Aa
Spunky
I had him declawed, but now he uses his teeth on everything, What can I do?
He also wakes me up at 4 am and wants to snuggle, lick my face, and sometimes play. What can I do? Solution.. keep him out of the bedroom?
Also, he has very stinky breath, and I would like to sweeten his breath without harming him. What can I do?
We would like to travel 1500 miles in January, what can I do to keep him quiet in his pet carrier for such a long time? Thanks to all who respond.
He also wakes me up at 4 am and wants to snuggle, lick my face, and sometimes play. What can I do? Solution.. keep him out of the bedroom?
Also, he has very stinky breath, and I would like to sweeten his breath without harming him. What can I do?
We would like to travel 1500 miles in January, what can I do to keep him quiet in his pet carrier for such a long time? Thanks to all who respond.
There are many different ways to positively discipline certain types of behavior problems, without causing distress or negative results and emotions in your kitty's life.
I have 2 terrible biters that still have their claws. They were born biters. One of them who is 18 years old now, is the meanest cat I have ever met. We just know to never touch him unless he wants to be touched. The other can be very sweet, but attacks whenever she feels the urge. She also hates peanut butter, so when I would see her coming at me with that look in her eyes, I put a tiny dab a PB on my finger and let her bite it. She quickly caught on that biting human flesh resulted in terrible taste in her mouth that she hated, and she did not see me as the 'bad guy punisher', she saw me as nasty tasting, lol. It only took a couple of times and she quit biting without being scared to come near me for fear of a negative punishment
.
And then there is Coal, who is just 10 months and bites because he is still a very playfull kitten. He is the most affectionate sweet kitten and is not biting out of aggression like the other two. He just wants my attention because he is borded and knows biting is a way to get it (because that's what kittens do). . He is not being naughty, he's just being a kitten, so a negative punishment for that type of behavior would only make him fear me and give him the wrong message. (Imagine getting a negative response every time you wanted your Mother's love and attention as a child when all you wanted to do is play with her.....it would be heartbreaking to say the least....even for a kitten) Instead, I distract him from biting me by directing his attention to a stimulating activity, such as a laser light or his ball runner. 5-10 minutes of play time chasing lights or balls and Coal is tired and his need for my attention is satisfied in a positive way and he has forgotten wanting to bite (for awhile, lol). If he still continues to bite me after that, I put him in my bedroom for a short time-out or a nap because he usually falls asleep then with the older cats in my bed. Discipline for wanting "their person's " attention is confusing to them....because why would you want a pet if you dont want to give it your attention in the first place.
But, there is also a time and need to discipline Coal to let him know he is being naughty and he needs to stop. Examples for this.....when he relentlessly jumps up on the bird cage and hangs on it while trying to 'get' them for a snack,. Or, when he wont stop ripping the tiolet paper off the roller into tiny pieces all over the floor, lol. When they are behaving badly with an object such as those or ect.,, and they know it is wrong, discipline with something like a spray bottle is necessary in those situations to send them the right message.
As for the waking you up in the middle of the night...if you dont want that, shut your door. I personally cant sleep without one of my cats purring by my side...or laying on my legs or my pillow, lol! To me that's quality time spent with my babies because I am too busy during the day to lay down and snuggle with them.
And Yes there are times when I'm trying to work or sleep and my cats are really annoying me and I just want to push them away....but I quickly remind myself that my 'annoying' little kitties only have a short time on this earth, and they will be gone from my life way too soon and I would give anything for just one more moment with them.
As for declawing....my 4 inside cats are declawed, I had no choice if I wanted them inside where they would always be safe from harm or untimely deaths. They have always been inside cats, "with their claws", and have never been allowed outside in their lives. But, this past summer our house was destroyed by the floods here in Iowa. We lost everything, including all of our household items and furniture and were forced to move. We now have a new house and new furniture and my husband (who pays for everything) laid down law knowing the damage they would most certainly cause after living with shredded furniture for 20 years. If I could not agree to his new rules, my babies would be forced to live outside in danger and that was not an option for me.
