Cat behaviour help
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Steaks (#5484)
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I can't believe I'm the person asking for help with cats hahaa. Anyways, okay.
Red has always had this strange habit of sucking on Timmy's ears. I know for some cats it's because they were removed from their mother too young or.. whatever (I got my two males from a show cat breeder so I trust they weren't removed too young) and instead of sucking on a blanket or wool like most cats who have this issue, he sucks on Tim's ears when they snuggle (Tim doesn't care) or... he's taken to sucking on Minky's ears. Minky absolutely HATES this. She screams and squeals and it's enough to make you run in the room to see if one of them has their paw stuck or something.. nope, it's just Red latched on the side of her head, sucking her ear while she squeals and digs her claws into his face.
When I catch him doing this, I scruff him and yell "NO" to hopefully get him to stop.. no luck, he continues. It actually takes me sticking my fingers in his mouth and prying his mouth open to get him to stop sucking her ears.
I sprayed bitter apple spray on her ears but the sound of the spray scared her and she bolted off my arm. Then I wiped the spray on her ears and Red just waited 'til it was dry before continuing again.
I will try and get a video of it when it happens the next time it does. Until then.. what do you guys think I can do? Should I spray him with water when he does it? I don't want to risk spraying her :/
Hmm maybe I should just buy him a baby pacifier ahhaah
Red has always had this strange habit of sucking on Timmy's ears. I know for some cats it's because they were removed from their mother too young or.. whatever (I got my two males from a show cat breeder so I trust they weren't removed too young) and instead of sucking on a blanket or wool like most cats who have this issue, he sucks on Tim's ears when they snuggle (Tim doesn't care) or... he's taken to sucking on Minky's ears. Minky absolutely HATES this. She screams and squeals and it's enough to make you run in the room to see if one of them has their paw stuck or something.. nope, it's just Red latched on the side of her head, sucking her ear while she squeals and digs her claws into his face.
When I catch him doing this, I scruff him and yell "NO" to hopefully get him to stop.. no luck, he continues. It actually takes me sticking my fingers in his mouth and prying his mouth open to get him to stop sucking her ears.
I sprayed bitter apple spray on her ears but the sound of the spray scared her and she bolted off my arm. Then I wiped the spray on her ears and Red just waited 'til it was dry before continuing again.
I will try and get a video of it when it happens the next time it does. Until then.. what do you guys think I can do? Should I spray him with water when he does it? I don't want to risk spraying her :/
Hmm maybe I should just buy him a baby pacifier ahhaah
Steaks (#5484)
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03-27-2012 at 7:41 AM
Oh definitely, I wouldn't doubt that for a second. I know animals can get all sorts of things like that
Tiger (#42)
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03-27-2012 at 7:40 AM
I strongly believe cats are Autistic in a way. And anyone I've made that analogy to that also has autistic children, after a moments thought, agreed with me xD
Steaks (#5484)
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03-23-2012 at 12:24 PM
Oh jeez that sounds horrible :( Cats are so very strange.. maybe it's an OCD thing?<br /> <br /> I will look into this bitter orange thing, thanks! :)
Tiger (#42)
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03-23-2012 at 8:24 AM
I've never been able to "cure" a cat of suckling, my cat and her sister when they were little, her sister would suckle on her girly parts.....right next to my pillow as i slept, as they grew up they stopped this though, and then I was taking care of a litter of 3 kittens for a friend and while they were with me I discovered the 2 brothers suckling on one of their brother's boy parts.....poor guy was soo sore and inflamed my friend had to keep them separated when not supervised until they healed up.<br /> <br /> I've found bitter orange works better than bitter apple. Other than a flavor deterrent or just separating them when you catch him doing it to either of them I can't think of any other ways to help (besides drug therapy which i wouldn't even suggest for a suckler, its unnecessary). <br /> <br /> http://www.amazon.com/Bitter-Orange-Cream-Dogs-oz/dp/B0018SA86O<br /><br /> http://www.amazon.com/Yuk-2e-Anti-Lick-0-5oz-Tube/dp/B00076NTEG/ref=wl_mb_hu_m_1_dp <br /> <br /> <br /> Not all cats is it a separated from mom to early thing. Its something they realized comforts them, releases feel good hormones in their brain, so it's kinda an addiction like a drug addict....but unlike humans you can't reason with them on why they need to stop.<br /> <br /> My male cat, when hes off his meds (on meds for another reason completely) will lay on my chest, kneed the pillow with each paw on either side of my neck with his face shoved under my chin, and there's no convincing him other wise, he gets this glazed look on his face and is like in a trance. On his meds he might lay next to me or on me and kneed a little but is easily distracted by something else or deterred if I'm trying to sleep and push him away.
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2012-03-25 08:44:27 by #42
2012-03-23 05:34:39 by #42
Steaks (#5484)
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03-20-2012 at 11:05 PM
Hmmm I don't know, he's never ever done it to anything other than my real cat's ears. He doesn't suck on blankets or dolls<br /> <br /> I just read this on a website. I don't know how true it is:<br /> <br /> <i>Genetics (Breed)<br /> Oriental breeds, such has the Siamese, have been pinpointed as more likely to suck wool and other soft fabrics. It is unknown at this point how actual genetics are involved, except for the fact that Siamese, as a rule, require more time before weaning than other breeds of cats.</i><br /> <br /> My cats are Orientals
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2012-03-20 20:11:41 by #5484
Talon (#22560)
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03-20-2012 at 11:02 PM
Well, my cat had this problem before, it might not stop your cat from doing it, but we just got a doll of a cat and put some bitter spray on it's ears and put some stuff on our actual cats when he came by and eventually he always thought there was the stuff on cats ears and now he doesn't do that anymore. :) (you have to do it frequently so he'll have it stuck in his head.) It might not work for your cat though. Sorry if it doesn't cause he might not be fooled by the fake cat like mine was.