I Have More Trust Issues Than This Feral..

[rubysmama]

I haven't tried the double-stick tape, as I worry it would damage the material. But I must look into it a bit more. It would probably look better than the foil.

Another thing you might consider is wearing sunglasses, unless you wear prescription glasses, to protect your eyes from claws.

I've never had a cat lunge at me, so I would be very apprehensive if I was in your position.

 

[Buffster7]

I haven't tried the double-stick tape, as I worry it would damage the material. But I must look into it a bit more. It would probably look better than the foil.

Another thing you might consider is wearing sunglasses, unless you wear prescription glasses, to protect your eyes from claws.

I've never had a cat lunge at me, so I would be very apprehensive if I was in your position.

I'm applying the non-stick tape this weekend, so will keep you posted.

I tried the long-sleeve shirt tonight and that's the ticket! I actually saw him going for my arm and hesitate because of my shirt a split second before he bit me. I was standing beside the bed, not sitting on it, but had my hand resting on the bed. He was following me around the bed meowing and when I stopped and leaned on the bed he bit. The scenario changes a bit each time, so I don't know that it's any one thing that I'm doing, other than the last 3 times it happened we were not touching. Anyway, the long-sleeve shirt is a big help - thank you!

 

[Buffster7]

Hmmm, maybe he has staked out his claim of the bed as his territory and it's a territorial thing..

 

[Jewely]

Hi! I’ve been reading your thread... amazing! Have you ever tried Rescue Remedy for Pets? It has no alcohol and it works really well. It has been suggested here to rub three or four drops into the leathery part of the cat’s ear. It works much better that way! I usually use two or three.

Also, have you looked into feliway spray? You could spray that on the bed and it would hopefully settle him down. It’s cat pheromones.

 

[Feral Mom]

rubysmama
RE: Using double sided sticky tape to deter scratching, I have used it for years, and it has not stained any fabric or surface I have ever put it on, and it has deterred the cat away from 100% of the items i have placed it upon. At least, that is true of this here brand:

I have left the tape on for as long as 1 year, finally removed it, no stain at all, and we have had days the air conditioner did not work at all, got very hot in here, over 100 degrees, still no stain on the fabric. I have had it on curtains in the Florida sun. No stain. I have never tried it on silk,
but, since the tape leaves zero residue, i would guess the tape would not stain silk, however, to be sure, you should probably try it on some unseen corner and check frequently.

By the way, you do Not have to necessarily completely coat the item with tape, nope.
Just one (1)well placed strip of that tape, will deter your cat from ever wanting to put his paw there again. Cats hate tape. Make sure you place the tape so that the cat would "have to" touch the tape to touch the item.

I do leave the tape on the item for several weeks, just to be sure cat learns "this item is YUCKY" once and for all.

Works almost instantly on horizontal surfaces, cat will not walk there again. Done. One or two passes over the tape, = cat never returned to that spot.
But on vertical surfaces, I have had a cat initially claw it off, but hated having the tape come down onto his paw, he never did it again. I did replace the tape and leave it there for a few more weeks.

The cat makes a strong mental association with the displeasure of the feel of tape under his paw,
with that particular item.
It is surprising how long the cat will remember this, too.
If if if the cat ever forgets, "this item is YUCKY"? then, i have had to replace the tape once on something the cat began messing around with again. And that, was that. Cat re-remembered, and after a few weeks, i removed the tape,
that was a year ago, cat still hasn't touched it since. It is interesting to me, that cats can remember that long.

 

[Feral Mom]

We also cut our cat's nails, keeping the nails short. But cats must sharpen even short nails, so, luckily we finally did find one item he does like to scratch, a rough welcome mat. We have bought every scratch post and item you can name, even the expensive ones,
but none appealed to Moki. Not even when rubbed with catnip.
Only thing he likes to scratch is a rough welcome mat.

 

[Feral Mom]

@buffster,
hope the biting is slowing down with Finn, glad to hear the sleeves seem to helping Finn snap out of it!

 

[shadowsrescue]

We also cut our cat's nails, keeping the nails short. But cats must sharpen even short nails, so, luckily we finally did find one item he does like to scratch, a rough welcome mat. We have bought every scratch post and item you can name, even the expensive ones,
but none appealed to Moki. Not even when rubbed with catnip.
Only thing he likes to scratch is a rough welcome mat.

