Help my kitten is terrorizing me!

**Joolz** · 29th March 2011, 11:20 PM

Well not really! He has however, developed a horrible habit which I am having problems discouraging. Noah has always been the rougher of the two. Tends to have his claws out and play bites - all of which we have been disapproving of. However he has started to leap at my back, aiming for my shoulder or if I am bent over clearing cat trays or some such actually landing on my back. This is all done with claws out, so you can imagine the pain as he scrabbles to hold on or climb further up my back - ouch! I'm recognizing the glint in his eye when he's preparing to jump, and can stop him in his tracks - but I can't always forestall
him and its very difficult to find an appropriate aversion technique. It was sort of amusing at first but my back is now covered in scratches, so the humor is rapidly fading!

**Halcyon** · 30th March 2011, 06:49 AM

I have mixed feelings about "jumpers" and "horseback riders".
It brings memories about my beloved cat who used to do it after I trained her (she did not keep her claws out, and did it very gracefully) and I enjoyed giving her a ride while she was sitting on my shoulder like a hawk. Then my frail and ill mom moved in with us and cat did the same thing to her. My mom was very angry at my cat because she could easily bring her down to the floor with her weight . By then it was impossible to stop that habit, and my mom had to always watch her back. Many years passed ; my mother died at age 78, and my cat died at age 18.
I now have nostalgia for those jumps and rides, but my new cats don't want to jump on my back even with encouragement.
Enjoy your scratches...

**jckkerrison** · 30th March 2011, 10:20 AM

Like Halycon's RIP I have one who likes to have a piggy back ride but luckily although he is nearly 10kg he doesn't put his claws out,never has,I very often end up doing the housework looking like Ive got a hunched back ,he started off by jumping onto the OH when he cleaned the trays & it progressed from there but his brother is another story,no finesse,everything he does is at full pelt & when he saw bruv having fun wanted to join in & he did use claws,luckily I never had the pleasure but I would go with hubby when he emptied the trays & when he jumped on all claws out hubby would say a firm no & I would quickly lift him off also with a no after several times by just saying no as he looked like he was going to jump,plus having my water spray bottle {which I have always had success with if just no's don't work}at the ready he soon gave up on the idea all together,whenever he stopped of his own accord when no was said he was then told he was a good boy & he had lone special playtime with a favourite toy which made the no go area much more agreeable to him,now he never bothers & we just have the one freeloader....!

**Joolz** · 30th March 2011, 01:09 PM

I wouldn't mind at all if Noah didn't use claws, and he is just so fast - this morning he actually ran full pelt down the hallway and leapt at me whilst I was shutting the front door. He seems to be aiming for my shoulder and not quite getting there until he has scrabbled up using his claws. Out of the two he is the snuggly mummy's boy, so I would enjoy walking around with a parrot/kitty on my shoulder if it wasn't for those oh so painful claws. I'm trying the firm no, but its quite difficult to dislodge him without even more clawing. I'm pleased to know that this trait isn't so unusual and its not just that I have a psyco cat!

**Howlinbob** · 30th March 2011, 07:32 PM

Hi Joolz, both of ours did this when they were little. Larry would climb up your leg as if it was a convenient tree trunk (ouch!), and Monty would take a flying leap and land as high up your body as possible, a bit like Noah! It was hilarious but sometimes painful, so we tried not to laugh too much and said NO a lot, and faked excrutiating pain 'OWWWWW that HUUUUURT!' And they grew out of it.

But they still love to jump on my back any time I am bending down - usually to see to their food in the kitchen. Then they sit down and get comfy - just to wind me up, I'm sure. OH is no help as he just laughs and gets the camera out. Cue 5 minutes stumbling about bent double trying to tip them off!

**pralinehalo** · 30th March 2011, 09:11 PM

Hi Joolz,

Rasputin started doing that (and succeeded a few times) and I concur; it really hurts! The only way I've found to discourage him is a pained 'owch' and then a firm 'no' and his removal from the room for 10 mins or so. He hates not having attention and it's the only thing I've found with him that seems to work (without resorting to covering myself in cat deterrent!)

Hope that helps...