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FORMER-STRAY-CAT QUESTION?
Okay, we found her in July sitting in the middle of our five bird feeders watching the fun! In October she treated our basement as her new home.
She's become used to the 4 little dogs, loves the yorkies, terrorizes the shi-tzus, but I have a little problem when I play with her. I guess it's pretty typical for cats raised in the wild not to know how to play gentle: Soon after I initiate play, or I return her playful swats at my feet on the stair, she'll dive into my foot or hand with her teeth & all claws while giving an ugly warning "grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr." I'm trying to slowly teach her 'gentle play.' We've built up the trust thing over 4 months now. I wouldn't think she'd be threatened by me.???????? Help.
4 Answers
- I luv PetsLv 71 decade agoFavorite Answer
She has a high prey drive. You initiated it by playing rough with her. This you have to stop. She cant keep thinking your foot is a tasty mouse. I think if you want to play you should use props. Like a long stick with feathers, things on long ropes, you can drag around, Laser pointers. Stop letting her use your body as a toy, so she learns boundaries.
Source(s): 9 years as Shelter manager, wildlife rehaber, raising orphaned animals, investigator for animal abuse\neglect and years of owning,training, breeding many types of Animals - 1 decade ago
Is your cat still young? Younger kittens would probably do this more often. I took in a stray back in August and she's more, for a lack of a better word, violent then any cat I've owned before. I end play whenever she does something painful and she seems to be actually attacking less often. My advice is keep doing what you're doing and for your own sake clip her nails.
- Elaine MLv 71 decade ago
It takes time, 'play' in outdoor cats mean 'catching food for dinner' or 'defending myself'. They don't do either one gentle, it just takes time for them to adjust.
Next time when she does it make a yelping sound and back away, then turn and walk away. She'll put two and two together and figure out she was too rough and you stopped wanting to play with her, and will tone down her response.
Try not to stimulate her too far, they can get excited too fast and forget to pull their punches.
- Anonymous1 decade ago
awww, I guess just teach her like you been doing, did you get her shots, and everything like that?
that's good, that she is used to the other dogs really fast, usually it takes cats a longer time to get used to dogs.