Creature feature
Posted on Wednesday, May 7, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Family/225020/
We have a 5-year-old neutered male — mostly Siamese — cat that loves to nip. He just tweaks a bit of skin and holds on. It is annoying as a good swat will not deter him. He’s very friendly and everyone that comes to our house better love cats, as he’s in their face. Is there any way to break him of this biting habit or do we just live with it as we have been ?
Cats bite for a variety of reasons — fear, aggression, play, affection. Since your cat merely nips, he’s probably showing affection or trying to get your attention.
Nonetheless, it can be annoying, as you’ve noted. There are steps you can take to curb the little nipper’s behavior — but keep in mind that you may not stop it altogether because he’s part Siamese. The lovely Siamese are bigger-than-life cats: They’re not only dramatic and beautiful, but also speak their minds loudly for all to hear, can play rough, and tend be more bitey than other cats.
You’ve discovered that swatting doesn’t deter your cat, so there’s no need to continue with that tactic. While it may seem far-fetched, he may actually think you’re playing with him. And if you swat harder, he could come to fear your hands and, by extension, you. That’s never good for a cat / owner relationship.
Try this: When he grabs your skin, yell, “Ouch !” and remove your hand from his mouth. The yelp and the action combined will let him know that you don’t like what he’s doing. Don’t be afraid to be dramatic (but not scary ).
If you’re petting him and he begins to nip, freeze. Cease petting. Get up and walk away. Do this every time he nips.
If you’re playing when he latches onto your skin, it may mean he has had enough. Look at his tail. A wildly twitching tail means he’s ready to stop playing. If the tail is moving normally, then you can try a diversion such as a catnip toy or a feather teaser toy; when he starts to bite, remove your hand and put the toy in its place. Most cats like teaser toys, so it’s worth a try.
Some people find that keeping a water gun or spray bottle handy to deter undesirable behavior is successful. So if all else fails, you could try squirting him with water when he nips. However, this can backfire because, as with the swatting, he may associate the consequence (being sprayed ) with you instead of with the behavior you want to correct. Do you have a question about pets ? We’ll get you an answer from an authority. Send your question to Rhonda Owen, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P. O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark. 72203
or e-mail rowen@arkansasonline. com