Two weeks ago today, I brought home my first cat of my very own. I grew up on a farm and had plenty of cats before, from indoor to outdoor cats, of all ages.
I got Stevie (after Stevie Nicks) at the local ASPCA. The shelter said she was around 2, never bit, and was a sweet loving kitty. She was spayed the same day I brought her home. She was recovering from a cold at the shelter, so I took her to my vet that Thursday to make sure everything was Ok and to establish my relationship with the vet.
The vet said she may have herpes virus, which is why her third eyelid is prominent, and that it may never be totally normal. My vet also said there is no way she is 2 years old. She had never had a litter, and although she had her adult teeth, there was no way she was over 8 months.
She really struggled with the internet, my computer, the monitor. We've been working on that with reinforcement; I just don't let her on my desk so I can get anything done (I'm a grad student.)
What we're really struggling with is biting/ambushing. She LOVES to attack you from under the table while you walk by, sneak up behind you and attack your legs. I understand this is normal cat hunting behavior, but it isn't appropriate for her to do it to me, my room mate, and it makes me nervous for guests to come over. She never uses her claws, so it is really playful, but I don't want to risk the day that it becomes malicious.
She also bites. She doesn't love to be petted all the time, but really likes to hang out with me. She's never broken the skin, but we struggle with biting every day. She knows she isn't supposed to, but just tests the waters; a lot.
She has plenty of toys. I have an automatic cat feeder that feeds her twice a day (7:30 am and 7:30 PM) and I usually give her a little wet food snack when I get home from school. She has unlimited water, and a zillion toys. She really loves her amazon box. She has never used anything but her litter box (knock on wood), she has a cat climber on my door, and can look out the window all day.
Will she grow out of this? Is she just being a kitten and figuring out her limits at her new home? I know she's a good cat, and I know she may just have her petting limits, but I want to make sure I can control this behavior as much as humanly possible, just so she doesn't turn out a mean cat. Most of the time it is clear she is being playful, except for the biting, and that is usually when she doesn't want to be petted. She seems to be in a better mood after she eats, but I don't want her to get super fat and I don't want to leave food out all day. I get this guilty feeling like I should have adopted the 6 y/o lazy male cat and that may have been a better fit, but I really love her a lot.
Do you have any advice for me?
I got Stevie (after Stevie Nicks) at the local ASPCA. The shelter said she was around 2, never bit, and was a sweet loving kitty. She was spayed the same day I brought her home. She was recovering from a cold at the shelter, so I took her to my vet that Thursday to make sure everything was Ok and to establish my relationship with the vet.
The vet said she may have herpes virus, which is why her third eyelid is prominent, and that it may never be totally normal. My vet also said there is no way she is 2 years old. She had never had a litter, and although she had her adult teeth, there was no way she was over 8 months.
She really struggled with the internet, my computer, the monitor. We've been working on that with reinforcement; I just don't let her on my desk so I can get anything done (I'm a grad student.)
What we're really struggling with is biting/ambushing. She LOVES to attack you from under the table while you walk by, sneak up behind you and attack your legs. I understand this is normal cat hunting behavior, but it isn't appropriate for her to do it to me, my room mate, and it makes me nervous for guests to come over. She never uses her claws, so it is really playful, but I don't want to risk the day that it becomes malicious.
She also bites. She doesn't love to be petted all the time, but really likes to hang out with me. She's never broken the skin, but we struggle with biting every day. She knows she isn't supposed to, but just tests the waters; a lot.
She has plenty of toys. I have an automatic cat feeder that feeds her twice a day (7:30 am and 7:30 PM) and I usually give her a little wet food snack when I get home from school. She has unlimited water, and a zillion toys. She really loves her amazon box. She has never used anything but her litter box (knock on wood), she has a cat climber on my door, and can look out the window all day.
Will she grow out of this? Is she just being a kitten and figuring out her limits at her new home? I know she's a good cat, and I know she may just have her petting limits, but I want to make sure I can control this behavior as much as humanly possible, just so she doesn't turn out a mean cat. Most of the time it is clear she is being playful, except for the biting, and that is usually when she doesn't want to be petted. She seems to be in a better mood after she eats, but I don't want her to get super fat and I don't want to leave food out all day. I get this guilty feeling like I should have adopted the 6 y/o lazy male cat and that may have been a better fit, but I really love her a lot.
Do you have any advice for me?
