The odd and occasionally painful ways of cats
August 2, 2009 11:50 AM Subscribe
My recently (January) adopted 11 year old female cat bites, almost always when I'm sleeping. It doesn't seem playful, at least to me; the last one, on Tuesday, was deep and became infected. She bit my hand again last night, drawing blood. She's my first cat, so I'm inexperienced with this. Help?
So she bit my arm on Tuesday night, badly. Previously she's bitten my ankles when I'm in bed, which I can understand (things moving under the bedclothes) but the arm bite was in a different league; the punctures were deep and became very quickly infected. I've just finished a course of IV antibiotics and I'm on oral antibiotics for another week. Besides having to deal with going to the hospital every day and having to cancel a planned visit to Seattle this weekend, I'm worried about this behaviour continuing. She's in good health otherwise and though aloof seems genuinely attached to me and affectionate in other ways. Whne she bites I yell at her and she goes tearing off out of the bedroom, so she knows that I'm not happy about it. I'm going to banish her from the bedroom and close the door, but I'm not thrilled with that either (I'd like a cat I can sleep with without having to worry about losing a limb). Advice or insight is appreciated.
So she bit my arm on Tuesday night, badly. Previously she's bitten my ankles when I'm in bed, which I can understand (things moving under the bedclothes) but the arm bite was in a different league; the punctures were deep and became very quickly infected. I've just finished a course of IV antibiotics and I'm on oral antibiotics for another week. Besides having to deal with going to the hospital every day and having to cancel a planned visit to Seattle this weekend, I'm worried about this behaviour continuing. She's in good health otherwise and though aloof seems genuinely attached to me and affectionate in other ways. Whne she bites I yell at her and she goes tearing off out of the bedroom, so she knows that I'm not happy about it. I'm going to banish her from the bedroom and close the door, but I'm not thrilled with that either (I'd like a cat I can sleep with without having to worry about losing a limb). Advice or insight is appreciated.
Best answer: My cat does the same thing. She's completely affectionate to me, but she also bites everyone (including me). I have been unable to train her, but what has worked is keeping a spray bottle of water on hand and next to my bed at night. When she bites, I spray. It might sound mean, but nothing else has worked (including yelling) and water is the only thing I know of that she hates. The biting has greatly declined in frequency, but still happens occasionally.
I have no idea why my cat bites; I have had her from kittenhood and have been nothing but sweet and caring to her (I've never rough played with her or anything like that, or done anything to encourage biting).
posted by Polychrome at 11:58 AM on August 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
I have no idea why my cat bites; I have had her from kittenhood and have been nothing but sweet and caring to her (I've never rough played with her or anything like that, or done anything to encourage biting).
posted by Polychrome at 11:58 AM on August 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
Is it possible that you may have rolled onto her while you were asleep?
posted by biochemist at 11:59 AM on August 2, 2009
posted by biochemist at 11:59 AM on August 2, 2009
Okay. Maybe I am missing a vital piece of information, but why don't you keep the bedroom door closed (with her outside of the bedroom and you inside, sleeping) at night?
posted by Acer_saccharum at 12:05 PM on August 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by Acer_saccharum at 12:05 PM on August 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
In my constantly muddled state I missed that you were planning on banishment from the bedroom.
This is not the normal state of affairs for any cat/dog owners I know. It sounds to me like you have a great cat that you can't sleep in the same room with and come out with all your original bits of flesh. Although this is pretty odd, every pet has its quirks.
posted by Acer_saccharum at 12:07 PM on August 2, 2009
This is not the normal state of affairs for any cat/dog owners I know. It sounds to me like you have a great cat that you can't sleep in the same room with and come out with all your original bits of flesh. Although this is pretty odd, every pet has its quirks.
posted by Acer_saccharum at 12:07 PM on August 2, 2009
Response by poster: thebrokedown: Possibly, but she's also able to wake me up in the morning to feed her (she's half Siamese and has a very loud, guttural meow). Perhaps it's when I'm more deeply asleep? The biting certainly works, but even if it's time to get up I'll stay in bed for half an hour rather than reinforce the behaviour by getting up right away.
The bad bite on Tuesday happened after I'm gotten up to pee and came back to bed; is it possible that she didn't recognize me or thought I was a threat? (I thought cats could see in the dark. Stupid cat.)
