Cat Biting/Clawing when I try to pet her?

Question

I just adopted my 5 year old girl cat. She has been spade, and has no health problems. She will hop up on my bed, or just moan at me for something, so I go to pick her up, and she claws at my hand whenever I pet her, she also trys to bite, she has been at my house for 3 days, and is now roaming about the house without getting scared. I really need help because Its making me regret my choice.

Answer 1

You've had her 3 days.  She's in a place she doesn't know with people she doesn't know and she is trying to get it all worked out.  She doesn't yet know if you are friendly - she's confused and disoriented.  Let her roam about and get used to her surroundings.  When she wants attention, let her sniff your hands and stroke her where she is - don't try to pick her up.  3 days is really early days; my last adoptee didn't come out from behind a chair for almost 2 weeks - it takes time to settle in, don't hurry things.

Cats bite and scratch that when you give them attention at times when they don't want it. You have to let them build up the bond with you on her own terms. Not all cats enjoy being held or cuddling and maybe she's one of those.  Most likely she'll be fine once she's settled, but this will take a lot more than 3 days.

There is also a behaviour called "petting anxiety" or "petting and biting Syndrome" where you're stroking your cat and it seems to be enjoying the attention, but suddenly it turns round and attacks with teeth and/or claws. Sometimes this is a play behaviour, but often it's anxiety.

When a cat is being cuddled or is on your lap being stroked it starts off feeling relaxed and trusting, like a kitten being snuggled by the mother cat. Then the cat realises that it isn't a kitten and that it is being handled by a much larger predator (which is what we are) and it feels vulnerable. The cat has conflicting feelings of security and fear so it lashes out to make you let go. This becomes a habit. If you try to force attention on it, the cat becomes more fearful and more likely

to want to escape.

Accepting being stroked and fussed by humans is something cats need to learn. Some cats are naturally wary and never learn to enjoy it. Younger cats are more excitable and need time to calm down. If the cat wasn't properly socialised between 5 and 11 weeks it finds human attention threatening and you need to build up its trust before you can pick it up.

First of all, you have to learn to read your cat's body language so that you can stop petting it as soon as it shows signs of unease. That way you can build up its tolerance of being handled. Sit quietly and calmly with the cat and keep petting sessions short - always stop when you see early warning signs and before the cat reacts by biting/scratching. Common warning signs are tail twitching, ears being flattened backwards, dilated pupils, sudden tensing of the body and pulling away from you. As soon as you see signs of reaction, stop petting. If possible, reward the cat with food (keep a packet of treats nearby) and talk gently to it to reward it for being held that long. All going well, it will learn to accept longer and longer stroking sessions over time. Never punish it for reacting in a defensive way as this reinforces its view that you are a threat.

Answer 2

Throw her outside and get a kitten you can raise and train from scratch.

Answer 3

give her some time. give her space. let her roam the house as she pleases to get comfortable with her new surroundings. She has been alive for 5 years yet has never been in your house and has no clue who you are. she will come around eventually. move slow with her. if she gets nervous or freaked out you can try a feliway plug-in which releases cat hormones that stimulate her happy glands. she will be much more calm.

Answer 4

probably a little scared

Answer 5

its only been three days. let her get used to her home and she will come to you. she will see that you are the one giving her food and water and let her sleep without bothering her. give her some more time to see the services you provide her and she will become as affectionate as you could hope for:)

Answer 6

Give her more time to calm down and get used to her new home. She might not be used to petting and being held. Give her at least a month to settle in before deciding that she's hopeless.