I Can't Stand The Biting Anymore

Kvla said:

But if exercising her for 2 hours would fix what I have right now I’d do it with no second guesses.

Click to expand...

Yeah, I don't think it will fix the 'bite inhibition' part, but tiring Opie will definitely help with the excess energy she has, so it does not get directed towards you.
But to really get her satisfied, she does have to catch and 'kill' her prey, so the laser doesn't really help with that. Try the wand toy, and throw some scrunched up paper, and see if she will fetch.

I know someone mentioned in your other threads about wearing gloves, while petting her, and that really is not a bad idea, if it prevents you from being bitten while altering her behaviour. Something like biking gloves, soft leather gloves, car gloves, work gloves, etc.

If you can figure out what triggers her, to lash out and bite, then that will help with trying to alter that behaviour.
That's why a little notebook, and observing her, while sleeping, eating, playing, etc will help.
(Videos are the best, though, I love videos.)

This is the toy we all need, but who can afford it at that price.
Did I Just Spend $150 On A Rc Mouse Feather Thing?
(I can dream about the lotto someday. )

Not much to add, but I wonder if your pit bull is actually teaching your cat that biting that hard is okay. He's not reacting to your cat's bites, doesn't show signs that he's hurting, and he's letting your cat do it. If this is the case, there are two ways I can think of to go about this.

One: continue letting your cat play with your dog however they want, but set the rules down that he cannot play with you that way. Basically, teach him not to bite and be consistent about it. A lot of good advice has been given above, but the key is to not let any bad behavior slip by without you doing something about it (hissing, saying no in a high pitch voice, etc.)

Two (iffy): You can try teaching your cat that biting that hard when he's play is not okay at all, no matter who he does it to. Since your dog won't react negatively to his bites, you will have to react for your dog by hissing, etc. However, I would be a bit hesitant to do this since I don't want your cat to think he's not allowed to defend himself. In addition, you won't be watching your cat and dog 24/7, so you won't be able to be consistent.

Some additional questions: are there certain things you feel is setting your cat off? How are you approaching him after he has bitten you multiple times? Do you think you're approaching him more warily? Since he sometimes show signs of fear (flattened ears, swishing tail), I wonder if he picks up your stress when you are trying to pet him/are around him and is reacting accordingly.

I’m thinking Prozac might be the answer. They make a ear cream . Prozac or Gabe tin will probably take time to get it right. Does her back ripple before she attacks? If so she has a medical condition hurting her (I can’t remember the name) but there is medication & help for it.

Jackie knows he can only attack my arm/hand under a blanket. If you see her hunting you, toss a favorite small toy away from you.

My twerp is calmer if he just gets an hour (OK he can do 30 minutes but he really wants to be out for 2-4 hours a day.) I have him on a long /6 ft leash plus he often gets it extended by his 5ft walking leash. I clip his leash to a chair or the patio table. Yeah he gets tangled up but it gives him the ability to pretend he can catch the birds/squirrels and to catch little bugs. I read while he hunts. It might be worth a try.

I included some pictures so you can see how much fun my kitty Jackie & his brother Nick have outside in their harnesses and long leader leashes (Nick lost part of his tail to a dog and is no longer allowed outside without a harness.) They love rolling around in the sand/gravel my mom has her paving stones on.

So sorry you are going through this. It is not her age, don’t blame yourself. I got my Angie, now in heaven, at 5 weeks old from a town shelter and she never bit anyone. Quinn oth bites a lot but thank god does not puncture me. I got him as pure bred at 11 weeks old. A lot of siamese cats bite, had I known I would have gotten a ragdoll lol. Plus different cats have diff personalities. I had 4 siamese mix before and loved their personalities but except for Angie they were more mellow. Even she grew out of crazy kitten mode at 6 months.

He also terrorized my older cat jumping on her and chasing her. I thought he would grow out of it but he didn’t. And I will be honest, I love him but I should have exchanged him for a dif kitten or chosen more carefully. I feel terrible for what he did to my beloved girl. Nothing worked- not meds, not wearing him out, not thunder coat, not time out etc. I had to separate them.

For the biting, I spray him with water, that is the only thing that works at all, yell etc, if he is not serious I cry loudly, it works very well unless he is in crazy mode. Then I have to scruff grab him and spray etc. just to stop him from jumping me, a towel works if I can get to one.

I hope you figure this out, someone suggested a can with coins rattled for the outdoor guy who bit me, I am going to try that.

I agree that the interactions with your dog are not helping so try to stop that, dog is him letting him do it. A cat companion who swats the hell out of him may help too. Byron did that to Angie when she jumped on him. At first she just kept doing it but eventually she stopped.

The only thing I have found that truly works as a last resort is scruffing. Everyone is right with their advise that medications can take a couple of months to start working, and getting your kitten means she was not taught manners/limits by her siblings and mama which usually takes place at 6-12 weeks. EVERY time she attacks you, take her by the loose skin at the back of the neck and hold her to the ground until she stops struggling. If she gets wild, lift her front legs off the ground. Hiss loudly or say NO. This is what a mama cat woudl do. This has to be done every time to be effective, just like dealing with a small toddler. If you worry about her being uncomfortable, look at that picture of your arm. Mama cats carry their kittens by that skin all the time, they instinctively get quiet. I also keep two 'kickeroos' handy, one always 'steeping' in a bag of catnip to keep them refreshed. When she starts looking intent and swishing her tail, throw one towards her. they are irresistable and she will get rid of a lot of excess energy. I get them on Amazon. good luck!

good advice above, I also learned recently if you turn your back to them after you discipline it tells them what they did is wrong, this is what other cats would do to them if they didn't like what they did.

I'm still working on this one. I have to train myself for all this to be an automatic maneuver.

Yes, tom cats, when they meet another, always turn there head to the side, in disdain. To leave the room leaves them by themselves and takes away what they crave, interaction, even if it is the bad kind.

Could she be overstimulated in some way? She could be exerting dominance or wanting more attention. And it doesn't help that you got her so young because her mother and siblings would have taught her not to bite.

Have you tried distracting her with a loud noise when she gets too rough, or get her some toys to bite on? You are suppose to push in on a bite and not pull out, which sounds easier than it really is. One expert mentioned giving your cat a time out which I don't see as particularly helpful since cats tend to be loners.

Now this is just a suggestion: I had a dog who constantly licked people and to rid her of that annoying habit I would spray myself with a vet approved bitter lemon spray. I don't know if they have something like that for kitties who bite.

I would rather work with techniques than give medications but that is just my opinion.

I feel your pain (literally!), for I have seventeen year old white cat who is a habitual biter- she has put me in the hospital twice.