The spritzer thing is worth a try, I'll get one today.
posted by jokeefe at 12:14 PM on August 2, 2009
The bad bite on Tuesday happened after I'm gotten up to pee and came back to bed; is it possible that she didn't recognize me or thought I was a threat? (I thought cats could see in the dark. Stupid cat.)
The spritzer thing is worth a try, I'll get one today.
posted by jokeefe at 12:14 PM on August 2, 2009
Response by poster: Oh-- and another data point-- this increase in biting has taken place during a major heat wave here (the highest ever recorded temperatures in Vancouver). It's made everyone cranky, including, perhaps, my cat?
posted by jokeefe at 12:23 PM on August 2, 2009
posted by jokeefe at 12:23 PM on August 2, 2009
Do you leave food & water out for her overnight? She could be hungry; biting you might be her way of saying "STUPID HUMAN I WANT FOOD!"
She might also be bored. Some cats are really active in the nighttime. Does she have toys to play with? Scratching post? Something else to beat up on besides you?
posted by contessa at 12:23 PM on August 2, 2009
She might also be bored. Some cats are really active in the nighttime. Does she have toys to play with? Scratching post? Something else to beat up on besides you?
posted by contessa at 12:23 PM on August 2, 2009
Keep her out of your bedroom at night. Biting is unacceptable. I think it's clear that he wants attention but other than a spray bottle and keeping her out, I don't think there's much you can do. This may go away with maturity but who knows.
When we just had one cat we taught him to sleep on a towel or pillowcase on the bed. He had to stay there or get off the bed at night. It took repeated placing on this spot to get him trained but it did work. This was mostly because I didn't want him all purring in my grill all night. However, he's a pretty good bed companion -- our second cat is not and so they have both been generally banished from the bedroom.
Also, in trying to modify some bad nighttime and morning behavior from my cats I started feeding them later in the day and then transitioned to filling their bowls in the evening or at bedtime. I feel like this gives them something to do at night and keeps them from being intolerable pests in the morning.
posted by amanda at 12:26 PM on August 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
When we just had one cat we taught him to sleep on a towel or pillowcase on the bed. He had to stay there or get off the bed at night. It took repeated placing on this spot to get him trained but it did work. This was mostly because I didn't want him all purring in my grill all night. However, he's a pretty good bed companion -- our second cat is not and so they have both been generally banished from the bedroom.
Also, in trying to modify some bad nighttime and morning behavior from my cats I started feeding them later in the day and then transitioned to filling their bowls in the evening or at bedtime. I feel like this gives them something to do at night and keeps them from being intolerable pests in the morning.
posted by amanda at 12:26 PM on August 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
Maybe she is just reacting to your movement under the covers in a playful way, but doesn't necessarily realize that it is you under there and not some toy, hence the strong bite?
My cat is definitely dumb enough to do something like that. I don't think cats are all that smart.
posted by orme at 12:29 PM on August 2, 2009
My cat is definitely dumb enough to do something like that. I don't think cats are all that smart.
posted by orme at 12:29 PM on August 2, 2009
What is your feeding cycle? If you freefeed, consider changing that. Like Amanda we feed our cats just before bed (and at a few other regular times) and after they eat, they almost always settle down and go to sleep.
posted by ursus_comiter at 12:34 PM on August 2, 2009
posted by ursus_comiter at 12:34 PM on August 2, 2009
Response by poster: contessa-- yes, she has food, water, an (unused) scratching post, the comfy chair (looking much worse for wear-- she the unused scratching post), toys, and a nice wide window ledge to sit on where it's actually safe for her (the other windows are a long drop onto pavement if she should fall, and I close them at night).
I'm off for a spritzer bottle... otherwise it's a closed bedroom door and she can just deal with it (though she sits outside and complains and tries to paw the door open, sigh).
posted by jokeefe at 12:34 PM on August 2, 2009
I'm off for a spritzer bottle... otherwise it's a closed bedroom door and she can just deal with it (though she sits outside and complains and tries to paw the door open, sigh).
posted by jokeefe at 12:34 PM on August 2, 2009
No clue about the biting, but definitely not normal for a cat. Agree with the spritzer and bed-outing suggestions.
