new cat bites--constantly

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On October 6, I rescued two homeless sister kittens (about 5 months old) from my neighborhood and decided to keep them. I took them to the vet for a check-up and they had their first vaccinations. ($90)

The one sister (Suzy) is pure JOY. She used her litter box from day one. She's affectionate, sits nice on the lap, and purrs. Her only fault: At night she likes to sleep on our bed and chase my honey's toes under the covers. It's not fun to wake up at 3:00 in the morning because a cat is jumping on your feet.

The other sister (Sally) is a nice cat. It has been a struggle to get her litter box trained. I've cleaned up many piles! I've followed the vet's advice and have watched her closely and have confined her a small area. She's using the box now, but I don't trust her. The big problem is her constant nipping and biting.

She's extremely affectionate. She loves to sit on my lap; she loves to be petted. She purrs and purrs and purrs. But she bites. She's constantly biting my fingers. She also wants to lay right next to you in bed--and then she will nip my back or nip my chest. I don't understand why she bites. Does she think she's being affectionate? I don't even want her near my face.

At night, we MUST put both sisters in THEIR room in order to get any sleep. We're growing very attached to both cats, but I don't know how to stop Sally from biting. Is it an adolescent thing? Will she outgrow this biting? Is there anything I can do to break her of this painful nipping problem?

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I used to slap my tom-cat once on the nose with my finger, and say "NO!" quite loud. Had to repeat it 2-3 times and since then it's ok. Key is to do it while it happens, otherwise Sally won't understand why she's being punished. Or so I've been told!

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Oh, Oh, Oh....

water bottle/gun = your best friend.

must do it every single time. this is what is recommended for almost everything when it comes to cats, it seems. keeping them off furniture, biting, going into a room you don't want them in, etc.

after awhile, they'll stop as soon as they see you go near the water gun and before you know it... stop the behavior.

...but yes, I do think it is something your new kitten will outgrow most likely.

post some pics. Smile

I'm so happy for you and jealous.

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You have spun a very interesting cat yarn, Debra. It was almost as if I were there, watching the kitten playfully nip at your fingers, but something has been puzzling me.

Why did you find it necessary to include the price of the vaccinations?

I'll sit here and wait for your answer.

Oh, and congratulations on your new cats.

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You said the kittens were only 5 months old when you got them. Were they from a shelter or were they strays? I had a kitten who did the same thing. His mother could not produce enough milk and he was the only one to survive out of the litter. I had to bottle feed him for a long time. I would snuggle with him and he would first start to purr then flex( knead is claws) and then he would start to nip and bite at me. I finally came to the conclusion that he was trying to nurse. He would get comfortable and warm and happy and his natural instinct (as with all kittens) was to search out a teat and nurse. Well obviously he didn't find one, and so I would get his bottle and feed him. As he got old enough for solid foods and he would start to nip I would place my finger on his nose and firmly say NO and then plop him down in front of his kibble dish. He was soon eating on his own and didn't need to nip at me to feed him. If your kittens were strays and lost their mother early on this biting might just be a form of affection they give to you because they see you as their mother figure and want you to comfort them. i would follow bigdice's advice and then afterward snuggle with them to let them know you still care.

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Aldistar's advice is good. You need to stop it now.

Rosie is inclined to bite - she was feral and the vet warned me not to let her bite as it was a potential problem. She bites (gently - well at first anyway - if you ignore the warning it gets fiercer) to tell you to stop doing something, bites your toes to invite you to play and occasionally nips you affectionately. She does respond to 'aaaaagh' in an agonised tone and stops but I'd stop it NOW before it becomes an established habit! She's a very silent cat and rarely miaows and doesn't purr even when she's really happy - strange - we adopted her as a 2 week old orphan - maybe purring has to learnt from their mum???

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$$$

gustavratzenhofer wrote:

Why did you find it necessary to include the price of the vaccinations?

I'll sit here and wait for your answer.

Oh, and congratulations on your new cats.

Oh Gus! Thank you for your heartfelt concern about my vet bills. My cat population in my home increased two-fold. That was the bill for the first shots. I have to take them back for their booster shots in November. ($$$)

Because my two new girls were OUTSIDE cats and were mingled with my INSIDE cats, the vet recommended deworming all my cats. Okay. ($$$)

I have to buy more spot and stain remover and more Frebreeze due to Sally's piles on the floor. ($$$) I have to rent a carpet shampooer. ($$$) I have to buy twice as much more cat food. ($$$) I have to buy twice as much more cat litter. ($$$) I scoop and scoop litter all day long . . . .

When I clipped Sally's claws for the first time, I noticed that her two middle toes on her front right paw are deformed. Poor baby. When I take her in for her booster shots, I have to get the vet to look at the toes. ($$$) I suppose there will be x-rays and maybe toe surgery in her future. ($$$)

Then there will be the first heat cycle and the yowling . . . oh the pitiful yowling. I have to get them spayed. More vet bills. ($$$)

And then there are cat toys and scratchers and my man refuses to buy a new couch until the cats are declawed. Oh no. I see big arguments in the future. Getting two more cats was a huge responsibility. I might have to go back to work full-time to support my cat family. Woe is me. LOL

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Debra, When I first got Mikey the monster cat, he bit me constantly. I mean constantly. I tried everything, including the suggestions mentioned here. Nothing worked. If the water gun and/or the nose bopping work, great. If they don't, consider that your Sally may have a problem similar to Mikey's.

He has neurodermatosis. It makes it painful for him to be touched in certain ways. The biting was a defense against pain. Since you say that Sally likes to be petted, chances are it's something else. But if all else fails, ask the vet (on one of your numerous future visits). This can be dealt with.

I hope it's not a physiological thing and can be stopped easily.

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here is a link to some literature you may find helpful....

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0517545160/104-3502435-8955938?v=glance

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oh, the cruelty

Bi-Polar Bear wrote:

here is a link to some literature you may find helpful....

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0517545160/104-3502435-8955938?v=glance

101 uses for a dead cat?

Oh the cruelty! I'm weeping now . . .

LoverBoy!

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Quote:

I might have to go back to work full-time to support my cat family.

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new cat bites--constantly

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