Ophelia issues-she made a mess of me

Ophelia was a naughty little brat today. She has this "cute" little habit of rassling my legs. I have been working with her on it, but it just seems to get worse, not better. She is so very playful & I spent 1/2 hour playing with her everyday, in addition to that time, mom & my lil sis play with her, too. So, last night she scratched the living daylights out of my leg. You can clearly see where each paw scratched across my leg. The scratches meet up so they form a ring around my leg. I was mad & swatted at her like a mad cat would. Brianna, my little sister, showed me the scratches she got from Ophie a few days ago. I didn't realize she was being so bad. Brianna is scared that mom & dad will want to get rid of Ophie if she tells(they won't). Mom likes her, & dad doesn't get any say in her fate.

Today, she scratched my hand open(from one side of my palm to the other). I am starting to realize this is more than just playful. I don't know what it is, but it really needs to stop.

Any ideas on how to correct her? I cannot tell her no, she's deaf. I though about a hand gesture, but she doesn't like to look at my face(don't know why). I don't want to use a squirt bottle.

Normally, when she 'attacks' my leg, it is playful & she then darts away, like she would with another cat. She never learned to play with other cats, though. Tomorrow, she needs to go to the vet. She scratched her ear so hard it was bleeding. She might have ear mites or an ear infection. She will be getting her nails clipped & provided I have enough nail caps left, I will have the vet put those on. That can be a temporary solution until I can sort out the scratching. Of course, dad wants to declaw her. Yeah, there's no way on earth that I am going to have her declawed.

First off, declawing is an awful practice, and you should definitely avoid that!

Have the vet clip her claws, and buy a pair of clippers for your household. Make it a weekly practice to at least clip her front claws (we do all four on my cat). I know that people have had luck with the Soft Paws as well, so that is also an option. Maybe have the vet show you how to put them on so you can be sure she is always capped?

As far as deterring the behaviour, I can think of two options. First, ignore it. If she's not getting any "playful" reaction from you, she'll probably cut it out. If that won't work, try carrying a string toy in your pocket (something she likes) and distract her when she's tempted to rassle your leg. She'll learn pretty quick that it's more fun to chase her toy than to scratch and bite you!

Whatever you try, please do clip her claws. She might fight you at first, but make sure that you have a "treat party" when the clipping is over and she'll soon accept it as a new routine.

I hope this can be fixed as it sounds like it's creating some problems within your family.

What works for me is a "stare down". When they say the eyes are the mirror to the soul, I think animals understand this better than people.

Hi, first don't have your hands out moving around in front of her anymore than absolutely necessary, ditto your feet. Second, hiss at her when she's bad rather than yelling or swatting or anything. She's just pouncing on something because it's what cats do, and has no idea of 'meanness' or 'bad'. If she grabs your leg, don't pull away, but take her paws off and bend her head down for a second or two, she's more likely to get that you don't like it. Also, til she's older, maybe wear long pants!

They make tips for the claws like caps. Try to leave the declaw till a absolute life or death thing. She might need special help. She is deaf and has a behavioral issue.

Please click here to read about how to stop this kind of aggression.

I was looking for that thread but my laptop is running so slow it stops. Thank you.

We are off to the vet in a little while, so he is going to have to clip her claws. Between me, mom, & my little sister, we couldn't get her nails clipped. She kept being a booger about it & biting.

I really like the idea of carrying a toy on a string. That might just work.

I looked at that thread before I posted this, but I cannot identify which type of aggression this is. I was thinking that since her aggression got worse over the past few days, it could be from her ear troubles. I will have to look into the books suggested in the other thread, too.

Make sure while at the vet you mention it all to him/her so that way he/she is aware of the change in her.

That's what you get for naming your cat after a Shakespearean character that goes crazy.

My boys are named Demetrius and Chiron...I'm SCREWED

Originally Posted by andrewweilin

That's what you get for naming your cat after a Shakespearean character that goes crazy.

My boys are named Demetrius and Chiron...I'm SCREWED

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Actually, that was my reasoning for naming her Ophelia. She goes bonkers. I have alawys loved the whole story of Ophelia, so it just seemed natural to name her that.

The vet suggested that I play with her using a string. Then I was playing with her while not getting too close. I brought Da Bird down for her & played with her. She has been so well behaved since then. I brought it down again this morning & played with her. Now she thinks she might want to be a lap cat.

I love Shakespear. Best books to me.

I take the baby kitten with me everywhere, & I brought him downstairs. I showed him to Ophie, but wouldn't let her get too close(just to be safe, he hasn't been FeLV tested). She thinks he is the greatest thing in the world. She keeps on bringing him toys. She isn't even interested in Da Bird...just the kitten.

I can just hear it now. Ophie says, "Aww...but mom! I want a kitten for Christmas!"

Originally Posted by white cat lover

I take the baby kitten with me everywhere, & I brought him downstairs. I showed him to Ophie, but wouldn't let her get too close(just to be safe, he hasn't been FeLV tested). She thinks he is the greatest thing in the world. She keeps on bringing him toys. She isn't even interested in Da Bird...just the kitten.

I can just hear it now. Ophie says, "Aww...but mom! I want a kitten for Christmas!"

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that's so cute she has a strong maternal instinct

Ophie was feral right??

Zoey was semi feral when I got her , I of course didnt understand semi or feral vs stray..lol.. I gently pushed her toes back thus retracting her clws everytime she touched with claws...

Originally Posted by sharky

Ophie was feral right??

Zoey was semi feral when I got her , I of course didnt understand semi or feral vs stray..lol.. I gently pushed her toes back thus retracting her clws everytime she touched with claws...

Click to expand...

I guess I would call Ophelia a feral...she would bite, scratch, hiss, & attack anyone who got near her. With all the activity that has been going on around here & all the playtime she gets she hasn't been bad. I shut her out of the bathroom so that she didn't get a chance to scratch me. If she scratches me again, I will tyr gently pushing her toes back. Anything's worth a try, right?

Thanks!