OT, but you may want to experiment with different kinds of scratching posts. Sometimes they're particular. My cats like the cardboard kind but won't use sisal.
posted by sesquipedalian at 12:42 PM on August 2, 2009
OT, but you may want to experiment with different kinds of scratching posts. Sometimes they're particular. My cats like the cardboard kind but won't use sisal.
posted by sesquipedalian at 12:42 PM on August 2, 2009
I'd like a cat I can sleep with without having to worry about losing a limb
New cat. You've already done the right thing by adopting - now you know why the cat was likely dumped in the first place. I've lived with Siamese that were also prone to biting the hand that feeds you (literally), and it generally correlates with general stupidity of the cat, which makes training almost impossible. The more clever Siamese cats never had these problems.
posted by benzenedream at 12:46 PM on August 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
New cat. You've already done the right thing by adopting - now you know why the cat was likely dumped in the first place. I've lived with Siamese that were also prone to biting the hand that feeds you (literally), and it generally correlates with general stupidity of the cat, which makes training almost impossible. The more clever Siamese cats never had these problems.
posted by benzenedream at 12:46 PM on August 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Like Polychrome, we've had Tweak since she was born (we'd adopted her mama unaware that she was enceinte at the time). Mama cat and Timmy (Tweak's littermate) have never been biters, but Tweak had a habit of biting unexpectedly - for example, she'd be contentedly laying in my lap, purring while I petted her, and then all of a sudden she'd jump up and bite my finger or my chin (to the point where she drew blood). I don't know what inspired or provoked her biting, but we used both the squirt bottle and also (when bottle wasn't handy) a firm NO! accompanied by a strong hissing noise ("Sssssss!") Kittens tend to react to the hissing noise, because that's how mama reprimands them. It took a while, but over time her bites turned into nips (no breaking of skin), and eventually she stopped the biting altogether. Again, it was a very gradual process, so if you don't want to be assaulted in your sleep, I agree with the closed door policy in conjunction with spritz training during the day.
posted by Oriole Adams at 1:24 PM on August 2, 2009
posted by Oriole Adams at 1:24 PM on August 2, 2009
She wants your attention. Cats are most active at night and you are most boring at night when you're sleeping. I agree totally with not getting up right away, because it would reinforce the behavior. Try playing with her a lot before going to sleep. Get her running around and tired out so she'll be less likely to want to wake you up hours later. Also, try to find a way to cover yourself so that she cannot bite you again. If she tries to get your attention while you are sleeping, IGNORE her. Just move your hand, arm, foot away and ignore her. In my experience, ignoring the behavior is a faster remedy than a spray bottle. When you wake up at the proper time in the morning, give her lots of attention. She'll soon get into the swing of things.
posted by whiskeyspider at 1:25 PM on August 2, 2009
posted by whiskeyspider at 1:25 PM on August 2, 2009
Best answer: Well, if only good for a data point -- this heat in Vancouver has also made my 3 cats very very cranky.
My uneducated guess -- your cat is warm and uncomfortable (mine certainly are), you disturbed her, and she already knows biting gets a reaction out of you. I'd let her into your room in short periods. My kittens are so rambunctious (for example) that I let them in with me as well, but the second they actually wake me up, all three are on the other side of the bedroom door. They're quickly learning that me-in-bed means go-to-sleep. You can train your cat as well -- let her in, but the second she does something you don't approve of, out she goes. You may have to sleep through some crying, but she'll get over it.
If your scratching post isn't one of the sisal-rope ones (ie it's carpet or something else instead) -- get a rope one. IMHO, they're much more appealing to cats.
posted by cgg at 1:29 PM on August 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
My uneducated guess -- your cat is warm and uncomfortable (mine certainly are), you disturbed her, and she already knows biting gets a reaction out of you. I'd let her into your room in short periods. My kittens are so rambunctious (for example) that I let them in with me as well, but the second they actually wake me up, all three are on the other side of the bedroom door. They're quickly learning that me-in-bed means go-to-sleep. You can train your cat as well -- let her in, but the second she does something you don't approve of, out she goes. You may have to sleep through some crying, but she'll get over it.
If your scratching post isn't one of the sisal-rope ones (ie it's carpet or something else instead) -- get a rope one. IMHO, they're much more appealing to cats.
posted by cgg at 1:29 PM on August 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
If you decide to keep her out of the bedroom, one trick to keep her from crying at the door all night is to aim a fan underneath the door. I got that trick from another AskMe thread and it really works. Apparently they don't like the breeze, but even if she persists, it will drown out some of the noise.
posted by clerestory at 1:48 PM on August 2, 2009
posted by clerestory at 1:48 PM on August 2, 2009
The thing that keeps our cat from biting me or scratching me, ever, is that I make high pitched crying sounds when she does it.
