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Nobody knows your cat better than you. But when you have a question or need an expert opinion, the Purina® Cat Chow® brand Cat Food Mentor panel is here for you.
The Purina® Cat Chow® brand Cat Food Mentor Panel is comprised of qualified cat care specialists ready to help answer your Physical, Nutritional, or Emotional cat care questions - no matter what your cat’s life stage. |
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Purina® Cat Chow® has experts who specialize in the fields of emotional behavior, physical health, feline nutrition, and life-stage-specific issues. |
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| Biting and Scratching |
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Q: I just got a new kitten and whenever we play he enjoys biting me rather than his toys. I know it's wrong for a kitten to bite you during play because then he thinks its right, but how can I make him stop? Also, sometimes he lays on the ground and grabs my feet and scratches with his rear claws.
Answer: It is rare that cats bite or scratch because they are vicious animals or because they are downright mean. Cats as a species are predators by nature and the games they sometimes play are an extension of this trait. Cats love to exhibit their predatory nature by stalking and pouncing on human feet or hands and by reacting to this play in the wrong way, we unintentionally reinforce the very behavior we choose to eliminate. Some other reasons a cat will bite are because he feels frightened, angry, hurt or is feeling threatened. You will need to redirect your pet's behavior by proper correction and reward. You should never allow your cat to scratch or bite skin on anyone for this could be sending a confusing message.
Some kittens and cats have highly developed predatory skills because of their ancestry. Biting and scratching are normal play in kittens and cats, however it is not acceptable when directed toward people. Do not play with your cat with your hands or body because this will just encourage your cat to do the same. If you are playing any games which encourage your cat to bite you, STOP! It is difficult to get rid of a specific behavior if we are encouraging it through our interactions. Only allow interactive play through toys which you provide for your cat. Let him use his predatory instincts on chasing a toy you pull from him, or swatting at a toy you hold, but the instant he grabs your skin, push your hand into his face (be gentle and deliberate, you are not hitting him) and blow into his face at the same time. When he releases your hand, ignore him for about 5 minutes or so (completely). He will realize he was too rough and by ignoring him you will give him time to think about his behavior. In order for this to work, you must NOT encourage him to bite your skin, all play must be directed at his TOYS. Try to anticipate when your cat may want to play and either start play yourself or provide play objects so you will not be the target. If your kitten or cat has never been around other felines, it is also possible that he has never really learned when he is being too rough. Typically, kittens and cats will learn from one another. With consistency, your cat should learn the play boundaries and know what is and what is not acceptable.
Training is teaching. With cats, training most often refers to educating the cat to understand the difference between acceptable and unacceptable behavior.
Unlike dogs, cats rarely seem to enjoy learning simply to please their owners; they want to please themselves. Cats are highly intelligent animals, and most relish learning anything that piques their interest.
Physical punishment such as slapping or hitting with hands or objects has no place in training cats or any other animal. Such discipline won't even work on the cat, and shouting isn't particularly effective either. Cats that are punished in this way may learn to hide the inappropriate behavior while continuing to practice in private. Shy cats may become traumatized introverts, while dominant cats turn into attack animals. Plus, the cat learns to associate hands with pain rather than petting.
Negative reinforcement, which means correcting (not punishing!) inappropriate behavior, does have its place in cat training, but it must be used judiciously. Negative reinforcement at its best either interrupts or distracts the poor behavior, or makes the behavior unpleasant enough that the cat stops on his own. Squirting water at the cat from a distance, clapping your hands, shaking a tin can with coins or tossing a toy toward the cat all work as corrections.
Say no with a firm voice during such corrections, and eventually the cat should learn to stop the behavior on the word alone. Some cats respond better to the owner hissing 'sssssst' at them as another cat might do to show displeasure. Be aware, though, that dwelling too much on the negative may teach the cat that misbehavior is a great way to get your attention.
The best way to train a cat is through the use of positive reinforcement. That simply means rewarding the desired behavior. With dogs, verbal praise is often reward enough; cats tend to need more tangible prizes to motivate their interest, such as a tasty treat or a special toy or game. Make the training session a game to engage your cat's interest and keep it.
Both positive and negative reinforcement work only when you catch your cat in the act. Pets aren't able to relate what happened hours ago with the reward or correction taking place this minute. Cats live in the here and now, and to get your message across, your reaction must be immediate. Don't give treats indiscriminately if that's what you're using for training rewards. Using negative reinforcement to interrupt the behavior, followed by positive reinforcement, often works wonders.
Consistency is the key. You can't be lenient one day and expect the cat to toe the line the next. That's confusing to the cat, and it's not fair to change the rules.
With time and patience, you can train your cat to know what is allowed and not allowed in your environment. Good Luck! |
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| Urine marking behavior or spraying is an unpleasant behavior most commonly noted in male cats. Neutering your male cat by the recommended age of 5 to 6 months drastically reduces the chance of this problematic behavior. |
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