Pets

/

Home & Leisure

My Pet World: Elderly mom should be especially careful around cat that bites

By Steve Dale, Tribune Content Agency on

Q: My elderly mother adopted an 11-year-old Siamese cat 7 months ago. After three months, the cat began to bite her. The previous owners claim the cat was never aggressive. Mom tries to play with the cat and give it lots of attention, which didn't happen with the other owners. When Mom was in the hospital, I watched the cat and was also bitten. I'm at a loss about what to do, because who wants a cat that bites? -- C.S., via cyberspace

A: Veterinary behaviorist Dr. Theresa DePorter, of Bloomfield Hills, MI, advises to first have the cat checked by a veterinarian to rule out a possible medical explanation, such as pain or feline hyperesthesia syndrome (cats lose control and have sudden though brief explosions which they may bite; some consider this a dermatological-based problem, while others suggest it's a seizure disorder).

This cat isn't accustomed to play, so maybe Mom is more energetic than you think, over-stimulating the cat by playing too much -- at least too much for this particular cat -- or playing inappropriately using her fingers as toys. (Of course, you indicate that the cat was also aggressive toward you.)

"If your mom can predict when the cat is going to be aggressive, (she should) calmly leave the room and go into a room where the door can be closed," DePorter says.

Perhaps your mom can speak with a veterinary behaviorist, certified cat behavior consultant, or her veterinarian about what specific circumstances seem to prompt the biting to see if there's a pattern to explain the behavior.

Could it be the previous owners simply aren't being truthful about this cat, who perhaps may have a long history of biting?

 

"Cat bites can become infected, and senior citizens with thin skin can be more prone to medical problems as a result of a bite," says DePorter. "Your mom's safety must be a priority."

----

Q: A few months ago, I found a skinny, sweet cat on my deck. Now, Spot comes around for food, and we provide a bed and shelter. Spot never comes inside, though, because Prince, our 9-year-old cat, wouldn't stand for it. As it is, Prince gets very upset when Spot appears; he yells and screams and even becomes aggressive toward us. We would simply move Prince away from the window, but he seems to know when Spot will appear before we do. Any advice? -- V.B., via cyberspace

A: Certified cat and dog behavior consultant Darlene Arden, of Framingham, MA, says, "Cats are creatures of habit. You can keep a diary and see if Spot is appearing consistently at predictable times." However, what's cueing Prince might not be the time of day, but instead soft meows and/or the smell of the interloper, even though Spot is outdoors.

...continued

swipe to next page

(c) 2014 DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.

 

 

Comics

John Deering Taylor Jones John Darkow Joey Weatherford Lisa Benson Peanuts