Biting & Scratching When Picking Her Up

biscuity

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10 months old British Blue Short-hair neutered female indoor cat.

Scratch posts in every room, play time on demand & after evening meal. Fed high quality food 3 times a day.

On occasion, Coojee will be in a naughty mood & I believe she is aiming to get my attention. This will often happen an hour or so before her regular feeding times. If I am working at my desk, she may try to paw or scratch my computer screen, she may find some wires & bite them. I have been picking her up to place her on one of her activity centres.

Since she was wearing a onesie after her neutering operation, when she would slip out of it a few times in the night & need us to put her back into it, she now bites & scratches if she is picked up but only when she doesn't want to be picked up. Picking up at other times is fine. When she bites & scratches, she seriously draws blood. These are not friendly plays. I have now taken to wearing motorcycle gloves in these situations where she must be removed - for instance biting mains cables. It means that my hands are not torn to shreds & I can place her where I want to. She is of course not punished after this, but attention is usually withdrawn.

Normally, she is loving & very playful. When I am working, she normally lays between my keyboard & screen where she can stretch out & sleep. So Coojee is normally happy on my desk, she also sleeps next to me in bed.

My attempt to fix this issue is to try to recognize the behavior just as it starts to happen. I then immediately get up, withdraw attention & do something else. Perhaps make a coffee, sometimes play with her.

Another slight issue is that at times, maybe I have my hand on the desk, she will make a fake lunge & bite towards my hand, but stop at least 3 or 4 inches away. I remove my hand & withdraw attention - leaving my seat & make a coffee etc.

Coojee does not seem to do this with my wife. I am with Coojee more often & am the main keeper.

Does anyone have any suggestions?
 

Furballsmom

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Can the both of you, separately and together play with coojee more?
Can you put bitter apple, or use PVC pipe on the wires?
Can you feed her more frequently, at different times, and in different locations, in other words mix things up so she doesn't have a specific schedule?
 

rubysmama

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About chewing wires, you can buy cord protectors.
Amazon Best Sellers: Best Floor Cord Covers

And when she bites or scratches you, say "owwwww" in a high pitched voice, or try hissing at her. That is how cats let another cat know they are hurting them.

And do watch any bites/scratches that draw blood, as they could become infected.

Here are some TCS articles with more info:

Cat Aggression Toward People
Why Do Cats Attack?

Cat Bites - What Every Cat Owner Needs To Know
Ouch! More Than You Ever Wanted To Know About Cat Bites
 
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biscuity

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Can the both of you, separately and together play with coojee more?
Can you put bitter apple, or use PVC pipe on the wires?
Can you feed her more frequently, at different times, and in different locations, in other words mix things up so she doesn't have a specific schedule?
In the office, there are very many wires, but I will try to cover them. I've not heard of bitter apple, but will look into this.

We both play with Coojee, although I play with her much more often as my wife is ill. We both play with her in the evenings, but I play with her all other times. I think that I will see if she wants to play when she starts to feel naughty.

In the mornings, she is fed in the kitchen, after I have had a bath & while I have my breakfast. She seems happy with this & is perfectly happy waiting for me while I have my bath & helping the bathwater out. Lunchtime, she is fed her kibbles in 3 different locations with puzzle feeders. I help her with the most difficult one. She seems to like me doing this. In the evening, she is fed while we are eating. The avoids her trying to get on the table where we are eating as she then happily sits on the sofa & cleans herself. Then while we clear away & wash up, she waits at the top of the stairs for her playtime. As I am working, it is not easy to move the feeding schedule around too much.

As part of my job, I receive a lot of deliveries which supplies lots of boxes & packing for playtime. I think this Coojee seems more intelligent than other pusscats I have had in the past. She seems to need a new plaything every few days & we have to keep thinking up new games to excite her. We will definitely make an effort to play more with her.
 
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biscuity

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About chewing wires, you can buy cord protectors.
Amazon Best Sellers: Best Floor Cord Covers

And when she bites or scratches you, say "owwwww" in a high pitched voice, or try hissing at her. That is how cats let another cat know they are hurting them.

And do watch any bites/scratches that draw blood, as they could become infected.

Here are some TCS articles with more info:

Cat Aggression Toward People
Why Do Cats Attack?

Cat Bites - What Every Cat Owner Needs To Know
Ouch! More Than You Ever Wanted To Know About Cat Bites
Thank you for the links!

I say oww & hiss at her everytime she hurts me. It doesn't seem to have an effect. It's almost as though she is a teenager that doesn't want to be told what to do.

We wash & treat every wound she gives us, thanks.
 
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biscuity

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Can the both of you, separately and together play with coojee more?
Can you put bitter apple, or use PVC pipe on the wires?
Can you feed her more frequently, at different times, and in different locations, in other words mix things up so she doesn't have a specific schedule?
Found the bitter apple spray on Amazon. I will order some today thanks.

Edit: They won't send it to my location. I will have to check in town tomorrow.
 
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DreamerRose

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There's a better cord protector for loose cords:

Chewsafe Cord Cover, Clear, Pack of 3, 10' Length each - CableTies...

Amazon also has them. I hope you can find a supplier who will ship to you.

It sounds to me that Coojee doesn't like to be picked up and is clearly letting you know that. This may never change. Mingo is like that and he is nearly five years old. I just don't pick him up.
 
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