TheCatSite.com › Forums › Our Feline Companions › Behavior › Barney bit me
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Barney bit me

post #1 of 7
8/12/11 at 4:56am
Thread Starter 
Barney is about 7 months old. I rescued him from the barn where we keep our horse...someone just dropped him off, URI and all.

Got him well. He was the absolutely sweetest little guy, just wanted love and attention. As of last week, he would be so content to lay on my lap on the porch swing forever. He walks on a leash. I have noticed his tail getting bigger when he comes into contact with areas outside where other cats have been. And he has "faked sprayed" once or twice in those areas.

He is scheduled to be neutered next Thursday.

He was sitting on my lap this am kneading my arm and purring. All of a sudden he gave me a good bite. Not a love one. And tried to do it again when I pushed him down.

He spends a lot of time in the workshop and I take him for walks 3 or 4 times a day.

So, what do you think? Do I have a mean cat on my hands? I tend to think he is getting to that point where he is feeling like a tom. He has caught sight of the barn cats here and is ready to tear off after them. Thank goodness he is being neutered next week. I am very concerned....I just love him, but how can I rehome a kitty who is nasty? Is it hormones?

Thanks guys.
Reply
post #2 of 7
8/12/11 at 5:18am
A bite doesn't necessarily mean a nasty cat - something you weren't aware of may have set him off (sound, odor or the like), or it might be hormones. It might never happen again, but I'd be very aware of his body language and mood.

I hope you got the bite looked at. Jamie has bitten me twice (in over 12 years), and the first time it got badly infected because I waited a couple of hours before going to the ER. I'd cleaned the wound immediately, to no avail. I had to have the wound reopened and cleaned by a surgeon repeatedly, and had a cast on my arm. The second time I followed the doctor's advice and went to the ER immediately. They take cat bites so seriously that I was taken ahead of everybody else who was waiting.
Reply
post #3 of 7
8/12/11 at 5:38am
Thread Starter 
Wow, you sure had nasty bites...fortunately, he didn't break the skin. But it was def more than a love bite.

It was perfectly quiet in the shop this am. I don't remember if I started to pull my arm away and that is when he bit or not.

I had bathrobe on and of course it has scent of other kitties in the house. Lets hope it was hormones. He was in the "zone" eyes closed kneading my sleeve. Who knows what was going through his little mind.

Thanks for the input...it helps.
Reply
post #4 of 7
8/12/11 at 5:54am
So sorry your love-bug bit you!! I bet he got a whiff of a strange odor or something. You absolutely take the best care of him and treat him like a little king!! They grow up so fast too so he may be hitting those teen years. . Getting him neutered will help him and you!!
Reply
post #5 of 7
8/12/11 at 6:13am
Like everyone else said, it could be a smell or sound.. or he could be 'testing the waters' with you to speak.

my cat bit me once (didn't break the skin, but was hard enough) when I tried to get him out of my sock drawer!
Reply
post #6 of 7
8/12/11 at 6:44am
Thread Starter 
Thanks everyone.

I just took him out on his leash, and sure enough, his tail inflated. The barn cats were not around, at least not in sight. But I am sure they frequent the areas we were walking in.

So,it looks like Barney will be inside till neuterd and hormones abate. I hate to do it, but I can't give him any excuses to bite. As soon as we went in, his tail returned to normal.

I have been around Redirected aggression and it isn't fun. Keep your fingers crossed once neutered he stops this.

Thanks.
Reply
post #7 of 7
8/12/11 at 8:38am
Is it possible he is an over-stimulation-petting biter?
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Behavior
TheCatSite.com › Forums › Our Feline Companions › Behavior › Barney bit me