Kitten Kindergarten - San Francisco SPCA

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From the San Francisco SPCA Cat Behavior Program of the biting behavior. Do not use any physical punishment to try and correct this behavior! Nose tapping, spanking, or any other type of physical punishment will only make the cat more defensive – leading to more intense reactions and aggression. Don’t hurt your relationship with your cat. Build trust by understanding what your cat is trying to tell you. Keep in mind that behavior modification takes time! Some cats take months or even a year or more to show changes in their behavior. Since the cause for some types of pettinginduced aggression may be genetic, some cats may not respond as well to behavior modification. Realistic expectations are that the biting incidents will occur less frequently, and eventually with less intensity. Initially the incidents may occur less frequently due to the person being more aware of the cat’s signals that he or she is becoming irritated. However, by building trust and decreasing the habit of biting or swatting to stop interaction, you may increase your cat’s overall tolerance levels as well. But keep in mind that most cats will still exhibit this behavior to some degree for their entire lives. Cats exhibiting petting-induced aggression are best for adult only homes, or older children who can learn about reading body language. If you have young children in the home, you may need to monitor their interactions closely or restrict your child’s interactions with the cat until he or she gets older. Try to teach children about the best ways to pet the cat. If you are having trouble learning your cat’s body language, or the aggression seems to be very intense or getting worse, you may want to seek assistance from someone specializing in cat behavior. For more information about cat behavior please visit www.sfspca.org . Petting-Induced Aggression page 5 of 5 updated 05/22/09 \\Sf1-file-1\common\Adoption\Adoption\Forms and Procedures\Adoption Packet Handouts\Cat Adoption Packet\Petting Induced Aggression.doc
From the San Francisco SPCA Cat Behavior Program INTRODUCING A CAT TO A NEW TERRITORY: THE IMPORTANCE OF CONFINEMENT When introducing any cat into a new home, there is one thing all cats need – time to adjust to their new space. You can make the adjustment period shorter by letting your cat get to know his or her new home slowly. Many adopters hesitate to confine their cats, thinking it is “mean”, but the nicest thing you can do for your cat is give him a “safe space” at first. Cats are territorial by nature, and their first priority in any situation is establishing and knowing their territory. Only once they are comfortable in their space can they feel comfortable eating, drinking, resting and eliminating. The safe space should be a small, quiet room (bathrooms, small offices or large walk-in closets are all good candidates) without any hiding spaces such as under the tub or bed, behind a bookshelf, etc. You don’t want to have to pull your cat out of hiding to interact with him – that would be getting your visit off to a very bad start. However, you can provide your cat with an acceptable hiding space by tipping a box on its side and putting a towel inside. Many cats also like cat cozies or tee-pee style beds. The room should be set up with a litter box on one end of the room, and the food, water and bedding as far away from the litter box as possible. The cat should be given some safe toys to play with, and should be given visits while confined to this space. Start off slow when visiting your kitty – don’t do too much petting or interacting until the cat has had some time to settle in. Sit in the room and see if the cat will approach you; if not, offer her your hand to sniff and try some gentle face pets. Give your cat frequent breaks and work up to more handling. Be patient and remember, the more love, the quicker they will adjust! Confinement is especially crucial for shy or fearful cats. Many cats are overwhelmed when they first move into a new place; this is normal behavior. However, for a cat that is fearful by nature, it is even more terrifying to be in an unfamiliar space. Given the free run of the house, a scared cat will often bolt around, looking for a safe place to hide. Many cats injure themselves running into furniture or walls in a panic. They may also hide somewhere unsafe (such as under the stove, inside a reclining chair), and stay in hiding for several days. They may forego eating, or even urinate or defecate in their hiding space. The “safe room” gives them a small space where they feel secure, and will also make them more sociable with you – the less they are worried about their territory, the more interested in YOU they will be! By providing your scared kitty with a cozy or box to hide in, you are making her feel safe in a way that also allows you to pet her while she is hiding (as opposed to trying to crawl under your bed to interact with her). Confinement page 1 of 3 updated 05/21/2009 G:\Adoption\Adoption\Forms and Procedures\Adoption Packet Handouts\Cat Adoption Packet
Page 1 and 2: Kitten Care You’re taking home a
Page 3 and 4: medications, many cleaning solution
Page 5 and 6: as adult cats, and will do amazing
Page 7 and 8: Medical Concerns: Kittens and cats
Page 9 and 10: CAT FEEDING SCHEDULE This is what y
Page 12 and 13: Frequently Asked Medical Questions
Page 14 and 15: From the San Francisco SPCA Cat Beh
Page 22 and 23: WHY CATS BITE AND SCRATCH PEOPLE by
Page 24 and 25: You can emit a very high-pitched

Kitten Kindergarten - San Francisco SPCA

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