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I am fostering a young cat from the local shelter for a little while. I don't know his background. If he jumps in my lap and wants petting I put him beside me in the chair and pet him gently while saying good kitty. He likes to be petted and talked to nicely.The issue is he will put his mouth on my hand if I move him to get up from the chair. He doesn't draw blood or anything but this is not acceptable. Any suggestions?
Also, he gets under the bed and grabs our feet with his claws (kitten play but a bit dangerous to bare feet and not a good habit for his forever family) if we are close to the bed. Any suggestions about how to stop this?
Any other foster cat tips will be appreciated. This is our first time fostering a cat.
Cats will be cats...and when they're young, it is normal behavior to go after feet and even bite/scratch here and there. The important thing is to not raise your voice or show anger, just gently and firmly say "No" when he does things you want to correct. I have a kitten right now, and when he gets too crazy with me and my other animals, I put him in his room, (my bedroom), for a little while, and he is finally beginning to understand that when mom says "no" he better listen or he will have to have a time-out! Bless you for fostering this cat! It will get easier, and maybe you'll even fall in love and decide to make his forever home right where he's at...! Good luck and let us know how it goes!
My cats all grab my hand when they want to tell me "no" or "enoug." One doesn't like to be petted too much so he does it to say "enough." Another doesn't want me to moeve away from her when she's cuddling so she does it to say "no." it's how cats communicate displeasure w/o hurting you.
Can I ask why you won't let him jump in your lap? Many cat owners would love to have a "lap cat"! There is nothing wrong with him being in your lap...he is just looking for some love and attention.
His little nips...are probably what we call love bites around here. I have one Ragdoll, who did this as a kitten all of the time...not hard...barely even biting down...and she still does this every once in awhile, to me and only me. She is also my velcro kitty...where ever I am...she is...
The attacking of the feet is purely a cat/kitten thing. Playing..all you need to do is redirect them with a wand or other interactive toy.
I tried to redirected play when he was under the bed. It has not been working which is why I posted! I think I will step on him from now on. He needs to know this is not human friendly. If he goes to his next home with this behavior it will be very bad for him.
As to being a lap cat, I love that he wants to be near me but being beside me is what he wants and he bites if I move him off me. Cats are cats....I love em! They also try to dominate. He must learn that what I want is what he must follow. I just drop him on the floor.
If you have some useful information let me know. I hope to foster again.
I am fostering a young cat from the local shelter for a little while. I don't know his background. If he jumps in my lap and wants petting I put him beside me in the chair and pet him gently while saying good kitty. He likes to be petted and talked to nicely.The issue is he will put his mouth on my hand if I move him to get up from the chair. He doesn't draw blood or anything but this is not acceptable. Any suggestions?
Also, he gets under the bed and grabs our feet with his claws (kitten play but a bit dangerous to bare feet and not a good habit for his forever family) if we are close to the bed. Any suggestions about how to stop this?
Any other foster cat tips will be appreciated. This is our first time fostering a cat.
Thanks!
Obviously it's your first time. It sounds like it's your first time even being around cats. All this stuff is infinitely NORMAL for a cat and the sun will fall out of the sky and pigs will fly before you will ever be able to change this wonderful feline behavior to suit yourself.
Better just to resign yourself that you are going to be stalked and "play killed" at every possible opportunity by your little boarder and enjoy the heck out of it. That is what makes cats so incredibly cool and wonderful is that THEY AREN'T DOGS! i.e. you can't train them to do (or not do) ANYTHING.
Cats will be cats...and when they're young, it is normal behavior to go after feet and even bite/scratch here and there. The important thing is to not raise your voice or show anger, just gently and firmly say "No" when he does things you want to correct. I have a kitten right now, and when he gets too crazy with me and my other animals, I put him in his room, (my bedroom), for a little while, and he is finally beginning to understand that when mom says "no" he better listen or he will have to have a time-out! Bless you for fostering this cat! It will get easier, and maybe you'll even fall in love and decide to make his forever home right where he's at...! Good luck and let us know how it goes!
My now 5 month old kitten Little Bit is learning real well and we use the "NO" but don't yell it. He also gets detention time in the far bedroom when he terrorizes older kitties to much and he minds when we say no. But still working daily with trying to keep him from jumping on tables and counter tops but know that well just take time.
My little calico when she was a baby used to grab my legs with her paws as I walked by. After she hit one years old, she did it less--it'sa baby thing. They normally do all sorts of antics when they're young.
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