They have never shown any negative side effects from declawing. Their ages range from 10 yrs to 10 months and all are exactly the same in behavior and attitudes as they were before. Honestly they never knew what happened , and didnt notice their claws were gone and still havent. But I am fortunate to be able to have had one of the best vets in the nation who made sure they were done perfectly.
So, I'm not for declawing, but I'm not against it like I always have been either. I realize now that when put in a position where your not given a choice, and to keep your cats you do what ever it takes. They have the best of everything and are loved more than life itself and always will be. That is most important to me now.
I have 2 terrible biters that still have their claws. They were born biters. One of them who is 18 years old now, is the meanest cat I have ever met. We just know to never touch him unless he wants to be touched. The other can be very sweet, but attacks whenever she feels the urge. She also hates peanut butter, so when I would see her coming at me with that look in her eyes, I put a tiny dab a PB on my finger and let her bite it. She quickly caught on that biting human flesh resulted in terrible taste in her mouth that she hated, and she did not see me as the 'bad guy punisher', she saw me as nasty tasting, lol. It only took a couple of times and she quit biting without being scared to come near me for fear of a negative punishment
.
And then there is Coal, who is just 10 months and bites because he is still a very playfull kitten. He is the most affectionate sweet kitten and is not biting out of aggression like the other two. He just wants my attention because he is borded and knows biting is a way to get it (because that's what kittens do). . He is not being naughty, he's just being a kitten, so a negative punishment for that type of behavior would only make him fear me and give him the wrong message. (Imagine getting a negative response every time you wanted your Mother's love and attention as a child when all you wanted to do is play with her.....it would be heartbreaking to say the least....even for a kitten) Instead, I distract him from biting me by directing his attention to a stimulating activity, such as a laser light or his ball runner. 5-10 minutes of play time chasing lights or balls and Coal is tired and his need for my attention is satisfied in a positive way and he has forgotten wanting to bite (for awhile, lol). If he still continues to bite me after that, I put him in my bedroom for a short time-out or a nap because he usually falls asleep then with the older cats in my bed. Discipline for wanting "their person's " attention is confusing to them....because why would you want a pet if you dont want to give it your attention in the first place.
But, there is also a time and need to discipline Coal to let him know he is being naughty and he needs to stop. Examples for this.....when he relentlessly jumps up on the bird cage and hangs on it while trying to 'get' them for a snack,. Or, when he wont stop ripping the tiolet paper off the roller into tiny pieces all over the floor, lol. When they are behaving badly with an object such as those or ect.,, and they know it is wrong, discipline with something like a spray bottle is necessary in those situations to send them the right message.
As for the waking you up in the middle of the night...if you dont want that, shut your door. I personally cant sleep without one of my cats purring by my side...or laying on my legs or my pillow, lol! To me that's quality time spent with my babies because I am too busy during the day to lay down and snuggle with them.
And Yes there are times when I'm trying to work or sleep and my cats are really annoying me and I just want to push them away....but I quickly remind myself that my 'annoying' little kitties only have a short time on this earth, and they will be gone from my life way too soon and I would give anything for just one more moment with them.
As for declawing....my 4 inside cats are declawed, I had no choice if I wanted them inside where they would always be safe from harm or untimely deaths. They have always been inside cats, "with their claws", and have never been allowed outside in their lives. But, this past summer our house was destroyed by the floods here in Iowa. We lost everything, including all of our household items and furniture and were forced to move. We now have a new house and new furniture and my husband (who pays for everything) laid down law knowing the damage they would most certainly cause after living with shredded furniture for 20 years. If I could not agree to his new rules, my babies would be forced to live outside in danger and that was not an option for me.
They have never shown any negative side effects from declawing. Their ages range from 10 yrs to 10 months and all are exactly the same in behavior and attitudes as they were before. Honestly they never knew what happened , and didnt notice their claws were gone and still havent. But I am fortunate to be able to have had one of the best vets in the nation who made sure they were done perfectly.
So, I'm not for declawing, but I'm not against it like I always have been either. I realize now that when put in a position where your not given a choice, and to keep your cats you do what ever it takes. They have the best of everything and are loved more than life itself and always will be. That is most important to me now.
