidding. I have been fighting infections each time that he bites me. I have registered my displeasure by swatting him on the nose with a fly swatter when he does it and locking him out of my bedroom for a short period of time and in general letting him know I'm upset from the tone of my voice.

He did it again last night. I just got through ridding myself of an infection (usually a week with a bandaid and anti-biotic cream on the wound). We were lying in bed and I was petting him. He was purring and all of a sudden he bit me right out of the blue in the same place. I can't run around with perpetual bandaids on all over me for the rest of my life. At my age infections pose a bigger risk than if I were younger. I don't want to have to put him down, but I am at my wits end with this otherwise, nice, friendly and playful kitty.

Has anybody here been able to successfully train a cat not to do something you don't like?

[japple]

1. My cat, Oscar, does that sometimes when he gets overly

stimulated. I have had to learn to watch for the signal that his mood has changed. It's very subtle. His ears go back slightly and he gets a different look in his eyes. Sometimes his tail starts to twitch. Anyway, I know it's time to stop petting him or combing him. We take a little break, then he comes back for more petting/grooming. Have you tried a Feliway plug in diffuser?

[Cleita]

7. Sometimes he does that getting a wild look in his eyes and

I know to back away, but sometimes like last night it was totally unexpected. What is a Feliway plug in diffuser? I'm sorry to be ignorant of this.

[japple]

14. Info on Feliway spray & diffuser.

(cut & pasted from the website linked below)

Feliway is an synthetic analogue of the feline facial pheromone which reproduces the familiarization properties normally produced by a cat when it deposits its own facial pheromones in the environment. Phermone Spray calms cats in stressful situations:
Transport
Hospitalization
Boarding and waiting rooms
Helps cats adjust to new environments, new pets, and new people

http://www.petvetdirect.com/home.asp?display=full&cid=0&itemid=VPLFELS60&itemname=Feliway+Spray+75ml

[Why Syzygy]

16. Thanks .

that just gave me the idea to give Boogie a few drops of Rescue Remedy. I have been interviewing roommates for awhile and he usually likes to climb all over them. And has been acting nervous. Good thinking.

I was having nightmares the other night and during one I pulled up a pile of dead reed type plants from one corner. Boogie was sleeping right next to me and suddenly woke up and had a big sneeze attack. I thought that was rather strange.

[Why Syzygy]

10. what is a

Feliway plug in diffuser?

[yellerpup]

2. The office cat where I worked picked up a bad habit of biting

I managed a performing arts school for kids and the cat would attack either the kids, or me, willy-nilly, usually without provocation. Seems the poor fellow had a bad toothache and gum disease that was making him crazy. He changed instantly once his medical problems were tended and the pain was gone. Purring can be a sign of pain in cats -- a queen will purr the whole time she is giving birth to her litter. Have that kitty vet checked asap. :hi:

[Cleita]

6. He's due for his yearly checkup. I'd better make an appointment. n/t

[Bluestar]

3. Yes, purring is a cat's way of generating healing vibrations

I would say your kitty has a health problem and needs to see the vet. It may be his way of trying to get your attention and tell you he is having pain.

[Cleita]

8. Yes, he needs to go to the vet. n/t

[Why Syzygy]

11. I never would have thought

of that! But makes purrrfect sense. A distress signal.

[davsand]

4. Were you petting him anyplace near the base of the tail?

Right on his back just at the base of his tail...

There is a large cluster of nerve endings there and some cats do go into overload if you pet or stroke them there. I've had otherwise sane (as normal as kitties go, anyhow) that go nuts if you touch there.

The pain thing already mentioned also could be a possibility. Cats can abscess very easily, and you might not even realize there is an injury until swelling gets bad enough to spot. I echo the suggestion that a trip to the vet might be a good plan.

If you are rubbing his tummy when he gets all "bitey" on you, could it be that he's thinking it is playtime?

Some cats that are de-clawed will bite as a defense mechanism, too. If he's de-clawed that is another possibility, I guess...

You might try the stuffed sock for him to wrestle and chew on if you think it might just be high energy creeping out in negative ways. Take one of your old socks and stuff it with some of your other odd socks. If he's a catnip fan, put some catnip in there too. Tie it closed and then sprinkle it with catnip on the outside and let him have some fun. Anytime he gets too rough with you give him the stuffed sock in place of your hand or arm or foot. I always put a pill bottle with a couple of dried beans or small rocks in it down in the toe so it has a rattle. If he likes the toy, he'll come running if he hears that rattle.

Good luck!


Laura

[Cleita]

5. No we do mostly chin rubs and ear scratches. He sometimes

lets me pet his paws because he knows I enjoy the feel of his soft silky fur. Other than that most of his body is pretty much off limits although he will let me comb his fluffy tail when it gets full of burrs to remove them.

[Why Syzygy]

12. So glad we are talking about kitties

learning a lot from this thread.

And I thought I knew them. ha! jokes on me

I have so many cat stories! And took more pictures of them than my only son.
Had a Maine Coon one time. His name was Dolly because we thought he was a girl. His paws got swollen suddenly and he was rushed to the kitty er. The vet was taking his temp and said, this is not a female. He had to be renamed to Doolie. He liked to hang out in the Rabbit pen. ? I have no idea. He was so quiet. When he wanted outside he just sat by the door until I noticed. Could not find him for days one time. Then I started hearing a meow from the shed. He followed us everywhere and got locked in there. Boogie is much like that. A Tuxedo. When he goes missing he is usually in the garage because he won't do a thing I ask him to. If I go in the kitchen, he is right there though! So I close the front door quickly so he won't go out again.

He is a shadow. Has finally learned his name. It used to be Clark or Greg? Nothing I ever wanted to call him. Names are very important to animals.

I love talking about cats.

[Why Syzygy]

9. water spray bottle

is the only way I have ever communicated discipline to them. They are very sensitive. And possesive.

If you don't belong to them, they might bite.

My suggestion would be don't use the fly swatter. No one likes to get hit.

I used to have a problem with the dog who put blood marks on my arm. She didn't mean to.

Bactine (spray bottle) is the best thing for infections that I've found. Working with knives (to cut flowers) and rose thorns taught me that. It stops the pain and has something that heals very quickly. Triple antibiotic creams and oinments just don't do it.

I wonder if this aberrant cat behavior is similar to the other animals who have freaked out lately.
I never had a problem with them. But they sure have a freaky tude lately.

Hope you don't have to put him down.

One more tip. Mine came with a pack of "Greenies" .. a snack. He won't touch "Pounce". If he doesn't get his greenies, he is a bit over reactive. Must be a drug he can't live without. Like an obedient master, I go spend $5 for this little bag of stuff he loves. Whoever makes that has my cat addicted.

[Why Syzygy]

13. Someone came by the house

the other day looking for her cat, Fluffy. She said he was a long hair Tuxedo. I hope he comes home. I had a cat missing once for about 3 months. But she came back home. She was a real home body. I tried to move her, but she kept going back to the old place, which was across town. I have no idea how she kept getting there. But finally, after going to pick her up several times, I asked the former neighbors, who knew her, can she stay here? They agreed and were happy.

We do not own cats. They pick and choose.

[Cleita]

15. Delete