I wouldn't say it's terribly dignified, no, but she scratches and bites others, never me.
She probably thinks I'm defective or something.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 2:23 PM on August 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
I wouldn't say it's terribly dignified, no, but she scratches and bites others, never me.
She probably thinks I'm defective or something.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 2:23 PM on August 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
I make high pitched crying sounds when she does it.
Oh, and the expression on your cat's face when you do this for the first time is pretty much worth it on its own.
(I meant to add, also, that I did this when I first got her and she was an adult cat then, not a kitten.)
posted by A Terrible Llama at 2:26 PM on August 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
Oh, and the expression on your cat's face when you do this for the first time is pretty much worth it on its own.
(I meant to add, also, that I did this when I first got her and she was an adult cat then, not a kitten.)
posted by A Terrible Llama at 2:26 PM on August 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
I once was taking care of this stray cat that was very friendly but liked to do sneak-and-bite attacks with a pretty hard bite. I was putting on some deet because of a mosquito problem when the cat did its attack. The cat shook its head spitting the disgusting taste out, and never bit me again.
Do I recommend this? NO! Deet can be poisonous.
But maybe there's something to the idea. Find something harmless but awful tasting.
posted by eye of newt at 2:36 PM on August 2, 2009
Do I recommend this? NO! Deet can be poisonous.
But maybe there's something to the idea. Find something harmless but awful tasting.
posted by eye of newt at 2:36 PM on August 2, 2009
Find something harmless but awful tasting.
For dogs that can't stop licking (or chewing on) certain things, we've used Grannick's Bitter Apple. It looks like it's sold for cats, too, but I haven't had to use it for a cat yet, so YMMV. The dogs hated it, and it saved some wooden furniture.
posted by jquinby at 2:55 PM on August 2, 2009
For dogs that can't stop licking (or chewing on) certain things, we've used Grannick's Bitter Apple. It looks like it's sold for cats, too, but I haven't had to use it for a cat yet, so YMMV. The dogs hated it, and it saved some wooden furniture.
posted by jquinby at 2:55 PM on August 2, 2009
This is my cat. After a year of living with me he's still unexpectedly biting hard enough to draw blood and bruise. I've tried a squirt bottle, I've tried kitty prozac, I've tried ignoring it, and I'm finally admitting defeat. I'm actively in the process of looking for a new home for him, because I can't live with something that hunts me.
I have had other cats before, so I have the certainty of knowing that his behavior isn't just par for the course kitty biting. You might find some helpful information on this page from the ASPCA's animal behavior website.
posted by MsMolly at 4:44 PM on August 2, 2009
I have had other cats before, so I have the certainty of knowing that his behavior isn't just par for the course kitty biting. You might find some helpful information on this page from the ASPCA's animal behavior website.
posted by MsMolly at 4:44 PM on August 2, 2009
Best answer: We had a awfully bitey cat, Milo, that I stuck it out with for about seven years. I probably should've been clued in when I adopted him from a no-kill shelter and they had named him Grizzly. After watching her video, I think he may have been a soulmate to MsMolly's Chewy.
Anyway, Milo started out that kind of mild stalking of the feet at night, where I resorted to piling pillows over them when I went to bed. I lived in a railroad apartment where I only had bi-fold doors to the bedroom. He figured out how to pop them open with his paw, and when I locked it with a hook, he figured out how to go up and over them (they didn't go full to the ceiling), and he'd get wedged stuck under the smoke detector. Just a bad situation all around.
He got progressively worse as he got older, sending me to the hospital twice for infected bites, though he bit me much more regularly. I just kind of accepted that he wasn't really a nice cat, and I would see him only when he wanted to hang out on his own terms. He was rather huge, at 23lbs. Not fat, just HUGE. So, when he bit, it was rather epic. He regularly would intimidate my French Bulldog (the dog was afraid to walk past him, since Milo was bigger than him). Still, I knew that there was no way that I would ever be able to re-home him because of his biting history. We tried anti-psychotic medications (straight from CVS) on a daily basis, hoping that would help. The pilling just pissed him off and caused more flesh wounds on my side. We tried the water bottle, hissing at him, crying out, not crying out, etc., etc. It only made him more aggressive. He actually would growl at me and approach even angrier.
