Need Help! Thanks!

[Yinx]

Hello,

My sister adopted a 4 mths old stray tomcat recently. Misty (the cat's name) is tame, but has the bad habit of biting people when he's playing (that is, if you go near him). Is this behaviour normal? If not, how should I go about correcting him?

I know that cats & dogs will get along well together if they're introduced at a young age. I've been planning for a long time to get a dog, but will only do so at the start of 2002. By then, Misty will be about 1.5 yrs old. My question is, is it possible to introduce Misty to the dog then?

Last but not least, I've read in books that 10% of neutered cats will still spray urine to mark their territory. Is this true?

If Misty is neutered once he turns 8 mths old, will his spraying habit stop immediately? Or does the spraying habit take time to stop?

Thanks a lot in answering my queries.

[My_Cat_Chloe]

About the spraying urine problem, I think it is more of a behavior problem than having to do with getting altered. I read in a book that if you wipe the mess up with a paper towel and then stick it in the litter box the cat will go to the litter box because it can smell its scent.

------------------
Chloe's mommy

[coalakm]

Hi,

Look my new kitten does the same thing. I feel it is normal for kittens.


Coalakm

[suepez]

Hi Yinx,

First off, you and your sister should invest in a good book about cats and cat behaviour so you can learn all about the wonderful and crazy things cats do.

Cats, and especially kittens, will bite while playing. This is absolutely normal and not something to be worried about unless the biting becomes more aggresive and destructive or painful. Although to kittens they are just playing, those little teeth can hurt! In order to disuade Misty, when she starts biting, have another toy handy that you can distract her with, then let her bite it. I've also found that blowing in a cat's face will distract it from biting. The key is not to punish the cat for exhibiting playfulness, but to teach it appropriate play, like with a catnip toy or another soft toy it can bite.

There's no guarantee that a kitten and puppy will get along even if they've been together from a very young age. However, the majority of the time pets will adapt to one another and in most cases they will enjoy their playmate. The best thing to do is to isolate the two pets for the first while until they have a chance to sniff the other's scent - maybe the upstairs will be off-limits to the dog, but the cat can come and go through the whole house. Don't be worried if they don't get along at first. It can take months for pets to get along, but it's well worth it.

Finally, neutering a male kitten will usually eliminate the spraying problem, which is caused by hormones in it's system. After the operation it will take a bit of time for the hormones to completely leave his system, and the spraying will stop. If he continues to spray you should contact your vet because this could be caused by a bladder infection or another illness.

Good luck! And do get yourself a cat book to get all the facts!

[sassykat2567]

little kittens (and cats) will bite a lot when they play. believe me, i know from experience! if u need any other advice about cats or other pets, please post a message or email me at: Starberry@purpleturtle.com

------------------

[susany]

Hi Yinx,

Haven't hear from you for sometime. How have you been?

I read your message that you have got a cat. How is your cat, Misty, now?

Take care.

[Nightmare]

Hi there,

I agree that you should buy a book. I have always had cats and dogs together, and my T.C. is the most typical cat you will ever find. She is 4 and we brought in a 2 year old large hound dog, and while she didn't play with her, they got along fine. Now I will admit the dog had alot of scratches on her nose until T.C. got her point accross that she is Queen around here and will not tolerate being "bothered" by a lowere species like a DOG, but once the dog learned to just leave her alone, unless the cat wanted otherwise, they got along fine.

As for the spraying, the longer you wait to get the cat nuetered{sp} the more chance you take of him spraying. I have read that you can have them fixed as early as 6 weeks old, but I know my vet wouldn't do it that early. It is usually acceptable to have it done at 6 months before they fully mature. Females have their first heat about 6 months, and while it does vary, a male could start spraying about then too.

As for the biting. T.C. doesn't know any other way to play. When she was a kitten, she had every toy known to man, and she played with them. Now, when I sit down and start petting her, she wants to play, I know this because her eyes get big as quarters and she starts rolling around. The only way she plays is with my hands, using her teeth and her back claws. When she starts to get to ruff, I just hold still and say "hey" in a stern voice, and she realizes she is biting or scratching too hard. She usually let's up. I think it is all a matter of knowing your cat. After all yours is just a kitten, and may change. T.C. sure has.

Sorry for the length.

Nightmare