The Cat Bible Q&A
Tracie welcomes any and all questions about cats AND dogs on both her live radio shows. Call in to DOG TALK on Saturdays from 11-Noon (EST) to 800-394-8830 or Wednesdays 8-9 PM (EST) to CAT CHAT 866-675-6675. (You don't need to have Sirius to call in!)
Spoiled Cat Attacks Ankles
I have a two year old male cat, Tasselhoff, who is very very spoiled. When he wants attention he bites my legs or toes. He doesn't do it hard, but it is driving me crazy. He has started doing this while I'm asleep when he thinks he needs food. Do you have any suggestions for stopping this behavior? I've attached a picture of him. Thank you for your time.
Heather D.
Dear Heather,
Forgive me for taking so long to write - I've been swamped.
Oh what a cutie your Tasslhoff is! Wise of you to send a photo, it really makes it hard to be cross at him!
But yes, you're right, you've "trained" him to pay attention when he wants it.
My new book The Cat Bible has a number of suggestions of ways to deal with demanding young gents like him, but a couple of tips would be to get some fur mousies and rubber balls and keep a pouch or baggie of them. You can toss them for Tasselhoff to chase when you sense he is going to go after you.
You should also plan on tiring him out every evening as close to your bedtime as possible with a 5 minute play session. The Cat Bible has lots of suggestions on ways to do this effectively - a tired cat is a mellow cat! - and then give him a good meal right before sleep (wet food in a can, of course, never dry food, which you probably know by now if you've been listening to Cat Chat®).
Good luck to you!
Tracie Hotchner
The information contained in the answers posted on this board comes from THE CAT BIBLE: Everything Your Cat Expects You To Know, and from CAT CHAT™ The Radio Show, broadcasting live on Martha Stewart Living Radio, Channel 112 on Sirius Satellite Radio, every Wednesday from 8-9 p.m. EST.
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DISCLAIMER: Please be aware that the advice I give on the air or in emails – or those you see posted here – are not intended to take the place of a veterinarian's advice or expertise. I say this to protect myself from being misunderstood or from your over-reliance on my advice in situations where your pet may be seriously ill and you would mistakenly delay seeking medical intervention. While I am confident in the research-based facts and common-sense advice I can offer, it is never meant to be used at the exclusion of trained, accredited and board certified professionals. But I also have this disclaimer to protect your dog – because what you learn from me is not intended to take the place of medical care or professional evaluation – on the contrary, my desire is to equip you with information that will allow you to enjoy your pets to the fullest, and also to encourage you to seek professional medical attention whenever there are physical symptoms or an overall change in your pet's attitude.
Tracie welcomes any and all questions about cats AND dogs on both her live radio shows. Call in to DOG TALK on Saturdays from 11-Noon (EST) to 800-394-8830 or Wednesdays 8-9 PM (EST) to CAT CHAT 866-675-6675. (You don't need to have Sirius to call in!)
