Hello,
I been having a problem lately with my male cat(pepper). He is almost two years old and he has never been a normal cat. Well different from my other cat he is very social and vocal but he doesn't meow much it's more of a purr/meow. Anyway he has been fixed for a year and a half and he has decided in the pass couple of week that humping my arm when I'm sleeping is cute he also does it to my boyfriend. Now when we try to move our arms bites down on your hand to make sure you stop moving your arm. Is this normal for some cat to just be like this. My other cat is fixed as well and is a female.

This kind of behavior is uncommon but not unheard of. I wouldn't make too much of it--by which I mean to say that it's nothing to worry about. When he starts, just pull your arm away and if he bites you pick him up, scold him in a firm but quiet voice, and put him in time-out for ten minutes or so (locked in a bathroom or similarly small room without windows and toys). It's something he may outgrow on his own, but I would definitely let him know that it isn't acceptable behavior. Do likewise if he tries to mount your female. He'll learn pretty quickly that this isn't something one is permitted to do.

Perhaps you could also try using a squirt bottle. My squirt bottle has become my best friend with a cat and two rambunctious handfuls of kittens. Other then that I say listen to Akoue. I've always found Akoue's cat advice to be accurate and helpful.

I have to strongly disagree with that time-out thing. First of all, the cat isn't going to know 10 minutes later what this "punishment" was even for. Whatever it is you're going to do (firm no, squirt bottle, whatever), it has to be done immediately so he knows what it's for.

Second of all, Akoue, your other answers I've seen always make sense, but could you please explain to me how a cat would have the human understanding that being "locked in a bathrom with no toys" is meant to be a punishment?

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Originally Posted by morgaine300

I have to strongly disagree with that time-out thing. First of all, the cat isn't going to know 10 minutes later what this "punishment" was even for. Whatever it is you're going to do (firm no, squirt bottle, whatever), it has to be done immediately so he knows what it's for.

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Right. The minute that he does it, pick him up and close him alone in a room with nothing to entertain him--like toys or windows. I have found this to be, by far, the most effective punishment for cats. And the cats absolutely do learn from this what sorts of behaviors aren't permitted. I have long-since given up spray bottles and the like because I've found that they aren't nearly as effective as time-out. And, yes, the cat does know ten minutes later why he or she was being punished, especially if you are consistent about applying the punishment whenever you see the offending behavior. Cats aren't stupid and they do have memories that last longer than ten minutes. They are highly intelligent social animals and respond well to training if the training is undertaken in the right ways. Many people run into problems because they fail to recognize that cats aren't dogs, and they can't be trained in all the same ways dogs can. But they like rules, enforce them among themselves, and are very adept at learning them from us if we are patient and attentive teachers.

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Second of all, Akoue, your other answers I've seen always make sense, but could you please explain to me how a cat would have the human understanding that being "locked in a bathrom with no toys" is meant to be a punishment?

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Cats hate to be closed alone in a room. Most cats will in fact cry the whole time they're locked away. If there are toys or windows to look out then it isn't much of a punishment since he can play or otherwise keep himself entertained. But, as a rule, cats hate to be sequestered behind a closed door all alone--especially if there are other cats in the house--and so combining this with the absence of anything to do except wait to be let out tends to be highly effective. I can't say that it works for every cat, but it's worked marvellously for every cat I've ever had or known. In fact, many people who work with cats, including vets, recommend this as the preferred form of punishment. A cat doesn't need to have "human understanding"; "cat understanding" is more than sufficient. (Please don't make the mistake too many people do, of supposing that cats are stupid animals. They are emotionally complex and cognitively sophisticated. The fact that they can't do trigonometry doesn't mean that they are not norm-responsive or otherwise lacking intelligence.)

I've had cats for quite of number of years and know what I'm doing with them. I didn't need a lecture on cats! I know perfectly darn well that cats aren't dogs, nor am I making the mistake of supposing that cats are stupid, and I don't appreciate the implication that I've made that common mistake. It doesn't mean they have the same type of understand as a human.

