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HOWEDY sheri,

You're a simpleton:

Search Result 166
From: Sheri (whistlendixie49@yahoo.com)
Subject: Re: Scratching Cat
View: Complete Thread (14 articles)
Original Format
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats.health+behav
Date: 2003-01-17 16:29:37 PST


Karen <kchuplis@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:<BA4D58FF.413A8%kchuplis@earthlink.net>...
> in article 16dc796b.0301170426.7e671dec@posting.google.com,
> Sheri at whistlendixie49@yahoo.com wrote on 1/17/03 6:26 AM:
>
> > Hi,
> > I'm a newbie to this group, looking for some suggestions
> > for what has become a serious problem. My daughter has a 6
> > year old Maine Coon cross (we think)female who often
> > scratches her, sometimes to the point of drawing blood.
> > She doesn't seem to be doing it in anger; we wonder if
> > she's doing it in play and doesn't realize how much pain
> > she's inflicting. She was abandoned guite young--maybe her
> > mother never taught her the correct way to play?

> > My daughter yells at the cat and throws pillows at her when
> > she is scratched, and her cat (Ashes) runs away
> > momentarily, but returns and begins scratching again.
> > She's never been a very social cat, and has exhibited
> > this, and other negative behiavior, for years, but now the
> > scratching is getting out of hand!! Does anyone have any
> > suggestions as to why Ashes is doing this, and what can be
> > done to stop it? A last resort would be de-clawing, but my
> > daughter really is reluctant to do that. Thanks so much.
> > Sheri
>
> What is she doing when the cat scratches? Is she trying to
> pet her and the cat does not want attention? (I wonder this,
> because you say the cat is not social.). If this is the
> case, she needs to recognize the signs of "I'm finished."
> from the cat and quit attentions before this point. I'm kind
> of confused by your description in the post. Could you
> clarify. You mean, the cat just comes back and swipes at
> her? Karen

this is the actual cat owner talking now: first i have to
clarify things in my mom's note: i would never consider
declawing her. i do not throw pillows at her, but do hit her
lightly with throw pillows when she has my arm or leg in a
lock or when she is persistently scratching me because it is
the only way i have found to get her to stop. i do not yell at
her but do tell her "no" firmly and do often yell out in pain
when she scratches me.

as to when she scratches me? she seems to be trying to
initiate play or get my attention. if i'm walking around the
appartment she tries to grab me feet and legs. this seems like
play, as she's stalking me, but she's only interested in
playing this particular game if my feet and legs are bare.
she likes to curl up next to me and on top of me on the sofa
to watch tv, but if i get up before she does, she'll scratch.

if i'm watching tv and she doesn't want to sit with me, she'll
scratch at my feet, my face, or whatever she can reach. if i'm
in bed reading a book, she'll curl up next to me and scratch
my arm or face. she'll also be curled up next to me, purring
away, then suddenly grab my arm and not let go.

since she seems to be trying to get my attention, i've tried
to correct the behavior by ignoring her when she does this.

when she's particularly vicious, i have shut her out of my
bedroom. i always say to her "no, that is not a fun game for
me." if she scratches me in my bed, i will roll over so my
back is to her.

when she scratches my feet i wait a few
minutes then give her other toys to play with.
i even bought one of those big cat play mittens
she could wrestle with my arm without hurting
me, but she doesn't like that game.

she used to like to play with those feathers on wands, but since
we moved out of my parents she has not shown any interest in
those teasers. she does like to chase the plastic things from
the top of milk cartons and enjoys almost any type of catnip
toy.

she's always been like this, but lately she's been getting
worse. my work schedule recently changed from an overnight
shift to a day shift and i don't know if that has anything to
do with her behavior change. i don't know if she would benefit
from having another cat to play with. when we lived with my
parents, she frequently wrestled with my parents cat. we have
lived alone for two years, though, so i don't know if she
would tolerate a newcomer.

again, i would never consider declawing, and i would never
give her away, but i am really tired of always having scratch
marks on my hands and feet. she also bites. so any suggestions
would be appreciated. -Ashes' Mommy