We rescued Chester a month ago just before the ice storm, and he was neutered on 12/12, tested negative for Leukemia and FIV, vaccinated, dewormed and micro-chipped. He's app. 2 yrs old and a big kitty - 15 pounds of lean muscle, and the vet says he looks as though he has Maine Coon in him. (see photos below). He's a sweet, laid back kitty most of the time, but he's a swatter too. We'll stroke him gently and he'll purr and all of a sudden he swats us, bunny kicks with his back feet, and scratches. He doesn't have any sore spots and has been checked for hyper-aesthesia by the vet. We made him a big scratching post and we have playtime with him to give him exercise and stimulation (he enjoys it and doesn't get aggressive with us during playtime). When it's food time and treat time he's all cute and loving, and wants to be picked up and cuddled. He's quite unpredictable, and today I turned to walk out of the room (he's staying in my husband's office until he's finished his last round of vaccines, and we haven't let him in contact with our 3 senior cats yet) and he came at me from behind, grabbed my legs between his paws, dug his claws in and nipped me. I *THINK* this is male aggression because he sees me as his property. We play with him gently, and he has my husband to keep him company for at least 10 hours a day. We have to socialize him so he can be adopted, and I want to get him out of his swatting habit.
What are the best ways to reprimand him without upsetting him? I was thinking a squirt gun might help. I've just been saying a firm "NO, NAUGHTY BOY" to him when he swats and nips me, and walking away, but it's not helping.
Suggestions are welcome, but declawing is not an option, I think it's cruel.
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Need help with an aggressive foster kitty (long)
Re: Need help with an aggressive foster kitty (long)
He is a beauty! And yes, I would say the the squirt bottle is the best bet right now - the "b-mod" as we call it in our family - short for behavior modification: lol. Or, recently my son-in-law introduced me to DustOff, the compressed-air "b-mod" used to clean keyboards - it is less messy and may get better results for a bold adult cat. The trick is to be consistent: carry it with you when you approach the cat, and practice your "quick draw!" BTW: I agree about no declawing! Wouldn't help anyway IMO for a case like this. Good luck!
Re: Need help with an aggressive foster kitty (long)
The good news is that he IS sociable, friendly, cuddly, playful. I'm assuming he was an outdoor kitty, stray? And being intact all that time, didn't help. Intact outdoor males are set in their ways and it does take time and patience to teach them manners, so to speak.
The squirt bottle can be used, but I'd only use ONE vocal command with it, that being "NO". Then immediately divert his attention to something else, like a toy he likes to chew or play with.
I use "NO, be NICE". Depending on the cat, I either use the squirt bottle with the command, or simply ignore the cat and walk away. (some cats respond to the command, others respond to both the squirt bottle and the command).
Consistency is the key. Every time he displays the behavior, do the same exact action/command at the very moment it occurs. Don't change the action/command, keep it consistent!
Being confined to one area might not be helping. He could be going stir-crazy in one area. I'd let him out for a little while during the day, as often as long as he is not showing agression to your other cats. If he's had at least one or two vaccines, he is afforded a good level of protection and as long as your cats are up-to-date on their vaccines. You can do this in one-hour increments or so, long enough for him to investigate, explore, get used to the other cats' presence. If he's good about it, when you put him back into his designated area, then reward him with a treat or special playtime.
He's sort of testing you to see what he can get away with. At the same time, he probably isn't used to being taught manners or understand commands just yet, so that's why it's important to be consistent, so he learns it is unacceptable behavior. Reward him for good behavior, though.
The squirt bottle can be used, but I'd only use ONE vocal command with it, that being "NO". Then immediately divert his attention to something else, like a toy he likes to chew or play with.
I use "NO, be NICE". Depending on the cat, I either use the squirt bottle with the command, or simply ignore the cat and walk away. (some cats respond to the command, others respond to both the squirt bottle and the command).
Consistency is the key. Every time he displays the behavior, do the same exact action/command at the very moment it occurs. Don't change the action/command, keep it consistent!
Being confined to one area might not be helping. He could be going stir-crazy in one area. I'd let him out for a little while during the day, as often as long as he is not showing agression to your other cats. If he's had at least one or two vaccines, he is afforded a good level of protection and as long as your cats are up-to-date on their vaccines. You can do this in one-hour increments or so, long enough for him to investigate, explore, get used to the other cats' presence. If he's good about it, when you put him back into his designated area, then reward him with a treat or special playtime.
He's sort of testing you to see what he can get away with. At the same time, he probably isn't used to being taught manners or understand commands just yet, so that's why it's important to be consistent, so he learns it is unacceptable behavior. Reward him for good behavior, though.
