How to stop my cat from play biting with a sleeping newborn?
August 7, 2015 2:26 AM Subscribe
My cat suddenly thinks I am a great toy - help? Noise makers not allowed - the baby is (finally!) sleeping.
We adopted a cat that was a stray about 4 months ago, and this cat was sweet and gentle (pics when I'm off mobile). Since then, I've had a baby approx 3 weeks ago, and my formerly sweet cat has started biting me to play. This is biting, clawing, and stalking me - no one else in the house. I can't do the pennies in a can trick when I've got a sleeping baby next to me. My husband is ready to put her back outside before she gets the baby in an attempt to get to me. What can I do to stop this fast?
Note: I'm still playing with her for 30 min before bed - laser pointer, wand toys, etc. Not doing so results in Crazy Cat antics that wake up the entire house, to include my two older stepkids.
We adopted a cat that was a stray about 4 months ago, and this cat was sweet and gentle (pics when I'm off mobile). Since then, I've had a baby approx 3 weeks ago, and my formerly sweet cat has started biting me to play. This is biting, clawing, and stalking me - no one else in the house. I can't do the pennies in a can trick when I've got a sleeping baby next to me. My husband is ready to put her back outside before she gets the baby in an attempt to get to me. What can I do to stop this fast?
Note: I'm still playing with her for 30 min before bed - laser pointer, wand toys, etc. Not doing so results in Crazy Cat antics that wake up the entire house, to include my two older stepkids.
Blow a quick puff of air in her face. Easier to come by than water, and it mimics the hiss that other cats give when play gets too aggressive. I will actually hiss quietly sometimes as well, but just the air is fine if that will also wake the baby.
posted by Knicke at 3:35 AM on August 7, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by Knicke at 3:35 AM on August 7, 2015 [3 favorites]
In addition to the puff of air/squirt bottle, which I agree are your basic in the moment deterrents, you might try to follow up with a redirection to more appropriate play options. For example, if she starts trying to bite, use squirt bottle/air to get her to stop, then maybe grab the wand toy or laser pointer (laser pointer is probably easier to keep on hand) and try to get her to play with that instead. I know this may not always work if you're holding the baby, but it could help reinforce her playing in more appropriate ways.
Also, it sounds like she might need even more play/stimulation than she's currently getting. I'm sure you're exhausted sine you have a 3 week old baby, but maybe your step kids could help by playing with her in addition to the 30 minutes before bed that you're already doing.
posted by litera scripta manet at 5:54 AM on August 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
Also, it sounds like she might need even more play/stimulation than she's currently getting. I'm sure you're exhausted sine you have a 3 week old baby, but maybe your step kids could help by playing with her in addition to the 30 minutes before bed that you're already doing.
posted by litera scripta manet at 5:54 AM on August 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
Do not "redirect" play after you discipline. Cats don't work like that, and you'll essentially be teaching this (fictional, since no pics) cat that abusing you = attention + play time reward of laser pointer, mousy toy, etc..
posted by jbenben at 8:31 AM on August 7, 2015 [6 favorites]
posted by jbenben at 8:31 AM on August 7, 2015 [6 favorites]
Another vote for blowing / puffing right in the face of el gato.
Works like a charm with my cat, who is just OVER ENTHUSED and will back off after I do this. But it's like, right in her face, forceful, short burst.
posted by Medieval Maven at 12:02 PM on August 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
Works like a charm with my cat, who is just OVER ENTHUSED and will back off after I do this. But it's like, right in her face, forceful, short burst.
posted by Medieval Maven at 12:02 PM on August 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
This is biting, clawing, and stalking me - no one else in the house.
You being the only one targeted makes me wonder if it's some form of re-directed aggression -- does it only happen at times of the day when no one else is home to be a target (maybe triggered by some outdoor cat infringing on the house territory)? Is the cat freaked out by the new baby and attacking you because you're there and smelling like the baby? Could the cat be having some kind of medical problem that's making them more ornery?
If it's just some kind of anti-baby anxiety, putting Feliway diffusers in the rooms where attacks have happened couldn't hurt. And there's always kitty-prozac if the vet rules out any medical problem that could be the trigger.
posted by oh yeah! at 5:52 PM on August 7, 2015
You being the only one targeted makes me wonder if it's some form of re-directed aggression -- does it only happen at times of the day when no one else is home to be a target (maybe triggered by some outdoor cat infringing on the house territory)? Is the cat freaked out by the new baby and attacking you because you're there and smelling like the baby? Could the cat be having some kind of medical problem that's making them more ornery?
If it's just some kind of anti-baby anxiety, putting Feliway diffusers in the rooms where attacks have happened couldn't hurt. And there's always kitty-prozac if the vet rules out any medical problem that could be the trigger.
posted by oh yeah! at 5:52 PM on August 7, 2015
I don't know if I would use Feliway with a newborn around, just because their systems are so fragile. It's an airborne chemical, why take the chance with your infant's health?
oh yeah! brings up a great point, even though I think 99% of this is the age of the cat... Is the cat bonded to you, OP? Because My cats each definitely have their "person," and my cat protected my son from the minute he was born. The way she follows me around and monitors my surroundings, she does that for my son, too. When she was a kitten, though, she used to tear me to pieces "playing." It caused someone at my job from that time to make cracks about domestic violence from the cat. No scars from that stage, and that's a surprise.
