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I just brought home a male neutered himmalayan. He was purring and seems friendly but when I pat him slowly not startle
He rolls overs rubs against me then grabs my hand and bites rather hard. I have been bittn 4 times tonight drawing small blood spots. He is laying on his back now purring, am I not giving him enough time to acclamate?
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Member 849236
on Jun 25th 2009
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in Other Behavior & Training
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Please repost your question. You were cut off before stating the problem.
Allie
answered on 6/25/09.
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Not sure what the full question is, but if you mean how to make him not startled, it will take patience and gentleness. Finding a home is probably a huge new experience so he is on edge. I've had one of mine now almost a year and sometimes I go to pet him and he jumps two feet in the air before he realizes it is me. Just be patient and loving. Also, so cats want to be petted only when they feel like it, so he might nip or swat at you if he if getting too much stimulation, even if it is the gentlest petting.
Indiana Angel Cat
answered on 6/25/09.
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As someone who did feline rescue for a long time, I can tell you that it takes a lot of patience, love and kindness to bring an adopted cat around. The younger ones are somewhat easier, but the older ones can really try your patience. It doesn't matter what breed or sex they are. If they've have a rough life before, it takes them time to trust. He may also be like my Delilah,a "love biter". When he does this, extricate yourself, say "Don't bite!" and leave. He'll realize that you aren't pleased with this behavior. When you become "his person", he won't do it anymore. Delilah bites but not hard because she knows it ticks me off. Cats purr for many reasons. My Izzie purrs when he's scared, interested in something, wants love and pets, etc. You will start to know the signs when you pet him and stop petting him when he shows them. When you see him start to turn his head to bite, stop petting him immediately and put him down. You may also want to talk with whomever you adopted him from.
Izadore (Izzie)
answered on 6/25/09.
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You don't make it clear where you adopted your cat from. If you got a Himalayan from a responsible breeder, he should have been cured of the biting habit---because responsible breeders keep their cats for, ideally, 3 months, and they get socialized that way. Having said that, my own purebred Maine Coons--the kittens that are still here--do have a habit of biting very lightly when showing affection. They were raised under foot, with massive doses of affection. And there were seven of them, which means that they had lots of interaction with each other, which leads to socialization. The only other thing I can add is that cat bites are dangerous. If blood is being drawn, go to the ER. I had an incident with my kittens when they went to their first cat show, and within hours you could see that infection set in. I went to the ER and got a tetanus shot and antibiotics, and all went well after that. But cat bites that involve blood are a problem. See your vet AND your doctor.
The Magnificent Seven
answered on 6/25/09.
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Miss Meany has petting aggression but understanding her body language and her limitations we have learned when enough is enough. The tail twitch and the ears pulled back are good signs Miss Meany is about to take a piece out of me if I don't back off. She likes to be near me but doesn't really like me touching her. I find when Miss Meany rolls on her back and purrs at me, it's trickery on her part. She is setting me up for a beat down if I go anywhere near her, so I walk away. He might think he is playing, he's having a blast but on your end it isn't much fun. You could try a time out when he gets too rough. Any reaction from you is what he wants, ground him to another room, or completely ignore him. I got many bites when I first adopted Miss Meany but with time and patience you will get there. She isn't the loving cuddly feline I was hoping for but I love her regardless of the fact she ignores me most of the time, unless she wants something. Kind of reminds me of my teenagers..MOL.
Minuit AKA Miss Meany
answered on 6/25/09.
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