Confused about aggression when purring
Confused about aggression when purring
I have a rescued cat. A female. She is about 4 or 5 years old. Not much about background history. I was told she can bite and likes a quiet house. Indoor cat. She's been with me just over a week now. I know it's a short time. However, I am puzzled about her behaviour. She never sits on my lap, which is fine. At times, usually after eating, she would turn on her back on the floor and call me. If I put my hand near her she would head batt me as if wanting me to stroke her etc but when I did, she suddenly grabs my hand with her paws and scratches them and also bites. It is not just play, she really made my hand bleed badly twice, so now I ignore her, which is a shame as she would call me during such times. She also likes to curl up next to me in bed at night but again, when she turns and twists as if wanting me to stroke her, the would then bite me etc. Is this normal? I had cats before and, although they can play and get out of hand at times, they never hurt me in this manner.
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Lilith
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Re: Confused about aggression when purring
Hi SuperSu and welcome 
I have one like this and when she's in THAT mood, I'll talk to her, praise her - but I won't touch her. If she allows petting and then scratches and bites, I say 'no', quietly, or hiss or scold in a scandalised whisper, and withdraw my hand slowly but firmly and ignore her for a couple of minutes. After that, or if she comes back to love and purr meanwhile, I'll tell her what a good girl she is, and bygones are bygones. I've also realised that there are times she just doesn't want to be touched, which is hard because she's so gorgeous and strokable, but it irritates her; she bites or moves away, so I don't touch her then; I talk to her, tell her she's a good girl and how lovely she is, but I don't try to stroke her unless she comes to me or I know I can get away with it, like stroking her back and tail when she's begging for food.
In actual fact we do make contact a lot, because she's very affectionate (when SHE permits) and if she sees me fussing another cat she watches jealously - and then comes to me for HER turn.
I really don't know why some cats are like this; often it's said that they haven't had enough socialisation with mother and littermates, or have been played too roughly with...like your girl I haven't any info on my Molly's background; she came to me as an adolescent from a family who were at their wits' end with her; she's hyper as well, though she's a BIT calmer these days. And we're still learning after nearly 5 years.
They're all different but you may find that there are certain perches or beds where it's inadvisable to approach them, or parts they dislike being touched - many cats, while inviting you to stroke their stomach, will rip hell out of you if you do. Molly is also head-shy; I'm greatly honoured if she lets me stroke her ears, or gives me, highest honour, a nose-rub on my hand. She gets a LOT of praise for that.
So, it's a bit of a faff when you just want to settle down with a cuddlebunny on your lap, or the cat's lulling you into a false sense of security with a view to carving your hand up (makes me wonder if your girl's been roughnecked with in the past and never learned to inhibit clawing or biting) but careful teaching that this isn't acceptable behaviour, backed up with lots of praise and encouragement, has worked for Molly and me.
Last night she was fast asleep on the bed - and I stroked her STOMACH!
Hope this helps for now; hopefully there will be other people along with more advice, and all the very best with your girl and of course it's early days, but not so early that she needn't start learning, bad lass. Give her a fuss from me - when it's safe!
I have one like this and when she's in THAT mood, I'll talk to her, praise her - but I won't touch her. If she allows petting and then scratches and bites, I say 'no', quietly, or hiss or scold in a scandalised whisper, and withdraw my hand slowly but firmly and ignore her for a couple of minutes. After that, or if she comes back to love and purr meanwhile, I'll tell her what a good girl she is, and bygones are bygones. I've also realised that there are times she just doesn't want to be touched, which is hard because she's so gorgeous and strokable, but it irritates her; she bites or moves away, so I don't touch her then; I talk to her, tell her she's a good girl and how lovely she is, but I don't try to stroke her unless she comes to me or I know I can get away with it, like stroking her back and tail when she's begging for food.
In actual fact we do make contact a lot, because she's very affectionate (when SHE permits) and if she sees me fussing another cat she watches jealously - and then comes to me for HER turn.
I really don't know why some cats are like this; often it's said that they haven't had enough socialisation with mother and littermates, or have been played too roughly with...like your girl I haven't any info on my Molly's background; she came to me as an adolescent from a family who were at their wits' end with her; she's hyper as well, though she's a BIT calmer these days. And we're still learning after nearly 5 years.
They're all different but you may find that there are certain perches or beds where it's inadvisable to approach them, or parts they dislike being touched - many cats, while inviting you to stroke their stomach, will rip hell out of you if you do. Molly is also head-shy; I'm greatly honoured if she lets me stroke her ears, or gives me, highest honour, a nose-rub on my hand. She gets a LOT of praise for that.
So, it's a bit of a faff when you just want to settle down with a cuddlebunny on your lap, or the cat's lulling you into a false sense of security with a view to carving your hand up (makes me wonder if your girl's been roughnecked with in the past and never learned to inhibit clawing or biting) but careful teaching that this isn't acceptable behaviour, backed up with lots of praise and encouragement, has worked for Molly and me.
Last night she was fast asleep on the bed - and I stroked her STOMACH!
Hope this helps for now; hopefully there will be other people along with more advice, and all the very best with your girl and of course it's early days, but not so early that she needn't start learning, bad lass. Give her a fuss from me - when it's safe!