..........Traci
Re: Need help with an aggressive foster kitty (long)
Thank you - I love the 'quick draw'! We do have one of those kitty compressed air scat cans to keep them from jumping onto the kitchen table.E's wrote:He is a beauty! And yes, I would say the the squirt bottle is the best bet right now - the "b-mod" as we call it in our family - short for behavior modification: lol. Or, recently my son-in-law introduced me to DustOff, the compressed-air "b-mod" used to clean keyboards - it is less messy and may get better results for a bold adult cat. The trick is to be consistent: carry it with you when you approach the cat, and practice your "quick draw!" BTW: I agree about no declawing! Wouldn't help anyway IMO for a case like this. Good luck!
Thank you Traci. Yes, Chester was abandoned by some $%^# who moved house and left him behind. I saw him hanging around the backyard and started feeding him, and caught him on 12/10, had his neuter 12/12 and then his 2nd round of vaccines on 5/1. I'm going to try the squirt bottle and a short NO. If I walk away he comes up from behind and digs his claws into my legs. I don't know if it's his way of telling me to stay, or if he thinks I'm his prey. I have tried introducing him slowly to my most docile senior, Teddie. Chester was submissive and Teddie was mean, but that can be overcome with some time and patience. My real fear is 13 yr old Ozwald who is 7 pounds of vicious, spitting fury. He's been patrolling outisde the office door since Chester came, and having paw fights under the door. He's highly aggressive towards other cats and I'm scared if he attacks Chester, Chester will defend himself and bite Ozwald, and cause injury. I'm going to try the squirt gun and a firm NO, and hope that will work. Chester has been through a lot of change and I think he needs time to adjust to being indoor only so we can get him ready for adoption privately.Traci wrote:The good news is that he IS sociable, friendly, cuddly, playful. I'm assuming he was an outdoor kitty, stray? And being intact all that time, didn't help. Intact outdoor males are set in their ways and it does take time and patience to teach them manners, so to speak.
The squirt bottle can be used, but I'd only use ONE vocal command with it, that being "NO". Then immediately divert his attention to something else, like a toy he likes to chew or play with.
I use "NO, be NICE". Depending on the cat, I either use the squirt bottle with the command, or simply ignore the cat and walk away. (some cats respond to the command, others respond to both the squirt bottle and the command).
Consistency is the key. Every time he displays the behavior, do the same exact action/command at the very moment it occurs. Don't change the action/command, keep it consistent!
Being confined to one area might not be helping. He could be going stir-crazy in one area. I'd let him out for a little while during the day, as often as long as he is not showing agression to your other cats. If he's had at least one or two vaccines, he is afforded a good level of protection and as long as your cats are up-to-date on their vaccines. You can do this in one-hour increments or so, long enough for him to investigate, explore, get used to the other cats' presence. If he's good about it, when you put him back into his designated area, then reward him with a treat or special playtime.
He's sort of testing you to see what he can get away with. At the same time, he probably isn't used to being taught manners or understand commands just yet, so that's why it's important to be consistent, so he learns it is unacceptable behavior. Reward him for good behavior, though.
Edited to add Ozwald photo.
This is Mr Ozwald:
Re: Need help with an aggressive foster kitty (long)
Ha, yes, Mr Ozwald looks formidable, love the pic!
You could also try what I'm doing right now. I have a new kitten who is terrified of everything. She bolts if I try to bring her out into the rest of the house, so.....I am letting one cat in her room at a time, then two, and so on, for about an hour or two (depending how she and they react) until she gets comfortable with the other cats. Of course, I am there every second, supervising. Hopefully one of these days, she won't be afraid to come out of her room and see the rest of the house, LOL.
You could also try what I'm doing right now. I have a new kitten who is terrified of everything. She bolts if I try to bring her out into the rest of the house, so.....I am letting one cat in her room at a time, then two, and so on, for about an hour or two (depending how she and they react) until she gets comfortable with the other cats. Of course, I am there every second, supervising. Hopefully one of these days, she won't be afraid to come out of her room and see the rest of the house, LOL.
..........Traci
Re: Need help with an aggressive foster kitty (long)
Good luck with your new kitten, I hope she adjusts well. That's a good idea, introducing them one at a time and of course supervising. Ozwald might need a little mouth restraint like the one put on Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs! (just joking, but he is a vicious little guy)Traci wrote:Ha, yes, Mr Ozwald looks formidable, love the pic!
You could also try what I'm doing right now. I have a new kitten who is terrified of everything. She bolts if I try to bring her out into the rest of the house, so.....I am letting one cat in her room at a time, then two, and so on, for about an hour or two (depending how she and they react) until she gets comfortable with the other cats. Of course, I am there every second, supervising. Hopefully one of these days, she won't be afraid to come out of her room and see the rest of the house, LOL.