The vet wasn't able to provide any solutions, other than perhaps that he was getting to the point that his liver and kidneys weren't working as optimally since he was getting older (he was 12-13yo), and his brain just was kind of tweaked with whatever kitty toxins were driving him crazy. None of it was enough to show that he was in any sort of organ failure, he was just nasty.
The final straw was when he got the dog one weekend, me the next and the third weekend, he got Mr. dancinglamb so badly, that he tore his sock open and blood was pulsing out of his foot. We ended up putting him down the next day, which required rabies testing (a most unpleasant story in and of itself).
I think your first step would be to take your kitty to the vet to make sure there's nothing organic going on. Then from there, definitely do close the door at night and then try some sort of behavioural training, whether the water spray or a container full of pennies that can shake and make a sudden, loud noise whenever the cat bites.
Good luck. I know exactly how you feel, and desperate it can become. I hope you find a solution you (and your cat) can both be happy with.
posted by dancinglamb at 5:17 PM on August 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
Anyway, Milo started out that kind of mild stalking of the feet at night, where I resorted to piling pillows over them when I went to bed. I lived in a railroad apartment where I only had bi-fold doors to the bedroom. He figured out how to pop them open with his paw, and when I locked it with a hook, he figured out how to go up and over them (they didn't go full to the ceiling), and he'd get wedged stuck under the smoke detector. Just a bad situation all around.
He got progressively worse as he got older, sending me to the hospital twice for infected bites, though he bit me much more regularly. I just kind of accepted that he wasn't really a nice cat, and I would see him only when he wanted to hang out on his own terms. He was rather huge, at 23lbs. Not fat, just HUGE. So, when he bit, it was rather epic. He regularly would intimidate my French Bulldog (the dog was afraid to walk past him, since Milo was bigger than him). Still, I knew that there was no way that I would ever be able to re-home him because of his biting history. We tried anti-psychotic medications (straight from CVS) on a daily basis, hoping that would help. The pilling just pissed him off and caused more flesh wounds on my side. We tried the water bottle, hissing at him, crying out, not crying out, etc., etc. It only made him more aggressive. He actually would growl at me and approach even angrier.
The vet wasn't able to provide any solutions, other than perhaps that he was getting to the point that his liver and kidneys weren't working as optimally since he was getting older (he was 12-13yo), and his brain just was kind of tweaked with whatever kitty toxins were driving him crazy. None of it was enough to show that he was in any sort of organ failure, he was just nasty.
The final straw was when he got the dog one weekend, me the next and the third weekend, he got Mr. dancinglamb so badly, that he tore his sock open and blood was pulsing out of his foot. We ended up putting him down the next day, which required rabies testing (a most unpleasant story in and of itself).
I think your first step would be to take your kitty to the vet to make sure there's nothing organic going on. Then from there, definitely do close the door at night and then try some sort of behavioural training, whether the water spray or a container full of pennies that can shake and make a sudden, loud noise whenever the cat bites.
Good luck. I know exactly how you feel, and desperate it can become. I hope you find a solution you (and your cat) can both be happy with.
posted by dancinglamb at 5:17 PM on August 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
Honestly, I'd return the cat to the shelter. Pets aren't supposed to bite people to the point that it's painful and a health risk. It's not acceptable for dogs to bite people like this (I'm not talking about playful nips, I'm talking about the sort of aggresive behavior danclinglamb mentions) and it shouldn't be for cats, either. Some cats just aren't cut out to be pets. At the very least shut your door at night and don't let kids into your home if the cat is around.
posted by emd3737 at 7:38 PM on August 2, 2009
posted by emd3737 at 7:38 PM on August 2, 2009
I have a cat who absolutely loves my husband and me and she bites. We flick her on the nose when she bites and she has stopped doing to so much. She used to bite feet while we were sleeping, but a few kicks across the room (unintentional) stopped her from doing that. I also sprayed my hands with bitter apple spray, the kind of spray used to stop animals from biting themselves. That helped. This cat is 15 years old and has been a biter since she was a wee kitten. I think they are love bites, but she bites hard enough to raise a bruise and occasionally break skin. I think it is because she becomes overly exited. She was feral and had a hard kitten-hood. Generally, she is a very good, loving, and sweet cat, she is just a biter.