Oh, by the way, a cat interrupting my sleep time is, to me, something wrong and needs to be corrected. Especially if you have to get up at 4:30 am. A cat can jump in the bed without bothering anyone by remaining in one corner or cuddling with your feet. If there is something messing up my health I will not allow. I'm sorry. It just doesn't work. Again, you can always discipline your cat, or make it do what you want it to do with proper training. I find very not believable the fact that cat's can't be trained. Water is one safe way to do this.
I don't feel attacked whatsoever. But there's a few points I'd like to make without bubbling up a raucous
I've actully found that water spraying has been successful in my case. But each cat is different. Obviously, no cat is the same or I would have a biter or a cat who is afraid of me for spraying him with water when the situation calls. I don't think it is abusive unless the water is too hot or too cold. I see it as abusive when the cat hasn't done anything wrong and you still spray the cat with water. When/If I see bad results, I will believe that water spraying isn't a good method.
I don't want to talk about declawing because the poster isn't asking how to reverse what's already done. By you (us, people) telling someone that what they did was wrong will not resolve anything. The poster is asking for ways to prevent her cat from being a cat. I have read much about declawing. Education isn't what's needed in this case, but ways to resolve the poster's situation, because her cat is already declawed. I have "spoken" about the methods I use to discipline my cat without harming him. Had I failed I wouldn't have bothered posting on this thread.
My cat is declawed. Before doing anything, it's true, you need to be educated, know what the possible risks are (in other words, perform risk analysis), and if you have time, look for statistical data from unbiased, trustworthy sources. But this is just my story and experience, and the way I think. Up until now I have never seen any of the side effects people claim to see. Again, all cats will bite, declawed or not. A cat with claws will scratch you and bite you. What will you feel the most? Those sharp claws sinking into your skin. No claws, no scratching, but then you'll feel the biting much more. Perhaps I've been lucky enough to have such amazing creature who has never misbehaved. But I don't regret having him delcawed. If I adopt another one I will have it declawed as well as long as it is still a kitten. Older cats, I wouldn't dare to even think about it.
Well, hopefully, I didn't make anyone upset. It isn't my intention. I love cats. I love dogs.I love animals. And I certainly want the best for my pet, otherwise I wouldn't be here; and I suppose the OP is basically on the same page, otherwise she wouldn't be seeking help.
I am aware of what's been said throughout the years about the side effects of declawing. Still, I have no regrets. I need convincing facts to believe the side effects of declawing. I've had declawed cats since I was born. Those who I mingle with including co-workers declaw their cats. So I guess we see this as a normal procedure. Those that make us illiterate? Data driven people aren't, right? But it's true. A lot of people don't usually do research before doing something or looking at the consequences. I don't agree with this. In all my cats, if I had to trend behavior over time, I would draw a line going up or going steady, but never going down. I'm being very serious. My experience has been the best. Go figure. Does that make me an uneducated person or a criminal? I don't quite think so.
Mi Scusi my mispellings. I am a bit drowsy.
I've actully found that water spraying has been successful in my case. But each cat is different. Obviously, no cat is the same or I would have a biter or a cat who is afraid of me for spraying him with water when the situation calls. I don't think it is abusive unless the water is too hot or too cold. I see it as abusive when the cat hasn't done anything wrong and you still spray the cat with water. When/If I see bad results, I will believe that water spraying isn't a good method.
I don't want to talk about declawing because the poster isn't asking how to reverse what's already done. By you (us, people) telling someone that what they did was wrong will not resolve anything. The poster is asking for ways to prevent her cat from being a cat. I have read much about declawing. Education isn't what's needed in this case, but ways to resolve the poster's situation, because her cat is already declawed. I have "spoken" about the methods I use to discipline my cat without harming him. Had I failed I wouldn't have bothered posting on this thread.
