Thread: Is this normal MC behaviour?

Originally Posted by FlorayG

He has a habit of often tipping over when I go to touch him and grabbing my arm, biting and rabbit kicking.

Yes it is typical behavior for some MCs and cats in general I believe. I would suggest that you indeed do try to stop it if he starts, but immediately try to engage him in some other form of play. None of our current MCs do it with us (though they will do it with each other), but a MC mix we had used to do it frequently. I would let him because I enjoyed fairly aggressive play with him (even though I ended up scratched) but he quickly learned not to do it with my wife. You can also clip his nails and then there is less chance of being hurt. There are also toys made specifically for this sort of behavior, though they are not really big enough for male MCs. One of the larger (that we have) is the Kong Kickeroo: Kong Company CKO05550 Kickeroo Cat Toy Giraffe

Originally Posted by FlorayG

hi I'm new here and live with 3 moggies and Prince Robin who is a 2 yo MC
He has a habit of often tipping over when I go to touch him and grabbing my arm, biting and rabbit kicking.

MC Elvis plays the same way...

It's just play.

Even though he puts teeth on skin it's simple to tell that he's playing and not serious about biting.
If he wanted to do any actual damage, he easily could.

He seems to easily become overstimulated and he gets carried away, more so than other cats I've been around...

Edmund does this very thing a LOT. I don't mind it really (although I get lots of "non-bleeding scratches"), but I am slightly worried that if I play along it will make him more prone to playing like that with visitors...

Originally Posted by kingedmund

Edmund does this very thing a LOT. I don't mind it really (although I get lots of "non-bleeding scratches"), but I am slightly worried that if I play along it will make him more prone to playing like that with visitors...

You are quite right, if he thinks it's OK to play like that with you, he may well do the same with visitors. Even the cat-friendly visitor could find it quite alarming. I discourage it by saying in a stern voice, 'hey, be nice' and they soon stop or let go.

Hi FloraG, welcome to you and Prince Robin.

Freyja used to do this a lot with Freddie the Fairy (no idea how he kept his antenna and legs, frankly) and occasionally would get carried away and do the same with my hand. Like you, I knew she wasn't serious because I'd seen the way Freddie gets it, and if she'd done the same to me my arm would have looked like a stunt prop from Saw. However, I was also worried that she might do it to visitors so would gently hold her back feet and say 'no kicking' as firmly as I could. That would usually deter her and she'd calm down. If she didn't, I would pretend she'd really hurt me, shout ouch and storm away from her. I then wouldn't talk to or look at her for quite some time to prove just how much she'd hurt me. Now it hardly ever happens.

Wicca only does it to poor old Freyja, but again, not seriously otherwise Freyja's magnificent ear tips would have gone missing.

Personally, I quite like a bit of aggressive play with them both but it's teaching where to draw the line that's difficult.

I have to admit I don't like the "biting"part of play,we have rough & tumbles & the back legs come up & thump but biting is a no no,we have only ever had the one that has play bitten & marked & she is the one that occasionally forgets herself,she gets away with it if it is hubby but if I am on the wrong end she goes & puts herself in her bedroom because that is where she was given time out when we were struggling to teach her "No"& she obviously still remembers,luckily doesn't happen very often now...Babes learnt by saying no & giving them a toy to bite on,with them you have to put up with being licked by a very rough tounge but I know which I prefer !

Hi FlorayG, it sounds like you have a very boisterous lad there.

As for the biting and kicking, I agree with the others… you ought to firmly draw a line. Tell him off with a loud ‘Hey!’ or ‘No!’ and then ignore him for a bit.
It worked with our Monty who used to be a bit of a roughie. Now he only bites and kicks the twigs, feathery sticks, and other stuff I use to play with him, leaving my hands and arms well alone.
Little Minnie often nips my hands and then licks that spot. She does it ever so gently, so I don’t mind. The other night I woke up while she was clenching my hand between her front paws, nipping and licking.

He only did it when he was a few month old, now he does the same but just for show: no scratches.
Here he is waiting for his full charge.