I have had other biter cats too. It is not unusual, but not the norm either. One old girl I adopted loved to bite my nose. She was 13 when I adopted her and lived until she was 23. A nose biter the whole time. Then there was the calf biter and an ankle biter.
posted by fifilaru at 8:31 PM on August 2, 2009
I have had other biter cats too. It is not unusual, but not the norm either. One old girl I adopted loved to bite my nose. She was 13 when I adopted her and lived until she was 23. A nose biter the whole time. Then there was the calf biter and an ankle biter.
posted by fifilaru at 8:31 PM on August 2, 2009
Find something harmless but awful tasting.
Citrus. You could try lemon juice.
Another standard recommendation in cat threads is also Feliway, a spray which is supposed to mimic natural calming cat smell-markers. You could give that a try.
posted by LobsterMitten at 8:31 PM on August 2, 2009
Citrus. You could try lemon juice.
Another standard recommendation in cat threads is also Feliway, a spray which is supposed to mimic natural calming cat smell-markers. You could give that a try.
posted by LobsterMitten at 8:31 PM on August 2, 2009
Seconding emd3737 who had the guts to say take the cat back to the shelter. Why is everyone always ready to say DTMFA if it's a human, but cats can get away with anything?
posted by Joleta at 8:47 PM on August 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by Joleta at 8:47 PM on August 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Thank you all, and especially MsMolly, whose earlier thread about her cat included this great comment. My cat actually didn't come from a shelter, but from a friend of my adult son's; she'd been the family cat since she was a kitten, and she came to me with the proviso that she "wasn't the nicest cat", but we seemed to be getting along pretty well before this (barring the occasional toe chomping). They needed to find a home for her because a family member had become violently allergic and had to move out because of it. I've emailed to check on the cat's biting history, and otherwise I'll try some of the suggestions here.
I just woke up from a nap to find her cuddled up into the small of my back and purring away. That's more like it, I told her.
posted by jokeefe at 9:09 PM on August 2, 2009
I just woke up from a nap to find her cuddled up into the small of my back and purring away. That's more like it, I told her.
posted by jokeefe at 9:09 PM on August 2, 2009
Response by poster: I just read through the ASPCA link, again from MsMolly, and found this:
Redirected aggression occurs when a cat is aggressively aroused and agitated by an animal or person he can’t get at (because there’s a window between them, for example). Unable to get to the trigger of his agitation, he turns and lashes out at someone—person, dog or cat—who is nearby or who approaches him. There can be considerable delay between the initial arousal and the redirected aggression, as long as hours.
Well damn. I have a bird feeder attached to my living room window, and she spends a lot of time glaring at the birds and occasionally making lunges at them. *smacks forehead* Maybe I can move the feeder so it's less exciting for her?
posted by jokeefe at 9:21 PM on August 2, 2009
Redirected aggression occurs when a cat is aggressively aroused and agitated by an animal or person he can’t get at (because there’s a window between them, for example). Unable to get to the trigger of his agitation, he turns and lashes out at someone—person, dog or cat—who is nearby or who approaches him. There can be considerable delay between the initial arousal and the redirected aggression, as long as hours.
Well damn. I have a bird feeder attached to my living room window, and she spends a lot of time glaring at the birds and occasionally making lunges at them. *smacks forehead* Maybe I can move the feeder so it's less exciting for her?
posted by jokeefe at 9:21 PM on August 2, 2009
A follow up on my post, sometimes cats like people are nuts or mean, or nuts and mean. But she sounds like she just gets over-excited.
posted by fifilaru at 9:45 PM on August 2, 2009
posted by fifilaru at 9:45 PM on August 2, 2009
jquinby: "Find something harmless but awful tasting.
For dogs that can't stop licking (or chewing on) certain things, we've used Grannick's Bitter Apple. It looks like it's sold for cats, too, but I haven't had to use it for a cat yet, so YMMV. The dogs hated it, and it saved some wooden furniture."
Just be careful you don't rub your eyes or anything in your sleep.
A Terrible Llama: "The thing that keeps our cat from biting me or scratching me, ever, is that I make high pitched crying sounds when she does it.
I wouldn't say it's terribly dignified, no, but she scratches and bites others, never me.
She probably thinks I'm defective or something."
