Biting

[Skiddaw]

Our Munchkin does something very simillar though thankfully, not being the most agile of cats, he can't leap quite as high as yours. He's 7 (approximately) so I fear they don't always grow out of it. He was an unneutered stray for some years before he came to us and I think in his case, he's just going through his kitten stage a bit late. I have to say I agree with some of the other posters- other than learning to have eyes in the back of your head and learning to read the signals, there's little else (other than full body armour) you can do about it. It might be painful but I have to say it makes me laugh too!

[Den]

I see it as annoying brat syndrome.

Whilst I don't have Rajah to say for sure I do have my baby boy here. Both he and Rajah sound the same behaviour wise. The first time it happened here I had no idea because it did seem and feel like a full on aggressive attack. Something I didn't think cats did. The first thing I thought of is it is just like the annoying, bratty puppy stage [I'm very dog minded, not cat]. Anyway, after some observations I came to the conclusion that the cues are just the same. Same age too. Now I'm just convinced all animals go through the teenage stage.

They can have all the stimulation and attention in the world and they will still do it. So it comes down to figuring out when they are going to do it and to stop them before they get the chance. I would go for gentle interactive play to calm them, rather than hunting games which will increase the adrenaline .. as then they stop thinking and anything goes.

No expert, just my opinion based on my own cat .. who is neither bored, seeking attention or lacking stimulation, yet he still did it. Although, not any more 

[Janeyk]

It sounds like an attention thing to me too, I'd probably tackle this by not reacting to the behaviour or just walking away and rewarding good behaviour - I know this isn't easy when he's suddenly attacking and easier said than done (I saw a similar scenario on tv once and it took a fair bit of working with) I'd also say lots of stimulation is needed  .

[Fire Fox]

Is he perhaps bored or attention seeking?  I would say some cats take to an indoor lifestyle better than others, some need more solo play and interactive toys than others. Could Rajah go out, could you cat-proof your garden, could he have a playmate? Have you channelled the hunting instincts into toys such as Da Bird, Da Mousey, Original Dragonfly, Turbo Track, and a raw chicken wing or two? There are some great ideas on how to make your own feeding and intelligence toys on the net too - I am squirreling toilet roll tubes and egg boxes at present!

[nutzy]

good ideas!   

[Den]

Had the random attacks too ... the two times I was crawling into bed. He's always wide awake at this time and this is when he has his mad 5 minutes.

Definitely no smacking tho!! Rajah probably thinks he's playing and you smacking him will be him thinking you are playing too and he'll just come back 10 times harder. And if you chase him, it just becomes a fun game for him. Plus its not nice.

What I would try to do is eliminate hiding places .. so close doors or leave them wide open so he can't hide behind them. Hang coats up so he can't go under them. No boxes etc etc When you have no places for him to hide work out if there is a pattern .. so is it around the same time, after waking up, eating etc. Then if there is a pattern get there first .. so initiate some interactive play. Keep some toys or treats in your pocket so if you witness him ready to attack you can fling a treat or toy.

Then hope they grow out of it.

I've definitely used a combination of the above and haven't been attacked for ages!! My dog on the other hand  ... but we are working on that.

[nutzy]

Yes, I get the wild cat look,  together with the waggling bum, but often it's just random attacks from doorways and other hiding places that catch me unawares.  Re-direction works a charm when you know when the attack is coming. And I have to be honest and say that I have resorted to giving him a sharp smack on his rear when I can, but he is like greased lightening and is normally gone by the time I have reacted - which is probably a good thing for him.  If I can spot him and put him off his stride by saying "no", the attack is aborted, but 9 times out of 10, I am pootling along innocently, humming inanely to myself, when he tackles me.

Sadly, i have no insurance (speak to hubby    ) so a behaviourist is out of the question at the minute.

[Den]

Ahhh I sympathise 

Went through this not too long ago with my boy. I ended up with lovely puncture wounds up and down my leg, as well as him hanging from my head.

I put it down to his age - he turned 2 early this year.

If you watch Rajah does he by any chance sit there and look at you with his ears back and just looking like he's up to no good? I found that when you get 'that look' if you take action to re-direct the behaviour on to a toy it stops the 'attack'. To begin with I did think he was being aggressive and attacking, but he does the same thing to my dog so I've come to the conclusion it is rough play.

All I can say is re-direction works wonders here ... if I say 'no' mine does the total opposite and launches himself at me, but a toy thrown away from me makes him forget what he was going to do.

[Dawn F]

do you have insurance, it might cover a behaviourist

[nutzy]

Rajah is now 8 months and up to more mischief!  He is an indoor cat and doesn't get out at all and since he was neutered a month ago, the naughtiness has increased more than ever, and although we love him to bits, it can get a bit tiresome. 

The latest thing is that he hides and then leaps out, arms outstretched and attaches himself to whatever part of my (and my daughter's) body he hits, and not only do the claws sink in but the fangs too.  He not just bites mind, but bites and twists.  It's very painful, leaves a mark if not blood and to my little mind, seems a bit aggressive.  When I see him in attack mode I say "no!" and point sternly at him as I get closer, which often deters him, but often the attack is launched from doorways, from under coats hanging in the hall, and from behind curtains, where he lurks, unseen.

I can also be minding my own business, for example, at lunchtime today I was going through a drawer in my room when he threw himself at me, attaching himself to the back of my thighs and hips and biting my back.  The other day, he jumped up my back and bit my head, and then on another occassion, got me at waist level.  I can't remember any of my other cats doing this.  They maybe attacked feet as they passed, but did not ever try and take on the whole body.  He has also jumped at my daughter's face, which is disconcerting.  He doesn't try any of this with hubby at all!!!  Is he trying to show dominance, or is he trying to kill me and take over the household?

Not sure how to deal with this.  We try and deter him from going places where he shouldn't by spraying him with water, but he quite enjoys this, which kind of defeats the whole object.