Feral Mom would you have a picture of this? I have one kitty that only likes to scratch on our carpet. He has refused every scratcher known to man. We have even used pieces of our carpeting we had left over when it was first installed. Nope. He wants it flush. This might just work for him. Yet I would love to see a picture to be sure what I have in my mind is right!

I hope Finn had a good night and is doing well today!

 

[Feral Mom]

shadowsrescue

Yes, it is the ugliest thing in our whole apartment. We only keep it for Moki to scratch on. People wonder why in the world do we keep such an ugly item INSIDE the house.
I can't recall exactly where I got it but I think either at Walmart or Target ?
But here goes:

As geez, sideways again!?
But here you can see the welcome mat right in front of the expensive scratching post we bought for him. He does use that stand as a lookout near the window, but he will not scratch it's sides.

See how rough it is?
Almost sharp-ish to a bare foot.

It might be worth a shot to get one for your little guy. My cat looooves it and uses it several times a day. He also uses it to do his stretching, he digs his claws in, and then stretches his whole body. Of all the nice things we have got for that cat? He likes the ugly welcome mat the best

It does shed a bit, when Moki is done clawing it up, but we don't mind to just dustbust up the pieces a few times a week.

 

[shadowsrescue]

Awesome! Thank you so much. That is what I figured. On the hunt for one now!!

 

[Feral Mom]

My cat also enjoys this mat on our patio,
Not quite as much as the ugly one, though
But Moki WILL scratch and stretch his arms on this, too.

It is also very rough textured. It doesn't quite shed quite as much as that brown one.

well, actually, come to think of it,this blue one, which has an almost velcro-ish "loop" type of structure to the material if you look very closely,
this blue one does not shed at all, for all of you with horizontal-floor-scratching cats but no dust-busters to pick up all the shreds of welcome mats off of your floor, maybe try one of these rough, almost-velco-ish looking mats.

 

[Feral Mom]

also, home depot and hardware stores sometimes sell those really functional, ugly welcome mats.

 

[Buffster7]

Hi! I’ve been reading your thread... amazing! Have you ever tried Rescue Remedy for Pets? It has no alcohol and it works really well. It has been suggested here to rub three or four drops into the leathery part of the cat’s ear. It works much better that way! I usually use two or three.

Also, have you looked into feliway spray? You could spray that on the bed and it would hopefully settle him down. It’s cat pheromones.

Hi there! Yes, I've been using Rescue Remedy, it is really good stuff. I will have to try it on his ears, though, I've always just put it in his food!

 

[Buffster7]

Hi guys, thanks for checking on us. I will come back and read through the posts as soon as I finish dinner prep. It's been a rough day. He's bitten me every time I've gone in to feed him. I've played with him and remembered to add the treat at the end. The long-sleeve shirt saved my arm tonight! I had just brought dinner in to feed him, and I leaned onto the bed to say hi and to give him some love, and he immediately bit my arm. I hissed at him hard - I was pissed. I left the room. Waited 15 minutes to re-enter and give him dinner. He hissed at me the whole time. It was all I could do not to hiss back. This doesn't look bad, but to leave marks through a thick long-sleeve shirt takes some pressure; had it been short sleeves, it would have broken the skin.

I'm pretty fed up and bummed out right now.
Earlier today I thought he bit me to keep me from leaving. But this time, I had just walked into the room and leaned on the bed. It is happening every time I am with him, now.

 

[Feral Mom]

Oh no, I am so sorry to hear this, Buffster.
I don't know much about this biting topic,
so I won't offer any advice but I want you to know I feel bad for you and I hope this gets better. I feel very very sad about all of this. I wish I could fix this for you.

 

[walli]

Here is the info about scruffing di and bob gave me.
I think it would be ok to PM @di and bob
if you like, it may take a while for a response but you will get a response.

Scruffing, holding him to the ground until he quiets, or even lifting his front legs off the ground would work. This has to be done every time until he gets the point. If it doesn't, give him a 5 minute time out in a small room, like a bathroom. No longer or he will forget what it was for.

This is what the momma kitty would do to teach the kitty.
Some cats are taken too young from their moms and they don't know how to behave.
He may think he is playing and doesn't know the boundaries yet.
My Joey was like this at first biting all the time like it was fun.
Now he only doesn't it when he is agitated, He has lots to be agitated for so try not to compare Finn to Joey, Finn is way more chill than Joey.

