Question:
My 3-year-old cat, Charlie, displays excessive aggressiveness at times. This usually happens in the early morning at about 4 or 5 a.m. when he wakes up and wants attention. If he does not get it, which he never does at that hour of the day, he sometimes attacks the part of my body that is not covered up, which is usually my head. Twice in the last month his biting attacks have drawn blood.I have sprayed him with water and my husband has pushed him off the bed. This is beginning to happen more and more frequently. I really don't want this to develop into a fixed bad habit. Any advice?.
A.W., Arlington, Va Mar 06, 2005
Answer:
Charlie is behaving like a demanding, bratty child. Most likely he was over-indulged as a kitten and never learned that there are certain boundaries -- like not always being allowed on your lap, or being allowed to play too roughly without any corrective reprimand.The way one cat dominates another is to grab the scruff of the neck and not let go until the other cat (who will often yowl in protest and try to scratch and twist free) submits and remains passive. Soon after, the dominant cat -- typically a mother reprimanding a kitten -- will often make up and groom or play with the socially readjusted cat.You will probably need a thick-sleeved jacket to protect your arms when engaging in this corrective behavior the next time Charlie comes to wake you up. Do it before he attacks, and, just before you grab him, yell, "No, Charlie!" After a few of these correctives (which are physically harmless), Charlie should acquire some psychological conditioning and understand that you are the boss and that attacking you is
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