pet connection

Why are some cats so reactive to touch that they bite and claw at the person touching them? And what can cat owners do about it? From Gina Spadafori and Dr. Marty Becker in this week’s Pet Connection newspaper feature:

Both genetics and social factors contribute to how likely a cat is to bite or claw while being petted. Some cats are born with short fuses; others are made that way (or made worse) through a lack of early socialization or proper training in their kittenhoods. That’s why it’s important to never let a kitten come to believe fingers are for chewing on, even in play. Redirect your kitten’s playful energy to toys instead. And never hit a kitten or cat for biting, since you’ll make it more likely, not less, that your pet will strike faster in fear and self-defense the next time.

Natural activity levels also play a part in how much petting a cat will tolerate. Cats from large-breed backgrounds (think Maine coon) are generally mellow in temperament, willing to sit quietly while being petted. So-called Oriental breeds or mixes (think Siamese or Burmese) are usually more interested in being on the go.

But no matter how hair-trigger the setting on your cat’s attack mode, you can work to increase your pet’s tolerance for petting by paying close attention to his body language as you slowly increase the amount of time during which he’ll calmly accept your attention.

More tips on reforming these hyper-reactive cats here.

Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker Shannon wonder, which dogs bite? 

About 15.8 people per 1,000 are bitten by a dog every year, with about 3.1 of the same people needing medical attention. In a study for the journal “Injury Prevention,” researchers conducted telephone surveys and compared the results from a decade ago. People were most likely to be bitten in their own homes by known dogs. As the number of dogs rose above one in the household, the bite occurrence also increased. The study found that dog bites in children had decreased in number, while older adults showed an increased number of bites. The increase in older victims may be linked to the popularity of smaller dogs, more likely to be owned by seniors and statistically more likely to bite.

Looks like big dogs have the edge:

Although small dogs seem all the rage these days, canine popularity isn’t influenced much by size. According to the American Pet Products Association, dog lovers like their pets no matter the size.

See the chart and the numbers here.

Plus: All about cats’ claws and paws; tips from Dr. Becker for dog owners making the switch to cats; blood donors for dogs and cats. All this and more, in our Pet Connection newspaper feature, which you can read right here.

You can also see it exactly the way we send it to our client newspapers here. (PDF)

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