My cat is declawed. Before doing anything, it's true, you need to be educated, know what the possible risks are (in other words, perform risk analysis), and if you have time, look for statistical data from unbiased, trustworthy sources. But this is just my story and experience, and the way I think. Up until now I have never seen any of the side effects people claim to see. Again, all cats will bite, declawed or not. A cat with claws will scratch you and bite you. What will you feel the most? Those sharp claws sinking into your skin. No claws, no scratching, but then you'll feel the biting much more. Perhaps I've been lucky enough to have such amazing creature who has never misbehaved. But I don't regret having him delcawed. If I adopt another one I will have it declawed as well as long as it is still a kitten. Older cats, I wouldn't dare to even think about it.
Well, hopefully, I didn't make anyone upset. It isn't my intention. I love cats. I love dogs.I love animals. And I certainly want the best for my pet, otherwise I wouldn't be here; and I suppose the OP is basically on the same page, otherwise she wouldn't be seeking help.
I am aware of what's been said throughout the years about the side effects of declawing. Still, I have no regrets. I need convincing facts to believe the side effects of declawing. I've had declawed cats since I was born. Those who I mingle with including co-workers declaw their cats. So I guess we see this as a normal procedure. Those that make us illiterate? Data driven people aren't, right? But it's true. A lot of people don't usually do research before doing something or looking at the consequences. I don't agree with this. In all my cats, if I had to trend behavior over time, I would draw a line going up or going steady, but never going down. I'm being very serious. My experience has been the best. Go figure. Does that make me an uneducated person or a criminal? I don't quite think so.
Mi Scusi my mispellings. I am a bit drowsy.
Declawing is such a difficult subject to discuss and have the conversation remain polite for any length of time. It is something that I am passionately against. I try to educate as many people as I can as to what the procedure actually entails, and I try to do it in such a way that I do not offend anyone, but sometimes I feel that even as hard as I try, my responses might sound a bit, well, fanatical. I appreciate your positive comments regarding my response. They mean a lot to me, especially from cat people like Savas and yourself. Thank you again.
I agree with you completely on the subject of water-spraying. Most cats are so anti-water that spraying them is a punishment that should be reserved for only the most grievous of errors on their part, and certainly not for times when they are trying to interact with us, whether we are sleeping or not. To spray a cat for wanting to snuggle with us while we are sleeping, and waking us up in the process, is the equivalent of punishing them for loving us, and for showing us that love.
If we choose to have cats (or any pet, for that matter), we must realize that our lives no longer belong to just us. We must adjust our routines to include these furry little beings, and all of their furry little quirks right along with them. Living with pets is not a right, it's a privelege. People need to keep that in mind.
Ghilly
I agree with you completely on the subject of water-spraying. Most cats are so anti-water that spraying them is a punishment that should be reserved for only the most grievous of errors on their part, and certainly not for times when they are trying to interact with us, whether we are sleeping or not. To spray a cat for wanting to snuggle with us while we are sleeping, and waking us up in the process, is the equivalent of punishing them for loving us, and for showing us that love.
If we choose to have cats (or any pet, for that matter), we must realize that our lives no longer belong to just us. We must adjust our routines to include these furry little beings, and all of their furry little quirks right along with them. Living with pets is not a right, it's a privelege. People need to keep that in mind.
Ghilly
All due respect, but it is a fact that declawed cats become more prone to biting and often become neurotic in a variety of ways. I am not going to go into the details here - Ghilly has given you an excellent answer on this subject and is also correct that a healthy cat does not have chronically stinky breath - I'd get that checked out.
As far as the nighttime cuddling - please do not spray her with water (again, all due respect, but...). Spraying with water is a punishment that should never be used except in cases where the cat is doing something that is likely to endanger their health. If you spray your cat when it wants to cuddle, etc, you will cause confusion and as a result of the confusion - hostility. You will run the risk of losing your cat friend.
This kitty is young and affectionate and is behaving normally. Also he is going through a difficult transition as a result of the declawing and needs love, patience and understanding. Try to enjoy the contact at night with your cat (I have a cat that sleeps on my head and kneads my scalp with his claws - every night, but he's be so hurt if I tried to make him stop!).