Actually, I've read that this is exactly what you're supposed to do. It's the same noise that puppies or kittens make to signal to a litter-mate "Ouch! Rough-housing just turned painful!"
posted by radioamy at 11:28 AM on August 3, 2009
For dogs that can't stop licking (or chewing on) certain things, we've used Grannick's Bitter Apple. It looks like it's sold for cats, too, but I haven't had to use it for a cat yet, so YMMV. The dogs hated it, and it saved some wooden furniture."
Just be careful you don't rub your eyes or anything in your sleep.
A Terrible Llama: "The thing that keeps our cat from biting me or scratching me, ever, is that I make high pitched crying sounds when she does it.
I wouldn't say it's terribly dignified, no, but she scratches and bites others, never me.
She probably thinks I'm defective or something."
Actually, I've read that this is exactly what you're supposed to do. It's the same noise that puppies or kittens make to signal to a litter-mate "Ouch! Rough-housing just turned painful!"
posted by radioamy at 11:28 AM on August 3, 2009
Response by poster: Just in case anyone's still reading this thread-- she bit me again last night, no extenuating circumstances I could see; I was completely asleep, though not deeply enough to be unaware that she was curled up against my chest and purring, it was 6:30 in the morning, and then-- pounce and run. Another four lovely puncture holes in my arm, more blood. Same arm as the first time, slightly different place. I'm getting a collection.
I'm hoping that my system is still so riddled with antibiotics (I'm still on the oral ones) that it won't get infected this time. But I'm now feeling pretty unhappy and running out of excuses for her... I'm going to take her to the vet to see if there's anything physical (could she be in pain for something?) that might explain it.
Otherwise, anybody want a cat?
Sigh.
posted by jokeefe at 4:30 PM on August 8, 2009
I'm hoping that my system is still so riddled with antibiotics (I'm still on the oral ones) that it won't get infected this time. But I'm now feeling pretty unhappy and running out of excuses for her... I'm going to take her to the vet to see if there's anything physical (could she be in pain for something?) that might explain it.
Otherwise, anybody want a cat?
Sigh.
posted by jokeefe at 4:30 PM on August 8, 2009
Oh, that just SUCKS. I'm sorry. Keep that bite clean - no peroxide, though. I think that if your vet can't come up with anything, you might be running out of options. Sadly, it's not fair to you or your cat, but you can't keep having this happen. I've been in your exact shoes, so I know how you feel. MeMail me if you want to talk more.
Stay healthy (and safe!).
posted by dancinglamb at 5:31 PM on August 8, 2009
Stay healthy (and safe!).
posted by dancinglamb at 5:31 PM on August 8, 2009
Oh man, I'm sorry. This sounds exactly like Chewy, who is going to be going back to being his previous owner's problem this week.
"she came to me with the proviso that she 'wasn't the nicest cat'"
This makes me suspect that her previous owners knew about the biting, and frankly if she's 11 years old and has been doing this her whole life I can't imagine she'll ever change. I've had Chewy checked for every physical cause the vet or I could think of, given him "kitty prozac", played with him more, played with him less, and a year later I still have the same cat I started out with: kind of a jerk and a vicious biter. And I can't live with that long term.
posted by MsMolly at 8:13 PM on August 8, 2009
"she came to me with the proviso that she 'wasn't the nicest cat'"
This makes me suspect that her previous owners knew about the biting, and frankly if she's 11 years old and has been doing this her whole life I can't imagine she'll ever change. I've had Chewy checked for every physical cause the vet or I could think of, given him "kitty prozac", played with him more, played with him less, and a year later I still have the same cat I started out with: kind of a jerk and a vicious biter. And I can't live with that long term.
posted by MsMolly at 8:13 PM on August 8, 2009
Response by poster: Thanks for the support, it's much appreciated. I'm having a kind of summit meeting with her previous owners, and we'll talk about options... there's a lot of friendly cats out there who could use a home, you know? And who wouldn't be pulling this aggressive behaviour all the time.
In the meantime, ouch. Though this bit doesn't seem to be infected so far. Fingers crossed.
posted by jokeefe at 8:33 PM on August 8, 2009
In the meantime, ouch. Though this bit doesn't seem to be infected so far. Fingers crossed.
posted by jokeefe at 8:33 PM on August 8, 2009
I'm sorry to hear it--I'm all for sticking it out with animals under pretty much any circumstance, just with the idea that well, we all put up with each other. But I think being tenderized like a steak on a nightly basis is a little too much to ask. So sorry. (I don't know if you saw the Simpson episode with Stampy the elephant, but in the end they take him to a nature preserve and he starts headbutting the other elephants, and the ranger observes, 'Some animals are just jerks.')
