Ragdoll Cat Forums

I have noticed Gussie will only allow Blue to play rough for just a few moments before she runs off. He pounces and bites her. The other morning, he lay next to my head, started grabbing my hair with his teeth and then leaned into my neck and started lightly nipping with his teeth. On the third bite he bit HARD. I cried out, he backed off, but did it again even harder a few seconds later. Let me tell you it really, really hurt. I can only assume this is how hard he is biting Gussie, and no wonder she won't play. She sleeps on my pillow with me at night so he doesn't come up to her.

Question:1. Is this normal biting? She does not bite him this hard. 2. I believe he was not socialized properly and definitely fell through the cracks. Should his mother have scolded/taught him for biting this hard, or his siblings? 3. Should I allow this to continue and butt out? Or should I interfere? 4. If this is not "normal biting behavior" how should I correct him?
Thanks in advance.

You did correct him. You showed you were hurt and he backed off. That is how it is done. Remember that to him this is affection and play, so there is only so much you can do. If he gets too excited, then give him a one or two minute time out and then love on him.

Thanks Jan. He is easily "spooked", when he is corrected and runs away, so it is nice to know what to do. Thanks for your help.

I think that you can change his way to play.
when he bites you too hard you should shriek and go away from him, disregarding him for a little, I mean, this is the way I try to stop Charlie biting me when he plays too hard with me

(11-15-2009 02:50 PM)JanH Wrote: [ -> ]You did correct him. You showed you were hurt and he backed off. That is how it is done. Remember that to him this is affection and play, so there is only so much you can do. If he gets too excited, then give him a one or two minute time out and then love on him.

Would this involve something like getting up from the chair and ignoring him for a short time?

Yes. Cutting the interaction short can work.