If you can't (gently) convince him to sleep in another room (by closing your bedroom door, maybe) then try to develop a routine of sleeping together in a way that makes both of you happy.
As far as the nighttime cuddling - please do not spray her with water (again, all due respect, but...). Spraying with water is a punishment that should never be used except in cases where the cat is doing something that is likely to endanger their health. If you spray your cat when it wants to cuddle, etc, you will cause confusion and as a result of the confusion - hostility. You will run the risk of losing your cat friend.
This kitty is young and affectionate and is behaving normally. Also he is going through a difficult transition as a result of the declawing and needs love, patience and understanding. Try to enjoy the contact at night with your cat (I have a cat that sleeps on my head and kneads my scalp with his claws - every night, but he's be so hurt if I tried to make him stop!).
If you can't (gently) convince him to sleep in another room (by closing your bedroom door, maybe) then try to develop a routine of sleeping together in a way that makes both of you happy.
If traveling with your pet is your only option I have heard of people using Dr. Bach's Rescue Remedy. (A homeopathic tincture that is great for stressed out humans too. freeway drive in rush hour...try a few drops yourself!) you can get it at many ritzy natural pet food stores and most human health food stores. Or online I'm sure.
Unfortunately, this is all too often the result of declawing cats. Cats have two methods of defense. Their first line of defense is their claws. If those are removed, they will very often become biters because now their first line of defense is gone. Claws are more than just a defense, however. When cats use their claws on scratching posts, carpets, furniture, or whatever else, there are a couple of different reasons for doing it. One reason is to remove the outer sheath of the claw. As the claw grows, new growth underneath replaces the old growth on the top, and by clawing at things, the cat can remove the old, dead growth. A second reason for clawing is to mark territory. Cats have scent glands in their paws and, while we can't smell it, cats can smell it very well, and by scratching on things, they are saying "this is mine". Another reason they claw, and probably the most important, is for exercise and for stretching. It's a form of isometric exercise. They will grasp with their claws and streeeeeeeeetch out, pulling as hard as they can. This stretches their leg muscles and is even used to stretch the back muscles. You know how good it feels to really stretch, cats feel the same way.
Without starting a big debate on the whole subject, it's really not a good idea to declaw cats for several reasons. The three stated above are some of them. Psychologically (and this doesn't happen in all cases, but it does happen in the majority of them) it messes them up because by declawing them, we are removing body parts that nature intended them to have. Declawing doesn't just involve removing the claw itself. It's not just a super-duper manicure. Declawing is the actual amputation of each toe up to the first joint. In a human being, it would be the equivalent of removing the tip of each finger, including the nail, at that first joint behind the nail. Imagine how it would be getting used to doing everything without your fingernails and an inch of each finger, and that's what it's like for a declawed cat to readjust to doing things.
Some do amazingly well. They never seem to suffer any ill effects from the procedure. More than 50% of them, however, have some type of issue that arises from having the procedure done, from becoming biters to not wanting to use their litterboxes because they don't like the way the litter feels on their feet without their claws. The problem is, most of the issues that arise from declawing are issues that end up with the cats finding themselves homeless, becauses people don't want cats that bite and they certainly don't want cats that refuse to use a litterbox, and the saddest thing is, none of it is the fault of the cat. Many vets today refuse to even perform the procedure any more, and there are those who will do it only if it is for medical reasons. Declawing is even illegal in parts of Europe (Finland, Switzerland and Germany are three countries I know of right off the bat where it is illegal).
I would ask your vet or do a search for a good animal behaviorist who is fairly local to you and ask them what the best way is to deal with this. Punishing the cat in any way for biting under these circumstances is only going to make the situation worse, because he doesn't understand that he's doing anything wrong because to him, he's just working with the equipment he has to get his point across. You've got to find someone very well-versed in "cat 101" to tell you what the best way out is, because you don't want to make the situation worse. I hope it works out, both for your sake and for your cat's. Whatever method is used, it's going to take perserverance and dedication. Good luck!
As far as him wanting to play at 4am, that's not unusual at all for a cat. Cats are basically nocturnal animals. They sleep 18-20 hours a day and when they want to play, they want to play. Is keeping him out of the bedroom not an option?
