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Aggression Problem

post #1 of 4
10/28/09 at 7:40pm
Thread Starter 
Hey everyone...I just got my own cat about 3 weeks ago. She's supposedly about a year and 3 months old. (I got her from Adopt A Cat Inc. and they found her as a stray so I'm sure it's not totally accurate)

(Just as some background info, I've had cats my entire life...this is just my first one I've gotten since I moved out of my parent's house. So I'm experienced with cats. We have quite a zoo at home haha)

Anyway, my new cat is great except for one problem. I got her some toys, fuzzy mice and one of those feather boa type things that's on a plastic stick. Well, anytime she gets something like that, the second it's in her mouth, if you try to touch her she starts growling and hissing like crazy. And its only with *fuzzy* or feathery toys...anything else is fine.

My mom said that since she was a stray, at some point she may have been hunting for her food so maybe she's thinking the toys are real and that I'm trying to take them away from her? Even though I'm just playing. At the moment I'm keeping them away from her but I was wondering if there was any way for her to stop this...

or will I just have to avoid buying her any toys like that? haha
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post #2 of 4
10/28/09 at 7:45pm
I have one kitty who will launch an attack on anyone who approaches her when she has feather toys in her mouth. She survived on her own for several years before I got her - so it's a natural instinct to fight for one's "supper", IMO.
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post #3 of 4
10/28/09 at 8:00pm
in my opinion, cats aren't that different from dogs when it comes to training.

So I would start hand feeding her.

When you play, if she's acting fine give her treats and really lay it on her that she's being such a good girl.

When she acts out, take it all away (if you can't just take it, offer her something else to get her attention off of the toy).

So good = rewards
bad = fun is over
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post #4 of 4
10/28/09 at 8:02pm
Do you need to touch her when she's busy murdering her victims? It's her job, you know!

She might just need more time to settle into her posh new home and get used to the reality that the best-tasting food always comes from YOU.

It sounds like those toys might be a little too stimulating for her, although if she's really enjoying her playtime and you don't need to handle her at the same time, it's going to be fine.

Sometimes cats just need to be alone, and she may not be accustomed to dealing with humans if she was stray.

Best wishes for a long and happy life together!
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