SolveYourProblem.com Article Series: Cat Care
Cat Care Tips
What
To Do If Your Cat or Kitten Attacks You
If your new kitten attacks you, it probably
will not hurt. But never encourage this behavior because you
do not want him to grow up thinking that climbing up on people's
legs is an acceptable behavior. If he attacks you when he is
an adult, it is definitely not cute. He must learn to attack
only his own belongings.
If he just growls or hisses, just walk away.
If he actually bites you or scratches, say, "Ouch!" immediately
and sound hurt even if it really did not hurt. Rub your bite
and walk away.
If he is a kitten and you are confident you will not get
hurt, pick him up and set him down pointing away from you.
Walk away. If he persists, lock him in the bathroom for five
minutes. If he is still feeling feisty when he comes out, have
a lure toy ready and play with him when you let him out.
Watch for his warning signs of anger or agitation.
Pay attention to how he holds his ears, tail and posture
before he attacks.
Watch his eyes and mouth. If you see an attack coming, try
distracting him with a lure toy, or push an "aggression
toy" onto him. Give him something that he can kick and
bite. Use a large fuzzy catnip toy, stuffed animal sprayed
with catnip. You can also make your own: Stuff a tube of strong,
snaggy fabric with polyester fiberfill and dried catnip. Sew
the ends shut. It should be long enough for him to bite and
kick at the same time. A terry cloth sock works very well.
Handle your cat with care. Almost any cat will defend himself
against rough handling. Even if your cat only scratches or
bites in that situation, stop doing it. Rough play is not a
good idea anyway. You want your cat calm and happy, not wild
up.
Do not use your hands to play with your cat. Use a lure
toy instead. When cats play, they use their teeth and claws.
For cats who turn aggressive because of certain noises,
avoid those noises when you are around if possible. However,
at the same time you will need to get the cat more used to
human noise by playing music or television every day. Do not
let him always be in a quiet environment. He needs to be exposed
to normal human sounds to get more used to living with them.
Add cat vitamin supplements to help alleviate moodiness.
Keep his nails trimmed. Kitten's claws are very sharp and
will easily cut through your skin. Adult claws can do even
more serious damage.
Watch his diet. Sometimes, a specific food can cause allergic
reactions that can lead to angry spells. Tuna, yeast and hormone-injected
meats have been known to do that in some cats.
Do not hold a cat when he is likely to be suddenly frightened,
such as when meeting a new cat or dog or walking near an appliance
making noise.
If you get a kitten that is really aggressive and does not
respond to training, you may need to take him
back. If your
new adult cat is aggressive, consider returning him right
away. Do not adopt a cat that you think is dangerous. #
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SolveYourProblem.com
: 2009
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