With regard to his breath, a healthy cat's breath shouldn't be "stinky". Perhaps have him checked by your vet because he might need some dental work. A buildup of tartar on the teeth can cause bad breath, and a simple cleaning could take care of the breath situation. Cats are not chewers like dogs, so while there are tartar control treats available in the stores, cats are not as apt to chew things to clean their teeth as dogs are.
Except for the odd cat who enjoys riding in the car, cats don't do well on trips, and 1500 miles is, well, asking a lot of one. It might be better to find someone to come to your home each day to take care of the cat and just leave him home. I don't usually advocate leaving animals at boarding facilities, but you have to consider the lesser of the evils here, and a ride of that length could be very traumatic for a cat, so you might also see if you can find a reputable boarding facility if you can't find a bonded pet sitter to come to your home. Fifteen hundred miles of yowling will get old very quickly, not to mention it could negatively affect a cat who already has biting issues. Discuss the situation with your vet and see what she or he thinks.
Ghilly
Without starting a big debate on the whole subject, it's really not a good idea to declaw cats for several reasons. The three stated above are some of them. Psychologically (and this doesn't happen in all cases, but it does happen in the majority of them) it messes them up because by declawing them, we are removing body parts that nature intended them to have. Declawing doesn't just involve removing the claw itself. It's not just a super-duper manicure. Declawing is the actual amputation of each toe up to the first joint. In a human being, it would be the equivalent of removing the tip of each finger, including the nail, at that first joint behind the nail. Imagine how it would be getting used to doing everything without your fingernails and an inch of each finger, and that's what it's like for a declawed cat to readjust to doing things.
Some do amazingly well. They never seem to suffer any ill effects from the procedure. More than 50% of them, however, have some type of issue that arises from having the procedure done, from becoming biters to not wanting to use their litterboxes because they don't like the way the litter feels on their feet without their claws. The problem is, most of the issues that arise from declawing are issues that end up with the cats finding themselves homeless, becauses people don't want cats that bite and they certainly don't want cats that refuse to use a litterbox, and the saddest thing is, none of it is the fault of the cat. Many vets today refuse to even perform the procedure any more, and there are those who will do it only if it is for medical reasons. Declawing is even illegal in parts of Europe (Finland, Switzerland and Germany are three countries I know of right off the bat where it is illegal).
I would ask your vet or do a search for a good animal behaviorist who is fairly local to you and ask them what the best way is to deal with this. Punishing the cat in any way for biting under these circumstances is only going to make the situation worse, because he doesn't understand that he's doing anything wrong because to him, he's just working with the equipment he has to get his point across. You've got to find someone very well-versed in "cat 101" to tell you what the best way out is, because you don't want to make the situation worse. I hope it works out, both for your sake and for your cat's. Whatever method is used, it's going to take perserverance and dedication. Good luck!
As far as him wanting to play at 4am, that's not unusual at all for a cat. Cats are basically nocturnal animals. They sleep 18-20 hours a day and when they want to play, they want to play. Is keeping him out of the bedroom not an option?
With regard to his breath, a healthy cat's breath shouldn't be "stinky". Perhaps have him checked by your vet because he might need some dental work. A buildup of tartar on the teeth can cause bad breath, and a simple cleaning could take care of the breath situation. Cats are not chewers like dogs, so while there are tartar control treats available in the stores, cats are not as apt to chew things to clean their teeth as dogs are.
Except for the odd cat who enjoys riding in the car, cats don't do well on trips, and 1500 miles is, well, asking a lot of one. It might be better to find someone to come to your home each day to take care of the cat and just leave him home. I don't usually advocate leaving animals at boarding facilities, but you have to consider the lesser of the evils here, and a ride of that length could be very traumatic for a cat, so you might also see if you can find a reputable boarding facility if you can't find a bonded pet sitter to come to your home. Fifteen hundred miles of yowling will get old very quickly, not to mention it could negatively affect a cat who already has biting issues. Discuss the situation with your vet and see what she or he thinks.