I am scruffing and hissing now, Joey gets humble when I scruff him.
It's really weird, Finn is loving to you, so when you do it he may want to
change his behavior pretty quickly, He may learn really quick.
I really do see a huge difference between Finn and Joey.
Don't Fret!

I would even scruff him before he gets contact, if you see him start to bite
scruff him and hiss, try not to do it in anger, tho I made that mistake and I don't think it is productive.

 

[shadowsrescue]

I would think for now I would not be attempting to pet him. Give him time to cool off and adjust. It might be too much for him and too soon.

Bring him his food and then leave. Come back later to visit, but sit across the room. I would only attempt pets with a wand toy or something similar.

I really feel this will all stop once he adjusts and once his hormones calm down. You need to be patient with him and allow him this time too. Remember you are both still trying to get to know each other. Try to put yourself in his place.

There is a possibility you are coming on too strong. He is not a regular domestic cat and even though he has enjoyed some loving and pets from you, he is still not comfortable. Allow him this time to adjust and then work more on petting.

 

[Buffster7]

I would think for now I would not be attempting to pet him. Give him time to cool off and adjust. It might be too much for him and too soon.

Bring him his food and then leave. Come back later to visit, but sit across the room. I would only attempt pets with a wand toy or something similar.

I really feel this will all stop once he adjusts and once his hormones calm down. You need to be patient with him and allow him this time too. Remember you are both still trying to get to know each other. Try to put yourself in his place.

There is a possibility you are coming on too strong. He is not a regular domestic cat and even though he has enjoyed some loving and pets from you, he is still not comfortable. Allow him this time to adjust and then work more on petting.

I'd have no problem backing off and sitting across the room. He'll come right over and start climbing on me. I've become reticent to touch him much, and when I do, I tend not to stroke him but just hold him because I'm afraid of overstimulating him. Several times I've not been touching him at all, but just sitting down when he's come over and bitten me. So I'm unsure about coming on too strong, but I am trying to spend a lot of time with him on each visit to try and socialize. Should I lessen the time in there? What should I do when he comes over and starts climbing on me/rolling in my lap/head-bumping me?

 

[Buffster7]

Here is the info about scruffing di and bob gave me.
I think it would be ok to PM @di and bob
if you like, it may take a while for a response but you will get a response.

Scruffing, holding him to the ground until he quiets, or even lifting his front legs off the ground would work. This has to be done every time until he gets the point. If it doesn't, give him a 5 minute time out in a small room, like a bathroom. No longer or he will forget what it was for.

This is what the momma kitty would do to teach the kitty.
Some cats are taken too young from their moms and they don't know how to behave.
He may think he is playing and doesn't know the boundaries yet.
My Joey was like this at first biting all the time like it was fun.
Now he only doesn't it when he is agitated, He has lots to be agitated for so try not to compare Finn to Joey, Finn is way more chill than Joey.

I am scruffing and hissing now, Joey gets humble when I scruff him.
It's really weird, Finn is loving to you, so when you do it he may want to
change his behavior pretty quickly, He may learn really quick.
I really do see a huge difference between Finn and Joey.
Don't Fret!

I would even scruff him before he gets contact, if you see him start to bite
scruff him and hiss, try not to do it in anger, tho I made that mistake and I don't think it is productive.

Thank you, W walli . I'm nervous to do this, but I'll try. He's so tiny (not much to scruff) and he usually bites and then darts away. As I sit here thinking about it, I'm not sure if he's darting away because he bit or because I yelped... I'll have to be poised and ready. I'm really starting to wonder if it's a territory thing. Is the bed his territory and now when I lean on it or touch it I get bitten?

 

[Buffster7]

Oh no, I am so sorry to hear this, Buffster.
I don't know much about this biting topic,
so I won't offer any advice but I want you to know I feel bad for you and I hope this gets better. I feel very very sad about all of this. I wish I could fix this for you.

Thanks, Feral Mom . I feel inadequate to deal with this behavior. I don't expect a cat to feel settled or comfortable or to behave himself in the first week. It would be different if he were a fearful or antisocial cat who just needed lots of time and patience. But I don't know what to do with an aggressive cat. I haven't bonded with him and am not attached to him yet, so as he's continued to bite me and the bites get harder, I find myself pulling back from him, feeling intimidated.
I have 2 weeks left before I go back to school and I'm gone during the day and studying at night. Socializing a cat is one thing, rehabilitating is entirely different. I'm worried.