Nothing works for my cat. He's on every horizontal surface in my house. He has his own multiple level tree. His latest is to pull the rubber ring AND metal cap off the disposal and play with them on the floor. I've tried everything suggested but nothing works. I say NO, firmly, he bites me and draws blood. I'm 83, love him like a child but I'm at my wits end. He's nine months and eleven pounds. I do not like cats on my counters. I'm a clean freak. HELP!!!
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Problem with cat on counters + aggression
- Thread starter nasty cat
- Start Date
Hi @Nasty Cat
When nothing else works, this is probably the best thing on the market. It combines a motion detector, a whistle, and a blast of compressed air, and after the cat learns, it can be set to whistle only.
But have you tried gentler things like booby trapping the counter with stacked plastic cups, or pans of water?
Drawing blood is not a good thing at any age, and cat bites can easily become very infected. If he bites your hand as an example, and the hand starts to seriously swell up or striated visible lines start to develop upwards towards your arm, you must go to a 24 hour emergency room immediately. There is literally no time to waste. And with any cat bite you must wash it thoroughly.
How long have you had your cat?
Where did you get him from?
He is neutered?
When nothing else works, this is probably the best thing on the market. It combines a motion detector, a whistle, and a blast of compressed air, and after the cat learns, it can be set to whistle only.
But have you tried gentler things like booby trapping the counter with stacked plastic cups, or pans of water?
Drawing blood is not a good thing at any age, and cat bites can easily become very infected. If he bites your hand as an example, and the hand starts to seriously swell up or striated visible lines start to develop upwards towards your arm, you must go to a 24 hour emergency room immediately. There is literally no time to waste. And with any cat bite you must wash it thoroughly.
How long have you had your cat?
Where did you get him from?
He is neutered?
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #3
@StephenQ
Thanks for addressing my problems. Last September I got Maxie from a private home, where the mother, father and the rest of the liter was. I chose him because he was so cute and differently colored. My son advised me to get a female but I chose' him instead. I've always had and bred female pets before.
He grew rapidly so I was able to have him neutered early plus had his shots and at the same time declawed. However he was biting me before he was declawed. He is now about nine months and eleven pounds.
I've had him to the vet about a month ago concerning this problem. He is having me give Max one tranquilizer a day to calm him. However sometimes he seems more hyper. He said if it keeps up I should see a cat behaviorist. I see $$$$$$$ signs.
I'm concerned about the biting at my age. I do clean the wounds etc. I'm not sure if I'm getting across why I'm needing an answer to my question. This isn't an occasional bite but an every day occuracne and sometimes several times a day. I have scars up and down both arms and my legs. Jagged bites.
The thing is he will be sitting on my lap, I'm petting him, he's loving it and wham he turns around and bites my arm. None of the usual warning signs, which I do know, having a gentle Calico for 16 years.
Also thanks for the reply to my second problem with Max. I have bought all of those articles from Amazon to no avail. He also has too many toys to occupy him. But for the most part he doesn't play with them.
I've had foil along the edge of my counters, didn't work, and now I'm trying double sided tape. I saw him when he stepped on it the first time. It was funny. [emoji]128521[/emoji] He looked at me questionably, shook his paws, backed off but I see this morning he's been into the sink again.
I've had and bred quite a few animals in my life but I've never had one that I have had to consider rehoming. I really love him but I don't know how long this can go on for my well being. My three sons are encouraging me to rehome but so far I just can't. I'm at the point that I'm thinking neither problem, biting in particular, can be resolved. It's his way of telling me what he wants, which is what I've figured he's doing. But if I do come to that decision I want a great home with loving step parents for him, not someone who will let him out loose on his own. He wouldn't survive. I don't know how to ensure that he will get what I want for him. That's why I've endured the bites as well as my love for him.
I'm sorry this is too long. [emoji]128542[/emoji] Thanks.
Sheryl
Thanks for addressing my problems. Last September I got Maxie from a private home, where the mother, father and the rest of the liter was. I chose him because he was so cute and differently colored. My son advised me to get a female but I chose' him instead. I've always had and bred female pets before.