Ghilly
Sounds like you have a cat, doesn't it?
The belief that declawed cats bite comes from the fact that when his claws are gone, what you feel mostly are his bites when you two play together! The claws are sharper than teeth and when they claw you, what leaves the biggest impression is the scratch. All cats, regardless of the status of their paws, will bite! A normal cat bites even with its claws. Trust me, this is what's happening to you. He doesn't have claws, so what you feel the most is the teeth. All cats bite when playing, declawed or not. It is up to you to control this behavior. Spray him with water next time he bites ya. This method works almost all the time and it is harmless. I use it on my cat when he is at the door begging to go outside.
'He also wakes me up at 4 am and wants to snuggle, lick my face, and sometimes play. What can I do? Solution.. keep him out of the bedroom?'
Again, spray him with water. It works, trust me. He won't want to go in the bed at 4:00 am. But cats do this. Their schedule is the complete opposite from our own. We just need to get them used to a human program.
'We would like to travel 1500 miles in January, what can I do to keep him quiet in his pet carrier for such a long time?'
In my case, I started traveling very frequently when my cat was a baby, so he is already used to it. But, you can choose to at least drive the first few miles when he is usually sleepy. Like if he sleeps all afternoon, then you might want to try and travel at this time because he will be a bit more relaxed. At first he will meow constantly, but after a while in the car he'll want to go to sleep, because it's his time to take a nap.
About his breath, you'd have to consult with a vet. He could have teeth or gum issues, and he could be feeling pain when eating. If the problem is oral, then he may suffer from Gingivitis, an abscessed tooth, bacteria in the mouth, oral ulceration, or even periodontitis. Now, many of these causes can affect your kitty's mood. Gingivitis is painful, and having an abscessed tooth isn't fun either, so you might want to check with a vet what's really causing this bad breath.
If he is a natural, then you could try to get kitty toothbrush and paste, to help minimize tartar and freshen his breath. Watch how he eats, and if it looks like he is having a hard time chewing, then you need to take him to the vet, because that may just be the cause of his bad breath.
Good Luck.
The belief that declawed cats bite comes from the fact that when his claws are gone, what you feel mostly are his bites when you two play together! The claws are sharper than teeth and when they claw you, what leaves the biggest impression is the scratch. All cats, regardless of the status of their paws, will bite! A normal cat bites even with its claws. Trust me, this is what's happening to you. He doesn't have claws, so what you feel the most is the teeth. All cats bite when playing, declawed or not. It is up to you to control this behavior. Spray him with water next time he bites ya. This method works almost all the time and it is harmless. I use it on my cat when he is at the door begging to go outside.
'He also wakes me up at 4 am and wants to snuggle, lick my face, and sometimes play. What can I do? Solution.. keep him out of the bedroom?'
Again, spray him with water. It works, trust me. He won't want to go in the bed at 4:00 am. But cats do this. Their schedule is the complete opposite from our own. We just need to get them used to a human program.
'We would like to travel 1500 miles in January, what can I do to keep him quiet in his pet carrier for such a long time?'
In my case, I started traveling very frequently when my cat was a baby, so he is already used to it. But, you can choose to at least drive the first few miles when he is usually sleepy. Like if he sleeps all afternoon, then you might want to try and travel at this time because he will be a bit more relaxed. At first he will meow constantly, but after a while in the car he'll want to go to sleep, because it's his time to take a nap.
About his breath, you'd have to consult with a vet. He could have teeth or gum issues, and he could be feeling pain when eating. If the problem is oral, then he may suffer from Gingivitis, an abscessed tooth, bacteria in the mouth, oral ulceration, or even periodontitis. Now, many of these causes can affect your kitty's mood. Gingivitis is painful, and having an abscessed tooth isn't fun either, so you might want to check with a vet what's really causing this bad breath.
If he is a natural, then you could try to get kitty toothbrush and paste, to help minimize tartar and freshen his breath. Watch how he eats, and if it looks like he is having a hard time chewing, then you need to take him to the vet, because that may just be the cause of his bad breath.
Good Luck.
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