I don't have an answer for you but I can relate. My cat does the same thing when I'm finished playing and he is not. Fortunately my cat is a gentle biter and has never drawn blood. He does calm down rather quickly and doesn't persist for long. I would imagine that this is more of a problem with single cat owners because cats with cat companions can chase each other around to exercise their hunting instincts. I would be curious to know what others think as well.
1 - 19 of 19 Posts
I did some research on this for you. When I saw that you had declawed your cat, I felt certain there was a connection. I found this article in Consumer Affairs.com This is only one paragraph from this story:
Annie Bruce of www.goodcatswearblack.com writes: (3/8/03):
I have written the American Veterinary Medical Association many times about the property destruction and cat bites that people suffer when owning declawed cats. The AVMA should cease declawing or tendonectomizing of all cats because these cats are dangerous for people to own and it is abuse of cats. As a cat owner consultant, I have logged hundreds of calls and found that declawed cat owners have an increased risk of: litter box maintenance; lost floorboards, drywall, carpet, sofas, beds and security deposits because of urine damage; getting bit; chewing damage; and having to give up the cat (giving cat away, abandoning cat or having him euthanized.)
_____________________________________
This is the concensus of many behavioral experts. It sounds as if Max is a feral cat. (I use the present tense because, although feral cats can be socialized, they are still feral) The socializing of a feral cat requires much patience over a long period of time, but it happens. However, Max might never recover from the declawing. It's possible he's in constant pain. I would consult a behaviorist. I'm so sorry Max and you have this problem. I know you wanted the best for him.
Annie Bruce of www.goodcatswearblack.com writes: (3/8/03):
I have written the American Veterinary Medical Association many times about the property destruction and cat bites that people suffer when owning declawed cats. The AVMA should cease declawing or tendonectomizing of all cats because these cats are dangerous for people to own and it is abuse of cats. As a cat owner consultant, I have logged hundreds of calls and found that declawed cat owners have an increased risk of: litter box maintenance; lost floorboards, drywall, carpet, sofas, beds and security deposits because of urine damage; getting bit; chewing damage; and having to give up the cat (giving cat away, abandoning cat or having him euthanized.)
_____________________________________
This is the concensus of many behavioral experts. It sounds as if Max is a feral cat. (I use the present tense because, although feral cats can be socialized, they are still feral) The socializing of a feral cat requires much patience over a long period of time, but it happens. However, Max might never recover from the declawing. It's possible he's in constant pain. I would consult a behaviorist. I'm so sorry Max and you have this problem. I know you wanted the best for him.
I can sympathize with the situations discussed here. (Newbie, so I apologize if I am repeating something said somewher else.)
I was going to post my question separately but it relates to the biting/attacking stuff I've read here. Our cat is front declawed and about 4 1/2 months old. He is going in for his "fix" next week, but he has demonstrated some odd behavior towards our 6 year old daughter. For some reason he finds attacking her legs and head--when she's sitting on the couch, for example--to be great fun. I have tried to tell my daughter to stick up for herself by yelling or moving towards him, but she hasn't caught on yet. My wife and I are relatively safe as is our 8 year old son.
I feel bad thinking that his operation might "help" the sitaution but I am also realistic. If this is just his temperament then we need to decide whether we can have the cat in our house at all, and that is a painful decision. The kids have a cat who is older, and female, at their dad's house who is also declawed and fixed and she never demonstrates the same behavior, according to the kids. It's all cat-to-cat I know, but they don't understand why "our" kitty has to be this way. What was once playful and fun is more now dangerous especially when blood is drawn.
Thanks for reading.
I was going to post my question separately but it relates to the biting/attacking stuff I've read here. Our cat is front declawed and about 4 1/2 months old. He is going in for his "fix" next week, but he has demonstrated some odd behavior towards our 6 year old daughter. For some reason he finds attacking her legs and head--when she's sitting on the couch, for example--to be great fun. I have tried to tell my daughter to stick up for herself by yelling or moving towards him, but she hasn't caught on yet. My wife and I are relatively safe as is our 8 year old son.
I feel bad thinking that his operation might "help" the sitaution but I am also realistic. If this is just his temperament then we need to decide whether we can have the cat in our house at all, and that is a painful decision. The kids have a cat who is older, and female, at their dad's house who is also declawed and fixed and she never demonstrates the same behavior, according to the kids. It's all cat-to-cat I know, but they don't understand why "our" kitty has to be this way. What was once playful and fun is more now dangerous especially when blood is drawn.
Thanks for reading.
I thought we were doing pretty well with the biting lately. The cat has had his operation and after a week he is somewhat calmer, although he relapsed and attacked my daughter yesterday. The vet said give him two weeks for the hormones to move out of his system. I may not have that long since the cat jumped on the kitchen table today and knocked off some flowers (no vase broken). My wife called to say she is at the end of her rope. Any advice now on table jumping cats?
My cats are allowed on tables (since we couldnt keep them off). We feed them on the counters now, and they know that that IS their food, and leaves ours alone.
They have some things for sale at pet stores to help this problem. There is a spray called SSSCat that will give a warning sound and then spray something that the cat hates! Sooner or later, the cat will learn that the sound is a warning and will stay away from it. Kind of like the invisible fence.
You can look into several different options
They have some things for sale at pet stores to help this problem. There is a spray called SSSCat that will give a warning sound and then spray something that the cat hates! Sooner or later, the cat will learn that the sound is a warning and will stay away from it. Kind of like the invisible fence.
You can look into several different options
1 - 19 of 19 Posts
