Does your cat play too rough? Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish between playfulness and aggression. What the cat is actually doing is engaging in a type of behavior that is a combination of both predatory play or sneak attack" and is an expression of a cat's instinctive hunting skills at work~on you! While it can be flattering to know that you have been selected as a playmate. you are not alone if you are not particularly enjoying all the scratching biting. Studies conducted by the University of Pennsylvania and the Animal Medical Center in N.Y.C. indicate that a primary trigger for these rough-house antics is routinely leaving the cat alone for extended periods of time with no opportunity for interaction and feedback from a responsive source. People who live with cats and are away from home all day (i.e. at work) must make a concerted effort to redirect the play/aggression to something other than themselves (toys) so the cat will play with these objects when people are not present. Rolling or dangling (mobiles) toys that can be batted about. large stuffed catnip toys that can be wrestled with and "mauled" are excellent substitutes. Select the toys carefully: do remember that during rough play toys can be chewed and torn into bite-size pieces. Also bells, squeakers and ornamentation can be pulled off and swallowed. One of the best ways to encourage play with toys when you are not there Is to use the same object in play when you are there. Rub the toy between your palms to impart your scent on it: tie it to a string and drag it or throw it and let the cat chase, stalk or fetch it. Many times when a toy is pleasantly associated with you and the good times you have together, it will also become the focus of attention when you are not present.

Does your cat play too rough? Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish between playfulness and aggression. What the cat is actually doing is engaging in a type of behavior that is a combination of both predatory play or sneak attack" and is an expression of a cat's instinctive hunting skills at work~on you! While it can be flattering to know that you have been selected as a playmate. you are not alone if you are not particularly enjoying all the scratching biting. Studies conducted by the University of Pennsylvania and the Animal Medical Center in N.Y.C. indicate that a primary trigger for these rough-house antics is routinely leaving the cat alone for extended periods of time with no opportunity for interaction and feedback from a responsive source. People who live with cats and are away from home all day (i.e. at work) must make a concerted effort to redirect the play/aggression to something other than themselves (toys) so the cat will play with these objects when people are not present. Rolling or dangling (mobiles) toys that can be batted about. large stuffed catnip toys that can be wrestled with and "mauled" are excellent substitutes. Select the toys carefully: do remember that during rough play toys can be chewed and torn into bite-size pieces. Also bells, squeakers and ornamentation can be pulled off and swallowed. One of the best ways to encourage play with toys when you are not there Is to use the same object in play when you are there. Rub the toy between your palms to impart your scent on it: tie it to a string and drag it or throw it and let the cat chase, stalk or fetch it. Many times when a toy is pleasantly associated with you and the good times you have together, it will also become the focus of attention when you are not present.

Does your cat play too rough? Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish between playfulness and aggression. What the cat is actually doing is engaging in a type of behavior that is a combination of both predatory play or sneak attack" and is an expression of a cat's instinctive hunting skills at work~on you! While it can be flattering to know that you have been selected as a playmate. you are not alone if you are not particularly enjoying all the scratching biting. Studies conducted by the University of Pennsylvania and the Animal Medical Center in N.Y.C. indicate that a primary trigger for these rough-house antics is routinely leaving the cat alone for extended periods of time with no opportunity for interaction and feedback from a responsive source. People who live with cats and are away from home all day (i.e. at work) must make a concerted effort to redirect the play/aggression to something other than themselves (toys) so the cat will play with these objects when people are not present. Rolling or dangling (mobiles) toys that can be batted about. large stuffed catnip toys that can be wrestled with and "mauled" are excellent substitutes. Select the toys carefully: do remember that during rough play toys can be chewed and torn into bite-size pieces. Also bells, squeakers and ornamentation can be pulled off and swallowed. One of the best ways to encourage play with toys when you are not there Is to use the same object in play when you are there. Rub the toy between your palms to impart your scent on it: tie it to a string and drag it or throw it and let the cat chase, stalk or fetch it. Many times when a toy is pleasantly associated with you and the good times you have together, it will also become the focus of attention when you are not present.