You should lock your kitten away in a room with some toys until it's older if you can't get it to stop with the aggressive play. I agree it is entirely dangerous for the baby, if your kitten is anything like mine was at that stage.
Also, this video might give you a laugh if you haven't already seen it.
posted by jbenben at 6:08 PM on August 7, 2015
oh yeah! brings up a great point, even though I think 99% of this is the age of the cat... Is the cat bonded to you, OP? Because My cats each definitely have their "person," and my cat protected my son from the minute he was born. The way she follows me around and monitors my surroundings, she does that for my son, too. When she was a kitten, though, she used to tear me to pieces "playing." It caused someone at my job from that time to make cracks about domestic violence from the cat. No scars from that stage, and that's a surprise.
You should lock your kitten away in a room with some toys until it's older if you can't get it to stop with the aggressive play. I agree it is entirely dangerous for the baby, if your kitten is anything like mine was at that stage.
Also, this video might give you a laugh if you haven't already seen it.
posted by jbenben at 6:08 PM on August 7, 2015
if your kitten is anything like mine was at that stage.
The OP said she got the cat 4 months ago, not that it is a 4-month-old kitten.
I've never heard that Feliway has any negative effect on humans, it's just a mimic of the scent pheromone that mother cats emit to promote bonding. They make it in collars too, if you don't want it taking over your electrical outlets, but you can't see when the collar's scent has worn off the way you can see when the diffuser bottle runs out of liquid.
I think whenever there's a major change in a cat's behavior/personality, it's due to either a change in the cat's health, or a change in their environment. You already know that there's been an environmental change (new baby). I have heard of cats that have their prey drive triggered by the sound of a crying baby, because it sounds like a wounded animal to them. Since the attacks are happening when the baby is already sleeping, it doesn't seem like that's the trigger, but the timing makes it sound like there's some connection.
This is biting, clawing, and stalking me
With the stalking, is the cat concentrated on a particular body part (feet, hands)? Can you break their focus on the body part so that they stop seeing you as prey? I think that throwing a soft toy or treat to redirect is a good ploy.
Note: I'm still playing with her for 30 min before bed - laser pointer, wand toys, etc. Not doing so results in Crazy Cat antics that wake up the entire house, to include my two older stepkids.
Hmm. Have you ever watched Jackson Galaxy's "My Cat From Hell" series on Animal Planet? A lot of times, when there's a hyperactive/destructive cat, he gets the people to 'catify' the house by putting in climbing-trees & shelving to create a 'cat super-highway' so that they can run around and have the high ground to survey their territory. He would also block off their access to ambush zones (like, if the cat is stalking you from underneath a couch). I agree with litera scripta manet about asking the step kids to play with the cat, but, if the cat can't play alone at night without causing a ruckus, you could probably use some cat-ification.
posted by oh yeah! at 7:16 AM on August 8, 2015
The OP said she got the cat 4 months ago, not that it is a 4-month-old kitten.
I've never heard that Feliway has any negative effect on humans, it's just a mimic of the scent pheromone that mother cats emit to promote bonding. They make it in collars too, if you don't want it taking over your electrical outlets, but you can't see when the collar's scent has worn off the way you can see when the diffuser bottle runs out of liquid.
I think whenever there's a major change in a cat's behavior/personality, it's due to either a change in the cat's health, or a change in their environment. You already know that there's been an environmental change (new baby). I have heard of cats that have their prey drive triggered by the sound of a crying baby, because it sounds like a wounded animal to them. Since the attacks are happening when the baby is already sleeping, it doesn't seem like that's the trigger, but the timing makes it sound like there's some connection.
This is biting, clawing, and stalking me
With the stalking, is the cat concentrated on a particular body part (feet, hands)? Can you break their focus on the body part so that they stop seeing you as prey? I think that throwing a soft toy or treat to redirect is a good ploy.
Note: I'm still playing with her for 30 min before bed - laser pointer, wand toys, etc. Not doing so results in Crazy Cat antics that wake up the entire house, to include my two older stepkids.
Hmm. Have you ever watched Jackson Galaxy's "My Cat From Hell" series on Animal Planet? A lot of times, when there's a hyperactive/destructive cat, he gets the people to 'catify' the house by putting in climbing-trees & shelving to create a 'cat super-highway' so that they can run around and have the high ground to survey their territory. He would also block off their access to ambush zones (like, if the cat is stalking you from underneath a couch). I agree with litera scripta manet about asking the step kids to play with the cat, but, if the cat can't play alone at night without causing a ruckus, you could probably use some cat-ification.
posted by oh yeah! at 7:16 AM on August 8, 2015
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posted by sciencegeek at 2:31 AM on August 7, 2015 [5 favorites]