new here, my cat hates me

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-2003
new here, my cat hates me
6
Wed, 12-29-2004 - 9:23pm

Hi everyone... I think I have a problem with my cat.

My fiancè and I adopted a cute 7 month old male tabby named Mikey from the humane society a month and a half ago. Most of the time he is very good, and loves to cuddle and play. I know that tabbies can be tempermental, but I think this is a problem between me and the cat. I am home more than my fiancè is...I work weekends, he during the week, so I spend more time with the cat. Whenever my cat is naughty, I have to discipline him, which have been a few times, since he is still a kitten. It seems like he associates me with the punishment that he dealt with earlier on. He was so good and never hissed at me frequently until recently. Now, whenever we are alone, he flattens his ears for no reason it seems and even growls and/or hisses at me. When my fiancè is home he is happy and playful. Yesterday I had him on the bed....and he was actually purring with me and kneading me. Once I took him off the bed, and he was pissy at me. He even pooped on my bed!!! I never abuse my cat.... that is so cruel and inhumane but I believe I do discipline him correctly. What is wrong with my cat??? I would hate to take this to the humane society or even take him back. Will he be this way for life or should I just ignore him? Any help is appreciated, thank you.

Avatar for cl_lcni
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Thu, 12-30-2004 - 11:16am

Hi Tigress2921.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 12-30-2004 - 11:27am
First off... how do you "punish" him? This is important! When my baby was little and into everything, I didn't punish her often but when I had to (when she tried to take a nap on the stove, for instance) I used a small spray bottle and would simply spray it in her direction, sometimes it never even touched her, and she would get the point. Or, I've found that blowing very slightly in their face makes them straighten up. NEVER, EVER, EVER hit them! This won't work under ANY circumstances! If this is the punishment that you use, he probably does associate you with that and it is a negative connotation. I doubt that he hates you but if you are hitting him, even lightly, he might be more scared of you than anything.

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." ~Gandhi

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-2003
Thu, 12-30-2004 - 5:31pm
Thank you everyone for your advice! I would never hit my cat, EVER. I use a very light slap on the butt and a "No! Bad!" command. I did not realize that a even a light tap doesn't work with kitties. My fiancè said with a cat he had in the past(and had to give away because his new apartment he was moving into at the time would not accept animals)it worked with his cat. I think I will try blowing in his face lightly or a spray bottle. The only times I had to discipline him was when he attempted to claw my beautiful valance in the living room and my leather jacket. I haven't had to discipline him since except for pooing on my bed. Today he is much better, and I even bought him a new toy...and he seems to respond to that. I think that I will just leave him alone for a few days and if he wants attention, I'll let him come to me. However he LOVES to cuddle when I get him calmed down... so part of him being testy might be handling a little much. Thanks for your help everyone.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-10-2003
Thu, 12-30-2004 - 6:33pm
Hi,
Do you have a scratching post (or two) for your cat? It's important for them to have some place they can scratch. It strengthens their paws and whole upper body. I would try to keep your leather jacket out of sight (in a closet) as cats don't always remember that they're not supposed to do something. They're a bit like young children. But having a nice scratching post should also help.
Cynthia
Avatar for spejf
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-30-2003
Fri, 12-31-2004 - 10:47am

Spray bottles are your best friends!!!!!

Avatar for cl_lcni
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Fri, 12-31-2004 - 11:22am

I'm glad you never hit the cat.


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