He grew rapidly so I was able to have him neutered early plus had his shots and at the same time declawed. However he was biting me before he was declawed. He is now about nine months and eleven pounds.
I've had him to the vet about a month ago concerning this problem. He is having me give Max one tranquilizer a day to calm him. However sometimes he seems more hyper. He said if it keeps up I should see a cat behaviorist. I see $$$$$$$ signs.
I'm concerned about the biting at my age. I do clean the wounds etc. I'm not sure if I'm getting across why I'm needing an answer to my question. This isn't an occasional bite but an every day occuracne and sometimes several times a day. I have scars up and down both arms and my legs. Jagged bites.
The thing is he will be sitting on my lap, I'm petting him, he's loving it and wham he turns around and bites my arm. None of the usual warning signs, which I do know, having a gentle Calico for 16 years.
Also thanks for the reply to my second problem with Max. I have bought all of those articles from Amazon to no avail. He also has too many toys to occupy him. But for the most part he doesn't play with them.
I've had foil along the edge of my counters, didn't work, and now I'm trying double sided tape. I saw him when he stepped on it the first time. It was funny. [emoji]128521[/emoji] He looked at me questionably, shook his paws, backed off but I see this morning he's been into the sink again.
I've had and bred quite a few animals in my life but I've never had one that I have had to consider rehoming. I really love him but I don't know how long this can go on for my well being. My three sons are encouraging me to rehome but so far I just can't. I'm at the point that I'm thinking neither problem, biting in particular, can be resolved. It's his way of telling me what he wants, which is what I've figured he's doing. But if I do come to that decision I want a great home with loving step parents for him, not someone who will let him out loose on his own. He wouldn't survive. I don't know how to ensure that he will get what I want for him. That's why I've endured the bites as well as my love for him.
I'm sorry this is too long. [emoji]128542[/emoji] Thanks.
Sheryl
Hi aggression sounds like he is an over-stimulator. A cat that accepts petting fine until they freak out and react. This article talks about it. http://www.thecatsite.com/a/cat-aggression-toward-people
one way to deal with this is to time him and see how long he can be pet before he bites, and then never pet him that long, except to try and slowly incerase the time between bites, and if he does bite, to walk away from him and hive him a social time out.
Have you tried Feliway plug ins? Many people have success with this, but not in every situation. Its an artificial cat pheromone that can help calm aggressive cats. www.feliway.com
I am concerned for you given the daily biting and your lovely age! If he isn't drawing blood, or if its more like a little scratch then it isn't as big a health risk but if he really punctures your skin its a big deal.
Re-homing may be the way you ultimately have to go, there are homes and people who are bettered equipped to handle this aggression, and a multi cat home might be best for him.
Consider the feliway, maybe in conjunction with the feliway spray (you spray his sleeping areas and rub it on your hands before petting him) to help calm him.
A less expensive behavioral solution than hiring a private behaviorist is to use the Cornell School of Vet medicine consultation service. The first call is free, the consultation (set up later) is $115.
You can look at their website here, there are specific days and times you can call, and you can certainly talk to the receptionist/nurse for free to see what they might be able to offer.
http://www.vet.cornell.edu/FHC/health_resources/camuti_service.cfm
(1-800-548-8937)
one way to deal with this is to time him and see how long he can be pet before he bites, and then never pet him that long, except to try and slowly incerase the time between bites, and if he does bite, to walk away from him and hive him a social time out.
Have you tried Feliway plug ins? Many people have success with this, but not in every situation. Its an artificial cat pheromone that can help calm aggressive cats. www.feliway.com
I am concerned for you given the daily biting and your lovely age! If he isn't drawing blood, or if its more like a little scratch then it isn't as big a health risk but if he really punctures your skin its a big deal.
Re-homing may be the way you ultimately have to go, there are homes and people who are bettered equipped to handle this aggression, and a multi cat home might be best for him.
