Boots really needs to see a cat psychiatrist or maybe it’s me that should see a psychiatrist for keeping a biting cat. It’s just so weird to me that he can be so sweet and then so mean. I was downstairs yesterday, sitting in my chair, not bothering him at all. I didn’t even have music on because I watched a couple of flosstubes while stitching but most of the time, it was just quiet and peaceful.
In Texas, I always had music on. He would bite me there too but I never stayed over there for six or eight hours at a time – mainly because there was no bathroom. I’d run back to the house, get busy in the house and go back to the sewing room for a few hours.
I’ve mentioned this before but one day my friend and I were making quilts together. We took a break, sat on the sofa, drank a Dr. Pepper (I’m sure she had water!). We had been in the sewing room probably six hours or so. Boots was letting both of us pet him. He’d go sit by Mary for a while, then come sit by me and suddenly he started biting. He actually drew blood but that was before I learned not to yank my hand or arm away while his teeth were still locked on me. I jokingly told Mary “Call animal control because my animal is out of control!” We decided Boots was tired of company so we left.
Back when he was biting so much, I tried to figure out why and I never could but now I’m thinking the he thinks the entire house is his. When he’s upstairs and he gets tired of having people around, he wants us to leave . . when in fact, he needs to just go downstairs. I think he’s getting stressed having humans around and since he’s more comfortable in the sewing room, he doesn’t get stressed as quickly down there as he does upstairs. In the past couple of months, he comes upstairs and is a sweet kitty for a few hours and then he wants to go into the kitchen. He will jump over the gate by Rita and then she starts barking and within a few minutes, he’s on the kitchen counter so the minute he starts looking like he’s thinking about jumping over the gate, I take him downstairs. He hasn’t been biting because he never stays upstairs more than a couple of hours. I usually let him out after wer’e done with breakfast and before noon, he’s been sent back to his room. In the afternoons, I’ll sometimes let him out but two hours seems to be about his limit before he wants to go see what Rita’s doing and get on the kitchen counter.
Yesterday was the first time I’ve been in the sewing room for six hours strait and it was probably at about the 6 hour, 20 minute timeframe that he bit me.
This morning I was in the sewing room about 6 a.m. and stayed til probably close to 9 and he was sweet as could be. I think he just gets tired of having me around. He has never had a human with him 24/7, which isn’t his fault but at least if I can figure out why/when he’s going to bite, that explains it and I feel better about it.
In fact, yesterday, I knew he was about to bite me. He gets this look in his eyes . . and I even said to him “no biting” about five minutes before he latched onto my hand. I didn’t pull my hand away so it didn’t break the skin. It was time for me to come upstairs so I got up and left, then I went back in there about 8 and stayed til 11 and he never tried to bite at all.
Maybe I’ve figured it out . . maybe not.
Vivian Oaks says
It sounds to me like your idea makes a lot of sense. He did spend a lot of time alone in Texas, so probably the fact that he’s in the house with people all the time now, he just doesn’t like it. He’s a solitary soul. 🙂
Sara F says
Maybe it’s a tuxedo cat thing – ours would bite when he was ready for us to leave him alone, or to quit doing whatever he didn’t like. He didn’t like anyone getting up at night and walking around the house in the dark. And when he was “done” with being petted, he often nipped and sometimes bit harder.
Judy Laquidara says
Really? That would explain why Boots is a biter. Thanks for telling me that.
Cathy Washburn says
I think it’s a male thing. I’ve had a lot of cats but the male was the only one that ever bit me. If the females tried to bite, I’d say no and pop them on the nose and they quit. They eventually stopped doing it. The male just got more aggressive. I also agree when my male cat was tired of being petted, he would bite. But sometimes he would hide behind something and jump out and bite me. Right out of the blue for no reason. I’ve had lots of cats and they are all different – just like people.
Judy Laquidara says
Boots never jumps out and gets me. It’s always when he’s sitting on my lap (his choice) and being sweet and then he just bites. He will come up to my recliner and bite my feet but I’ve learned to keep tennis shoes on because bites on the feet really hurt. I don’t think he wants to hurt me because if I don’t jerk my arm or foot, it never breaks the skin. Last night, I kept saying “No, Boots!” He would look at me like . . what are you going to do about it? . . but it took a while for him to let go, though he never bit any harder. It’s really like a hard nibble and not like he’s trying to hurt me . . just let me know he seriously is ready for me to leave.
Cats are so different from dogs! I love Boots but I doubt I’ll ever get another cat.
Linda in NE says
Have you ever tried giving him a couple of good slaps on the head and saying, “NO” when he bites? It worked for my cat who took to biting me if I moved a little too fast or did something that displeased her for some reason. Now she might mouth me when she wants my attention or something but never clamps down.
Judy Laquidara says
No. I wouldn’t ever hit him. I’ve misted him with water and he stops but he comes back and does it again after some point.
Marilyn Smith says
I seem to remember the Boots just showed up. Was Boots a feral cat? I also had feral cats growing up, I was maybe 6-9 yrs old. They were a no no. The two kitties we had growing up were outdoor cats and not allowed in the house They were both poisoned by a neighbor (other cats too) as he could not stand cats. I came home as a kid with a kitty trick or treating, kitty went right back. I like cats when they are kittens, after that, no. I am also allergic to them. I am a dog lover big time and miss having one. Love to bb sit our son’s dogs. Our last dog was a pit bull and the best dog we have ever had, so smart. Our son brought her home when leaving for college. Hubby said no way, but the next day he was so attached to this adorable pup. I miss her every minute of every day. The sweetest, most loving dog ever. JakeDog, we love and miss you! We just were never kitty people!
Judy Laquidara says
I have no idea about where Boots came from. He showed up as a scrawnly little kitten but was extremely friendly. I’ve never heard him hiss so I think someone dropped off a kitten (or more than one) and Boots found his way to our house. I’m allergic to cats too and if I sit too long with Boots or touch my face after petting him, my eyes start itching and swelling. I take daily allergy meds (for other issues) and that seems to help a bit too.
Linda Garcia says
Is Boots de-clawed? I have read that cats that are de-clawed will bite more than a cat that still has its claws. It’s like they loose their claws so they resort to their teeth.