Can I train her to stop swatting?

Angel is the only cat that's not declawed. I didn't have it done because I learned of the cruelty involved. My other 2 are declawed. Here's an example of what's been happening. Last night, I was in bed watching a movie and Thor was laying next to me. Angel jumped up on the bed, and proceded to swat Thor's legs and back with her claws. Of course, he got up and left, and she laid down in his spot. Angel always has to lay with me, but sometimes I'd like my "firstborn child" (Thor) to lay there. If Thor or Mason are in a spot she wants, or if they're too close to the spot she wants, she'll swat them. Any ideas on how to get her to stop doing that? Or is it just another "cat thing"?

My cats do the same thing. Nepheline will be sitting with me and Guinness comes up, sits on her and bites her neck until she leaves! What I do to discourage it is to pull him off her and put him on the floor. He is slowly learning to leave her alone when she is sitting with me.

Sounds like a cat thing to me. It is not so much that she is swatting, it is more that she is dominating over Thor. My foster cat Sugartoes is the dominant kitty here, although I would prefer it was still Garfield. But when they did the kitty territorial ranking, I didn't get a vote!

Angel is not hurting the other cats with her claws. Claws are not just weapons, they are also like little grappling hooks, to be used to pull things to the kitty, etc. So the fact that she swipes with claws out doesn't necessarily mean she is trying to hurt Thor. Maybe if she was never swatted with claws she doesn't understand she should keep them in. Or she knows it isn't hurting him through his fur.

I think the best thing is to let the kitties work it out, and just be sure Thor and Mason get plenty of attention, too.

Oh my ... sounds like my Princess. All of my girls have claws so the playing field is level but 2 nights ago all hell broke loose ! I bought a new electric blanket and put in on the bed. Naturally all 3 cats plopped themselves on the bed since they are certain I put it there for them !! When I went to bed Pooh curled up right next to me in the primo snuggle spot. When Princess hopped up and saw that she came right over and swatted her while growling at her to get lost !! Pooh stayed put so Princess perched on the very end of the bed and just glared at her. I did scold Princess but it doesn't seem to deter her.

Princess didn't extend her claws so there was no danger to Pooh. She seemed to swat her with the pad of her pad. Are you sure Angel had her claws extended ? I think that would be unusual. Maybe some of the "experts" in cat behavior here will have more ideas for you.

Originally Posted by Alessandra

I bought a new electric blanket and put in on the bed. Naturally all 3 cats plopped themselves on the bed since they are certain I put it there for them !!

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of course you got it just for them Aren't cats funny!?