I also know that cats do not abhor being closed into a room at all times. Nor do "most cats" cry "the whole time they're locked away." I've had cats shut up for one reason or another, and not had them get all upset and cry the whole time. Nor do they need to always have something to entertain themselves. They're very patient and also sleep a lot. If I've had to shut up a cat for some reason, I usually find him/her later just curled up snoozing, and sometimes not even caring. Great punishment. The only time I've seen them seriously cry about it is if they are new to the house and I've had to separate a cat out, or maybe, possibly, sometimes, meowing at a cat on the other side of the door.

I've never heard of this method of training, and no I haven't been living under a rock. I'm had cats my whole life, understand them pretty well, am part of numerous online communities, and have definitely been around the block a few times. If you have some unusual method that you've made work, great, but you can always tell me about it politely instead of lecturing about cats and assuming that I think cats are dogs and that they're stupid, thanks very much! (Not to mention that I do know of people who have used time-out with dogs -- so what was that about not training them the same way as dogs?)

This argument is entirely unnecessary. This isn't about who knows more, rather its about helping the OP. Different training methods work for different people. As long as abuse is not involved to each his own. Different cats respond to different methods. I have personally benefited from Akoue's advice in the past. Akoue has done no harm by suggesting possible training methods. Let the OP decide whether that it the route that she would like to take. If you have better suggestions then everyone would like to hear them. If you do not have a suggestion that would help the OP then lets put this bickering to an end.

I did have a comment that was directed at OP. I'm not the one who gave me a lecture back about it as though I'm a complete idiot about cats. It wasn't about who knows more. It was about the assumption that I obviously have no clue what I'm talking about -- that's a different thing and I found quite insulting. INsulting me was what was unnecessary and not very useful to the OP. Sorry if you can't see that.

I'm sorry to sound rude but the he said/she said is getting old. No one thinks you're an idiot or tried to insult you. Akoue was simply defending against your initial post where you asked Akoue to explain the reasoning to you, which was done. Your initial post may have even seemed insulting to Akoue. I feel this is a case of misunderstandings and high emotions. To carry on over it will only reflect poorly upon yourself.

I find it interesting that she was allowed to defend herself, but I wasn't.

Thanks I appreciate that.

And by saying it's going to reflect poorly on me if I say anything further, you have now put me into the defensive position of either accepting that "I'm wrong" to have posted again, or of looking guilty if I do post. I don't appreciate that either. Except that I do believe you posted again and contributed to it just as much as I just did.

But I see that you are running under a set of double standards.

You really need to calm down, the attitude is really uncalled for. I don't want to argue with you. I don't think you are an idiot. Akoue did not try and say you were an idiot. Once again if you have something to say that could be helpful then please by all means lets put this misunderstanding behind everyone and voice your suggestions, if not then there is no more reason for this to continue.

Now, now children... don't make me reach back there!

Couldn't give you a greenie silver but I agree with you, everyone is entitled to their opinion and everyone has different training methods.

I saw a video about disciplining cats. It sad to just leave the cat alone and ignore it for a bit. I don't know if that applies to this or if it works, because I never tried it, but I'm sayin'. :)

Kara - there really isn't any good reason to be such a snot by dumping a negative on me. There was definitely some attitude and assumption in that response. Did you notice that everything she said is not in answer to my question? Given that, your excuse for the negative is not too plausible.

Does anyone else want to come to the oh-so-perfect Akoue's defense and get on my case?

... Umm... What... I just was talking about a video I saw... I was trying to help... I'm... sorry? Wow, I really don't now what I did...

Second of all... I wasn't talking to you... I was talking to the creator of the thread...

Kara - did someone hijack your account? When you leave reputation on someone's post, generally we consider you're probably talking to the person who wrote the post.

Since these two posts actually sound sincere, and since a video is not involved in any way whatsoever, as in, I have no idea what you're talking about either... um, perhaps you just hit the wrong post?

She was just commenting that she didn't agree with the method of leaving a cat alone to discipline it. It is a fair comment and everyone has their opinion and different ways of training and discipline.

I still don't even know what's going on...

Don't worry Kara, you can't get in trouble for having an opinion on something.

Morgaine, I know you don't agree with this method and that is perfectly fine, you can say that you don't agree and give your reasons you don't like it and offer alternative suggestions.

If you want to talk to someone about their post without clogging up the forum and confusing the OP please do it in a Private Message :)