It's nice of you to have tried so hard.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 2:30 AM on August 9, 2009
It's nice of you to have tried so hard.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 2:30 AM on August 9, 2009
Response by poster: Well, an update. After a number of 'not so bad' bites over the last couple of months, she got me really badly two weeks ago. I had just woken up to the alarm, was propped up on one elbow while trying to keep my eyes open, and my other arm was on top of the covers. She had been moving around, purring, but then she stopped purring and I glanced at her to see her pupils dilated and her ears back... she attacked and ran. More antibiotics, two different ones this time.
Long talk with the very compassionate and highly recommended vet last night, who has basically told me, from my description of her behaviour and that she has a history of biting (admitted by her previous owners, eventually) that I could go the route of giving her drugs, but that I had to consider my own safety and health first. He said he usually does not counsel people to put their animals down-- in fact the opposite-- but said that he honestly doesn't see an alternative in this case.
I'm heartbroken but there it is. Original owners won't take her back (I've asked) so it looks like the decision has to be mine.
Just posting to add some, um, closure to the thread.
posted by jokeefe at 10:06 AM on November 4, 2009
Long talk with the very compassionate and highly recommended vet last night, who has basically told me, from my description of her behaviour and that she has a history of biting (admitted by her previous owners, eventually) that I could go the route of giving her drugs, but that I had to consider my own safety and health first. He said he usually does not counsel people to put their animals down-- in fact the opposite-- but said that he honestly doesn't see an alternative in this case.
I'm heartbroken but there it is. Original owners won't take her back (I've asked) so it looks like the decision has to be mine.
Just posting to add some, um, closure to the thread.
posted by jokeefe at 10:06 AM on November 4, 2009
Sorry, jokeefe. You hung in there with her a heroically long time.
posted by LobsterMitten at 2:37 PM on November 4, 2009
posted by LobsterMitten at 2:37 PM on November 4, 2009
Oh I'm so sorry. That's exactly the spot I would have found myself in if Chewy's previous owner hadn't been willing to take him back. I still don't know what's going to happen to Chewy long-term.
posted by MsMolly at 4:27 PM on November 4, 2009
posted by MsMolly at 4:27 PM on November 4, 2009
Response by poster: Thanks for the support, all; it's appreciated.
What else can I say? It's all a bit heartbreaking.
posted by jokeefe at 9:07 PM on November 4, 2009
What else can I say? It's all a bit heartbreaking.
posted by jokeefe at 9:07 PM on November 4, 2009
I am sorry. You did your best; there's nothing else you could have done.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 5:45 PM on November 5, 2009
posted by A Terrible Llama at 5:45 PM on November 5, 2009
Response by poster: Just a quick (and I hope, happy) update. My cat is still very much with me, and hasn't bitten me since my last post. What made the difference-- and I want to record it here, in case it might help anyone else with a similar problem-- was something very simple which the vet mentioned almost offhandedly. I close the bedroom door whenever I go out. She isn't allowed in the bedroom, or on the bed, unless I'm actually there. For some reason, this seems to have resolved the territory dispute in my cat's ever mysterious and puzzling brain; she'll actually sit at the threshold of the bedroom doorway until I tell her it's okay to come in. So far it's been about six months and we're doing well; she pounces on my toes in bed from time to time, but I figure that's within normal cat behaviour parameters. She did express her displeasure rather forcefully when I was down in Seattle for four days for a wedding last month-- I came back to signs of cat pee on the comfy chair-- but she's back using her litterbox in the bathroom now. Recommended: a gallon of Nature's Miracle, which salvaged the chair, amazingly enough. Thanks to everyone who offered advice here; I get to go home these days to a cat who will actually sit on the couch with me and ask for pets and scritches, and I didn't think I'd ever see that back when I started this thread.
posted by jokeefe at 6:49 PM on May 17, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by jokeefe at 6:49 PM on May 17, 2010 [2 favorites]
That's amazing; thanks for the happy update!
posted by LobsterMitten at 6:56 PM on May 17, 2010
posted by LobsterMitten at 6:56 PM on May 17, 2010
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posted by thebrokedown at 11:52 AM on August 2, 2009