Consider the feliway, maybe in conjunction with the feliway spray (you spray his sleeping areas and rub it on your hands before petting him) to help calm him.
A less expensive behavioral solution than hiring a private behaviorist is to use the Cornell School of Vet medicine consultation service. The first call is free, the consultation (set up later) is $115.
You can look at their website here, there are specific days and times you can call, and you can certainly talk to the receptionist/nurse for free to see what they might be able to offer.
http://www.vet.cornell.edu/FHC/health_resources/camuti_service.cfm
1-800-KITTYDR
The Camuti Consultation Service is available on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10AM to 12PM and from 2PM to 4PM ET (excluding holidays)
(1-800-548-8937)
I'm not sure everyone on TCS will agree with me on this, but I had great luck using a Scat Mat on my counter years ago when my cats were young. It gives an unpleasant static electricity kind of shock and they quickly learn they don't want to go there. It wasn't something I had to use for very long, and it's not a terribly bad shock -- I put my hand on it when setting it (low setting was enough). It also has a feedback light so you can see how many times they have landed on it. After a few days, there were no blinking lights at all. They just were not going there. I'm fine with them going everywhere else but the kitchen counters were definitely off limits. The good thing is that the cat does NOT associate it with you at all, so it doesn't ruin your relationship. He just learns that it is not a place he likes to be. They are easily found at most pet store chainslike Petco and PetSmart, but often cheaper on the internet or even on eBay.
http://www.safepetproducts.com/scat-mat-for-cats-and-dogs.html?gclid=CImfzqXhkr4CFUpp7AodPXsAtA
http://www.safepetproducts.com/scat-mat-for-cats-and-dogs.html?gclid=CImfzqXhkr4CFUpp7AodPXsAtA
((((Hugs)))) I hope you find a solution quickly.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #7
Thank you so much for suggesting the Scat Mat. I had seen people talk about them but it never registered till I read your comment. I ordered it immediately from Amazon. It worked! I'm so thankful. Thank you so much. Hopefully it keeps up. Not only where I had it, by the kitchen sink, but Max is staying off all counters so far.
I'd have loved to have seen him when it zapped him the one time but I sure heard him. During one evening all of a sudden I heard what must have been everything on my counter bang, crash and every other noise associated including things falling on the floor and glass breaking. Horrified I got up and he was sitting just outside the area looking like, "what happened?" There was a broken glass that had been full of water all over the floor. Everything on the counter was askew. Actually it was kinda funny.
Now I see Maxie walk into the kitchen, stop and just look at my counters like he's wondering if he should jump or is that thing still up there? He hasn't tried going back so far. So thank you very, very much for helping me with that problem. Now if getting him to stop biting me could be as easy.
I'd have loved to have seen him when it zapped him the one time but I sure heard him. During one evening all of a sudden I heard what must have been everything on my counter bang, crash and every other noise associated including things falling on the floor and glass breaking. Horrified I got up and he was sitting just outside the area looking like, "what happened?" There was a broken glass that had been full of water all over the floor. Everything on the counter was askew. Actually it was kinda funny.
Now I see Maxie walk into the kitchen, stop and just look at my counters like he's wondering if he should jump or is that thing still up there? He hasn't tried going back so far. So thank you very, very much for helping me with that problem. Now if getting him to stop biting me could be as easy.
I'm going to post the PM NastCat and I had on this aggressive situation. I hope someone here can offer more advice with their experience!
I hope you will take this to heart...I read more threads than I reply to, and some recently have concerned problems such as yours
all involving kittens SEPARATED TOO YOUNG from their mothers and siblings
u cannot turn back the clock
but you can (especially since you were a breeder)
get him a playmate
I think this would help everyone involved
and it cannot hurt...some people here swear two cats are easier than one
all involving kittens SEPARATED TOO YOUNG from their mothers and siblings
u cannot turn back the clock
but you can (especially since you were a breeder)
get him a playmate
I think this would help everyone involved
and it cannot hurt...some people here swear two cats are easier than one
