Pet Care
A Kitten With Attitude
Young cats and kittens can become very serious when it comes to play. Play prepares them to become great hunters and develops social skills with other cats. However, it’s not fun when the pet treats us like big mice or when playful pounces puncture skin. Swatting is often done with retracted claws and play bites are usually inhibited, but sharp teeth and nails can damage our clothing or inadvertently cause injury. When directed towards the face, a family member with fragile skin, or toward someone with an immune deficiency disorder, the danger of serious injury increases.
Young cats that are often left alone during the day are typically those involved more in play attack problems. These escalate when they are reinforced by someone who thinks the behavior is cute and encourages it. Predatory behavior often beings with stalking, chasing, attacking, catching and biting. . Most kittens engage their peers in rough and tumble play. A nearby family member becomes the next best target when another feline playmate is not around.
Avoid training a kitty to be a terrorist. Teasing kittens with fingers and toys will cause the behavior to be more serious as the cat gets older and bites harder. While some little kittens can appear to be quite bloodthirsty and relentless, their behaviors can be controlled.
A cat has to have an acceptable outlet for play. A feline playmate of the same age and size will usually direct play behavior towards the new buddy instead of to you. But this should only be considered if you are ready to take on the extra commitment of another pet. If not, you will have to take on the responsibility of giving your cat the proper type of play and shaping his behavior.
Tossing toys or dangling toys for the cat to chase and catch can be useful in play interaction. The attacks are then directed towards the toys, and not you. Keep playtime vigorous. Keep him so busy and so worn out that it doesn’t even think about going after you. Stock up on all kinds of fun, tempting cat toys. Adding catnip to toys or stuffing or coating it with food can sometimes increase its appeal. A short fishing rod is great for casting small rubber or feather toys, and provides entertainment for you and your cat. You need to be the one in control of playtime. You start it, you finish it. Ignore any playtime that is initiated by the cat.
Never use physical punishment when training pets. Your cat will begin to fear you or you may end up encouraging play that is even more rough. Try to anticipate the attack of your pet or kitten and distract him with loud noises. Attacks are not always easy to spot ahead of time and usually occur when you are doing something interesting to the cat, such as dusting, making the bed, reading a paper, or walking. Vigilance is a necessary ingredient for being consistent in teaching your kitten not to attack.Sometimes, the only simple solution to attacks is to keep him away. Let’s take night attacks for example. These are the most difficult to handle and most likely to cause an undesirable response from you. Simply keeping him out of the room I soften the most simple solution. This behavior, though, will often decrease and stop as he gets older. If your kitten has the habit of sucking on earlobes or elbows as you sleep, try applying some underarm deodorant to those areas to discourage it.
Multiple cat households may have problems with playful, young cats attacking those that are weak, fearful, or old. These pets should be kept separate unless they are being supervised. Be sure the rambunctious cat has plenty of toys to keep his attention away from the housemates.
Cat paws and claws will be used in play. Keeping nails trimmed to prevent them from scratching skin is a good idea. It takes patience and knowing when is the right time to get a cat conditioned to nail trimming. It should be done when the pet is calm and resting. Handle the paw very gently, use sharp trimmers, and quickly take off the tip of one nail. If he seems unaffected by the procedure, continue to trim the nails until he stirs. Then, give him a treat and pet him gently.
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