Purina Cat Chow: Cat Care Center: Adult Cat Care Center

Physical. Emotional. Complete.® - That's the Purina® Cat Chow® Way of Life®

They're all grown up—it's time to start treating, and feeding, them that way. Just because they're older, however, doesn't mean they're completely self-sufficient. Adult cats have nutritional needs particular to their life stage just as kittens and senior cats do, and they need your help to meet them. The CatChow.com Adult Care Center will clue you in on what you need to know.

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Topic: Biting, Scratching and Hissing

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My cat has a habit of biting and scratching, often clear out of the blue. What can be done to make her stop?

Our cat was very friendly to everyone when she was a kitten but after she turned 1 year old she became very aggressive to anyone who visits our home. She hisses, howls, screams and she even bit someone last month. She is very loving to our family, but she is so mean to everyone else that friends and relatives are becoming afraid to visit. What can we do?

My cats do not like each other and fight all the time. Why don't they get along?

Recently, my cat has been attacking her reflection in mirrors. She hisses and growls, then hits the mirror with her paws and head. We had blood work done and it all came back normal. Do you have any suggestions of what would cause her to all of a sudden display aggressive behavior towards her reflection in a mirror?

When I scold my children my female cat tries to bite me. Why is she doing this? She is a little over a year old.

My female cat went outside the other night. When I went to pick her up I noticed 4 male cats all around her. So I called her name and she turned around and looked at me, so I went to pick her up and she bit me hard enough to draw blood, I still brought her into the house anyway. I cleaned my hand and then I sat down. She proceeded to climb into my lap and when I picked her up and she grabbed my face with both of her paws and bit me on the nose. I don't understand why, because she knew that she was safe in the house, or so I thought. Could you please help me to understand why my cat bit me 2 different times?

My cat has started to hiss and howl and swat whenever she sees her reflection in a glass or mirror, it’s like she sees it as another cat. What could be the problem? She is 4 years old and has never done this before.

My 10 year old cat will stalk, bite and growl at anyone other than my husband or me. Because of this, she must be locked up in a room anytime we have visitors. In less than a month we will be having twins. I am very worried about what she will do to the babies as well as the many family members who will be staying with us to help out in the first few weeks. Is there anything I can do? I do not have a room where she could be put up indefinitely. I cannot give her away; no one would want her and I would be afraid she would hurt someone.

I have an indoor 13-year-old tomcat. His front claws have been removed and he has been neutered. All of a sudden he has been biting at us for no reason. My vet says he has no physical problems. I love Sam and I have had him the entire 13 years. So why is he biting me now?

My cat, Oliver, sometimes becomes extremely aggressive when I've been away for a period of time (more than a day). I think this may also be related to smelling other cats I might have met while away from him, but not always. He literally turns into a monster; the last time this happened I had to keep him in his car carrier overnight to calm down. What can I do (a) to prevent this, and (b) to calm him when he becomes agitated? I need to feel safe in my house!

I am worried about a kitten scratching at my older dog’s eyes! My Mom said that cats do go for dog’s eyes. Is this true?

I have a kitten that is 9 months old and she has the nasty habit of chewing my daughter's pacifiers - my 5 months old’s pacifiers more than my 22 month old’s. How can I get her to stop chewing on the pacifiers?

Why does my ten-month-old kitten bite?

We have a new cat named Emily and she is approximately 13 years old. She came from a traumatic home and we took her in to give her a better life. She's a lover and a drooler, which is fine. Our problem is after we have held her and petted her or even just rubbing her where she is, she has a tendency to snap at us or spit when we pull away. Why does she do this? If I put my hand back, she starts purring all over again and acts as if nothing is wrong. If we don't put our hand back she's also fine with that.

My cat is about 10 years old. Ever since he was a kitten, he has been a one family cat and seems to hate visitors and would hiss at them if they came near. Now that he’s older, he stares my visitors down, even people who frequently visit. If they try to reach over to pet him he hits at them as he hisses and runs away. He is so loving and sweet to my family and me. His mother, aunt, and sister who live with my parents are the same way and have been since they adopted them from a flea market.

We have a 3-year-old Siamese mix cat who hates everyone. She mostly stays outside and away from the family. She always bites, hisses and scratches anyone who tries to be around her. She does show affection to my daughter right before bed and sleeps with her at night, but that's it. We have considered giving her away, but do want to exhaust every option before we resort to that.

I have two male cats of the same age and litter. They are very well trained but when they play, they are unusually aggressive. They really attack each other, and all though they have no front claws they kick and bite at each other so hard they loose large tufts of hair. Is it usual for cats to fight so aggressively?

My male cat for the last few years will jump up out of the blue and bite my daughter or me. He has never done this to any of the males in the family at times he breaks the skin and draws blood. What is going on?

I got a baby kitten for my birthday and we think that it may have been mistreated, she is very loving but we cannot play with her in any way without her attacking. We have been taking her to the vet for what they call socialization therapy and the vet thinks she is hopeless...she is not afraid of water in any form, coins in a can or loud noises and I don't believe in hitting. What should I do?

I am seriously considering putting my cat (a 1-1/2 year old neutered male tabby) to sleep. He was a gentle, funny, docile animal until the neighbor's child ran over him with her bicycle. He was in terrible shape when I found him but the vet was able to resuscitate him. His personality changed drastically. He's highly anti-social with the other cats in our household and attacks me viciously with no warning. I feel so badly for him – he seems to have no joy left in his existence and he frightens me, especially when my 8-year-old granddaughter visits. Can you offer me any hope?

My 4-month-old kitten has started to climb up my leg. I would like to know how to stop this. It's painful!

Help! When getting ready to leave for work and when I come home at night-one minute my 8 mos. old kitten is under foot like a miniature mountain lion, the next, she wants to cuddle. (or vice versa) I frequently let her go along if it's not all day. (I ask if she wants to go and she responds, "Meow, meow and runs to get her leash then sits while I put her sweater on. (She is not allowed out unattended.) This wild cat behavior terrifies my granddaughters and I find it annoying.

We just got a 4-month-old kitten and I can’t get him to use scratch pad. It’s a Turbo scratcher with a ball for him to play with a pad in middle. He’s scratching everything else BUT that. Our other cat always used it.

My seven year old cat often tries to scratch, bite, or lick my hand when I'm petting her. I take this as a sign to leave her alone but then she insists I keep rubbing her. What is all that about?

Why does my cat bite me on the nose after rubbing her face on my face?

I have a 4-year-old cat that is an absolute sweetheart. I just got her from the SPCA about 3 weeks ago and generally we get along fabulously (shoestring is her favorite vice!). She comes up and rubs the side of her head on my hand and seems to want affection. I comply and gently rub the top of her head but she seems to want to have the side of her head rubbed. When I do that she bites me...so, I stop. I take it as a sign she's had enough but then she follows me around and begs me to rub again! Is this a game or does she just want to be rubbed on the head and back?

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To ensure that you develop a strong relationship with your new kitten, make sure you spend time everyday petting and playing with your pet. The more you interact with her, the more you will strengthen the bond between the two of you. This is extremely important for the development of an emotionally secure and stable kitten.

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