Our Cat is starting to Bite

jonbeeza

jonbeeza

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We have had our cat for eight years now, and he has always been very loving and well behaved. He is an indoor cat and he has been neutered, he has plenty of exercise by playing on the veranda, and on the landing. But for some strange reason he has started to bite. He bit the missus a little while ago, and a family member. He bit me last night, sinking his teeth into my leg and drawing blood. We have a dog who we have had for ten years, the cat and dog have grown up together. Both animals have always got on together fine, and played together for years. Just lately the dog has become scared of the cat, and wont go near him. The cat keeps taking swipes at the dog, and gives her a sly nip now and then.

Has anyone had any experience of their cat changing from a loving thing, to an unpredictable little git?

PS

We could be sitting watching TV, and he can come up and bite for no reason!
 
I'd take him to the vet just to make sure there isn't a problem.

If there is no physical problem then I would make sure the cat knows who is boss. It may be that he thinks he is the boss and is making sure everyone knows, but I suspect it is more likely to be a health issue.
 
kendo1 said:
I'd take him to the vet just to make sure there isn't a problem.

If there is no physical problem then I would make sure the cat knows who is boss. It may be that he thinks he is the boss and is making sure everyone knows, but I suspect it is more likely to be a health issue.
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This.
Vet.
Sudden biting can be an indication of an animal being in profound pain.
 
kendo1 said:
I'd take him to the vet just to make sure there isn't a problem.

If there is no physical problem then I would make sure the cat knows who is boss. It may be that he thinks he is the boss and is making sure everyone knows, but I suspect it is more likely to be a health issue.
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Sorry forgot to mention he has a clean bill of health, and he was at the vets a couple of weeks ago. We did mention it to the vet, but they just put it down to a grumpy cat wanting his own space.
 
kendo1 said:
I'd take him to the vet just to make sure there isn't a problem.

If there is no physical problem then I would make sure the cat knows who is boss. It may be that he thinks he is the boss and is making sure everyone knows, but I suspect it is more likely to be a health issue.
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+1 ^^ behavioural changes likely have an underlying cause. Get him checked and stating the obvious make sure describe the changes the vet.

Hopefully can the VDT can get him sorted out aok.
 
He is so playful and loving, he is fit and healthy he has regular check ups at the vets. He was at the vets a few weeks ago, and they passed him as fit and healthy. He is slightly over weight, but vet said indoor cats do tend to be a little heavier. He is lovely, just he is starting to throw his weight around a little, but it is painful! Even our Staffordshire Terrier is very wary of the cat, and gives the cat a wide berth when walking past him. Maybe we need a Cesar Millan, but a cat version :thinking:
 
jonbeeza said:
Sorry forgot to mention he has a clean bill of health, and he was at the vets a couple of weeks ago. We did mention it to the vet, but they just put it down to a grumpy cat wanting his own space.
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Good to hear that. I'm speaking from personal experience of an unwell cat.

There was a series about problem pets, probably on Youtube, which may point you in the right direction for changing his behaviour.
 
jonbeeza said:
He is so playful and loving, he is fit and healthy he has regular check ups at the vets. He was at the vets a few weeks ago, and they passed him as fit and healthy. He is slightly over weight, but vet said indoor cats do tend to be a little heavier. He is lovely, just he is starting to throw his weight around a little, but it is painful! Even our Staffordshire Terrier is very wary of the cat, and gives the cat a wide berth when walking past him. Maybe we need a Cesar Millan, but a cat version :thinking:
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I truly hope you're right.
I really do.
But I'd seek another veterinary opinion.
The only reason any pet of mine has shown aggressive behaviour has been due to adverse health :(
 
You can get a plug in atomiser thingy. You attach a bottle of liquid and it is atomised into that atmosphere. It calms cats down quite well. Felliway I think it is called. I'm surprised your vet didn't mention it. It has worked to calm down our cats when they were stressed.

Google it. Certainly worth a try.
 
Sorry it is Feliway. I'm on mobile so can't do fancy linkies but a quick search brings up Amazon selling the kits for approx £15.
 
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If I remember correctly, the way forward is to play with the cat two or three times a day with a 'remote' toy- a feather or a 'thing' attached to a stick.
This keeps him happy and stops you being attacked.

