Watching intently before taking off. This is part of play aggression.
Cats love to play. They stalk, chase, pounce, bite and scratch just about anything and anyone they see. This is normal behavior. It is part of their play aggression. This is how they learn to chase and catch prey such as mice. What is not normal is when these behaviors appear to take over, and this is all your cat seems to do.
Sometimes, your cat may use play aggression as a method of ‘paying you back’ for leaving them alone for too long. This sort of play aggression should not last very long, and if you make a fuss of your cat and play back with it, this will help. Play aggression could also be reinforced by owners who enjoyed letting their cat ‘attack’ their hands and feet, all the time. It becomes a problem when this is taken to extremes. While it might be cute in your kitten, this is not the case in adult cats.
You need to learn your cat’s body language and recognize the signs of cats that are planning to or are being outright aggressive. Keep in mind that typical play aggression will look like aggressive behavior, so it is up to you to learn the difference.
Cats love to stalk their owners and pounce on moving body parts such as hands and feet. This is a fun game to them. You need to train your cat to understand when to stop. Giving commands such as “no” in a firm but gentle voice, or removing yourself from the cat at the same time will help in this training. You can also pick your cat up and cuddle it to signal the end of the play time.
During play aggression there should be no growling or hissing. However, if you notice your cat’s pupils are widely dilated, it is time to back off. You may receive the occasional bite or scratch during play aggression, but these will be minor. Your cat might also dig his claws into your skin, but in play aggression it would be rare for him to break the skin.
If your cat does start to hiss or growl while he is playing and this is completely out of character for him, try to find the cause for this behavior. Is he in pain? Perhaps he is ill, or hurting somewhere. Check his body for any unusual lumps or bumps, or grass seeds that may be causing him problems. Of course, seek advice from your vet if you are unsure about a problem.
Cats will usually give a warning such as a growl or a gentle nip if they have had enough play. Learn to tell the difference between the different types of aggression your cat displays. Act early to stop true, aggressive behavior. You must make sure your cat knows who is the ‘alpha’ or number-one person in the relationship. This must be you.
If you are still having problems with your cat’s aggression, I suggest you read ‘The Power of Play’ in *Cat Secrets Revealed.
- Beautiful kittens just looking for a home.
I have found that many people adopt a cat on a ‘spur of the moment’ decision. They may be vaguely thinking about it, or have a friend with a beautiful new kitten, or just be walking past the pet shop when they see this adorable kitten that just can’t be left there. Sometimes it can be a friend who has a litter of kittens to find homes for and many times it is your children saying ‘please, please’ just one time too many.
Kittens are really like children. Absolutely adorable when they are young and playful but then they grow up. And like children, they are a lot of work to begin with when all the training is needed.
However, just like with children, if you treat your cat with love and respect and train it properly, it will give you much joy and love in return for many years.
I have a friend who loves cats. Like me, she is lucky enough to live in a rural setting on a fairly large block of land. However, she has never had any of her cats neutered or spayed and so they keep breeding. And keep breeding. The last time I was at her house there were well over 20 cats of all ages there. It got too hard trying to count them as they never stayed still.
This is her choice so I’m not criticizing her but for me that would be irresponsible. The feeding of that many cats would be way outside my budget, and the vet bills would be prohibitive.
Because your cat will be a part of your family for anywhere up to 20 years, it would be prudent to make sure you choose wisely and make a considered decision.
Make sure you know what sort of cat you want to adopt before you go into to that pet shop. How much are you prepared to pay for your kitten. Do you understand the ongoing costs of food, toys, litter, vet bills etc? There are also the ‘start up’ costs such as bedding, litter tray, feeding bowls etc.
You also need to take into account the wear and tear on your furniture, especially at the beginning. You will need to train your cat not to use your favorite couch as a scratching post. We have chairs that have been shredded because we didn’t introduce the scratching post early enough. Funnily enough when we finally bought some new furniture, the cats didn’t scratch it.
Are you prepared to invest the time to train your new kitten and put up with messes and puddles for a while? You also need to have time to play with and bond with your kitten, getting to know each other. The more you can understand your cat’s body language, the better your relationship will be.
If you have children, who is going to be responsible for the day to day care of your cat. It is wise to instill in children early on that a cat, or any pet for that matter, is for life, not just while they’re in that ‘cute’ stage. Teaching children to be responsible for their pet will have life long positive repercussions.
Understanding what is involved in cat adoption before you choose your new pet will not only help you make a truly informed decision, it will also help you deal with problems as they occur. And by starting your training right from day one, the job will be so much easier. Why not invest in *Complete Cat Training, it will pay for itself many times over.