Food should be restricted to when you feed him. No food bowls constantly filled so he can feed himself. The trick is for him to be reliant on you for food.

Ignoring bad behaviour was another way. Cats are like children- if they can get a reaction by behaving badly then they are getting what they want.
 
mickledore said:
You can get a plug in atomiser thingy. You attach a bottle of liquid and it is atomised into that atmosphere. It calms cats down quite well. Felliway I think it is called. I'm surprised your vet didn't mention it. It has worked to calm down our cats when they were stressed.

Google it. Certainly worth a try.
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Just Binged it, going to read it now thanks :)
 
Excellent. It calmed down our cats. Might not work with yours but at that price it must be worth a try.
 
My two years old boy, a black cat called Jet, is quite a nipper but then again, he has been like that since I got him as a kitten. Like your cat, Jet is 100% an indoor cat but once a day he always seem to want to have a go at my arm where he gnaws at it like a police dog trying to bring down a criminal. That period of sparkiness only lasts for a few minutes, though, and I try and wear him out by playing with strings and whatnot. Otherwise he is a docile loving dude for the rest of the day - even loves being carried around and hitches a ride on my back.
He has been to the vets only last week for a check up and something to prevent fleas from taking a hold, and he passed with flying colours apart from being slightly podgy (he was neutered when he was only five months old).
 
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kendo1 said:
If I remember correctly, the way forward is to play with the cat two or three times a day with a 'remote' toy- a feather or a 'thing' attached to a stick.
This keeps him happy and stops you being attacked.

Food should be restricted to when you feed him. No food bowls constantly filled so he can feed himself. The trick is for him to be reliant on you for food.

Ignoring bad behaviour was another way. Cats are like children- if they can get a reaction by behaving badly then they are getting what they want.
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We do play with him everyday, he gets masses of stimulation. He also has a play tunnel, a cat scratcher and a cat house. I feed him regular, and give him plenty of treats. Yet he still takes a swipe at me, I think he is trying it on, and trying to be dominant maybe..
 
Ian D J said:
My two years old boy, a black cat called Jet, is quite a nipper but then again, he has been like that since I got him as a kitten. Like your cat, Jet is 100% an indoor cat but once a day he always seem to want to have a go at my arm where he gnaws at it like a police dog trying to bring down a criminal. That period of sparkiness only lasts for a few minutes, though, and I try and wear him out by playing with strings and whatnot. Otherwise he is a docile loving dude for the rest of the day - even loves being carried around and hitches a ride on my back.
He has been to the vets only last week for a check up and something to prevents fleas from taking a hold, and he passed with flying colours apart from being slightly podgy (he was neutered when he was only five months old).
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That sounds just like ours, he will curl up on the bed with us, and we can pick him up freely, without him struggling. I wonder, could we be spoiling them ? :thinking:
 
You could also try Zylkene which is a natural calming powder (in capsules) which helps to reduce stress. (another possible cause of biting)

...but I would still be having a proper conversation with the vet, not just an aside in an appointment for something else... :)
 
He is sitting besides me this morning, he is very calm and loving. My bare leg is just inches away from him :)
 
+1 for another veterinary checkup. One of our cats had a phase where she'd suddenly lash out or bite for no apparent reason. It turned out that she was probably suffering horrendously from toothache. Quite a lot of her teeth were badly decayed and had to be extracted, but from the front they looked fine - the decay was all on the back/inside of the teeth and wasn't easily visible. In fact the vet saw that one or two were bad, and recommended having them removed, and it wasn't until she was under the anaesthetic and they could open her mouth up easily that they saw the full extent of the condition. She had to have about 9 or 10 teeth out in one go, and she's been much more sweet natured since then.
 
StewartR said:
+1 for another veterinary checkup. One of our cats had a phase where she'd suddenly lash out or bite for no apparent reason. It turned out that she was probably suffering horrendously from toothache. Quite a lot of her teeth were badly decayed and had to be extracted, but from the front they looked fine - the decay was all on the back/inside of the teeth and wasn't easily visible. In fact the vet saw that one or two were bad, and recommended having them removed, and it wasn't until she was under the anaesthetic and they could open her mouth up easily that they saw the full extent of the condition. She had to have about 9 or 10 teeth out in one go, and she's been much more sweet natured since then.
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He was at the vets a few weeks ago, he started to bite long before that, but vet says he is fit and healthy. Vet checked every part of him, apart from his brain that is :) . He does not bite every day, just once every so often, but it hurts :)
 
I had an allergic reaction to a cat bite - it was not fun, so just be careful with them. It amazes me what people let cats get way with as if a dog was doing this you'd get them muzzled.
Sounds like a cattle prod would sort the little darling out!
 
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Overexposed said:
I had an allergic reaction to a cat bite - it was not fun, so just be careful with them. It amazes me what people let cats get way with as if a dog was doing this you'd get them muzzled.
Sounds like a cattle prod would sort the little darling out!
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Threw lots of hand sanitiser on the bite, it really stung but it seems to have done the trick. He is using up his lives pretty quick, we will monitor things. If he continues to misbehave, he will have to pack his bags ;)
 
'Kick' it out during the day. If its cold out let it in, if it bites again showing its appreciation, kick it out again. Cats arent decrepit at 8 yrs.

... yes, I love mine.
 
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John, if the hand sanitizer is alcohol based, it'll probably have Bitrex in it to deter alcoholics from slurping it down. Bitrex works on cats as well as humans... Domestic meths has it in as well. Puss will soon give up biting something that tastes so vile (but might take up scratching it instead.)
 
Overexposed said:
I had an allergic reaction to a cat bite - it was not fun, so just be careful with them. It amazes me what people let cats get way with as if a dog was doing this you'd get them muzzled.
Sounds like a cattle prod would sort the little darling out!
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I can sympathise on that, I have an allergic reaction to cat fur, luckily over the years it now results in just a blocked nose,
when I was younger it resulted in something akin to asthma.
Last cat bite resulted in a swollen arm, I was bitten on the hand, so I now try and avoud contact with the damn things.
But try explaining that to someone who has a semi feral cat that doesn't like me entering their property !
 
twist said:
'Kick' it out during the day. If its cold out let it in, if it bites again showing its appreciation, kick it out again. Cats arent decrepit at 8 yrs.

... yes, I love mine.
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He would not survive outdoors, he gets spooked so easily. Besides no idea what he would get up too :)

Nod said:
John, if the hand sanitizer is alcohol based, it'll probably have Bitrex in it to deter alcoholics from slurping it down. Bitrex works on cats as well as humans... Domestic meths has it in as well. Puss will soon give up biting something that tastes so vile (but might take up scratching it instead.)
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Not sure what is in it, just a cheapo home bargains one. The bite was a bit of a nasty one, but it is clearing up nicely.
 
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Just thinking back when he bit me, he was due for his meal and he did give a little cry now and then. But I was on the computer reading something, and he was besides me looking at me. He may have been trying to get my attention, and may have taken a wobbler because I would not look at him :thinking:
 
jonbeeza said:
Just thinking back when he bit me, he was due for his meal and he did give a little cry now and then. But I was on the computer reading something, and he was besides me looking at me. He may have been trying to get my attention, and may have taken a wobbler because I would not look at him :thinking:
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:rolleyes:

...there's your answer...

...deserved to be bitten!
 
jonbeeza said:
Problem solved then, make sure I feed him on time. Or risk becoming the meal :eek:
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Probably not the lack of food...more likely the ignoring.. :D

...mine is a complete ar$e if he is ignored. Runs from room to room, climbs on things he is not allowed to, stalks around in a bitey threatening way etc.etc. until I realise what his problem is! :rolleyes:
 
Tigger.ufo said:
Probably not the lack of food...more likely the ignoring.. :D

...mine is a complete ar$e if he is ignored. Runs from room to room, climbs on things he is not allowed to, stalks around in a bitey threatening way etc.etc. until I realise what his problem is! :rolleyes:
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That just might be it, he does not like being ignored. I do remember a a time he bit the missus, she was stroking him something that he loves. When she stopped stroking him, he bit her. So basically he is just being a narky ar** ? :eek:
 
jonbeeza said:
Problem solved then, make sure I feed him on time. Or risk becoming the meal :eek:
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There was a news report, last week I think, where researchers said that if the domestic cat was bigger we would indeed be their food!
 
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