Attacking legs/feet while asleep...

[areias]

I've been continuously finding..ahem...puncture holes and scratches on my legs and feet lately. I just noticed they appear in the mornings. I know that when I get into bed Kiki will sometimes jump on my feet and do the death claw and bite on them, and lately she's somehow managed to slide her paws underneath the blanket and get me...but she dosen't seem to really do that much damage, so I think she's doing it while I'm asleep. It looks like I've walked through a thorn bush. I'm a really heavy sleeper...dogs barking in the same room rarely wakens me, and I never get up to an alarm anymore, so it's quite possible.

Anyways, any tips on getting her to stop doing that? I cannot wear socks while I sleep, but I do wear PJ pants (not shorts) it dosen't seem to prevent it though. She's not generally agressive, and short of putting her in one of the dog crates, I can't put her outside the room. Shaking my leg dosen't help...she grabs on harder. And what do I do when I'm asleep?

[Freedom]

Never had to deal with this but what about . . . putting some vaseline on your legs and feet before you go to bed? I use it on wires to keep them from chewing electrical cords and it works fine. What could happen? You get soft skin on your legs and feet? Not a problem!

You need to change the sheets after a night or two? But isn't it worth the extra laundry, and you could maybe try this when you are just about ready to change them anyway. And I dont' think it would take more than one or two nights of vaseline, but like I said, never had to deal with this.

Oh, if you try this, make sure she has a mouse or other toy to redirect her play time.

[areias]

Hmm...what does vaseline do? I've never heard of that before.

She does have a bunch of catnip toys that she plays with. She dosen't have food overnight because the dogs are in here, but I don't think that really matters. She is pretty attracted to movement, and I know she's just playing...but my legs aren't very pretty right now.

[Miss Z]

Hmm...what does vaseline do? I've never heard of that before.

Vaseline is a petroleum jelly that you put on your lips to stop them getting too dry. I think that is a great idea that Freedom suggested, the vaseline won't harm Kiki but it will certainly put her off biting your legs at least.

[bengal_and_mutts]

what you need to do is catch her in the act and say "no" very firmly then shun her. In a clowder of cats, if there is an undisired behavior the one who did it is shunned by the rest of the cats. I do this when my cat does somthing bad that I don't like. I find that what works best is to leave the room and close the door. that way she gets the hint that what she just did is wrong! you have to work quickly though, because if you don't she won't associate the action she just did to being shunned. It may seem mean but I garuntee you it isn't, and they get the point...they did somthing wrong. if you have any questions just pm me.

[kittycats_delight]

How old is she first of all?

My Vixen used to do this all the time when she was little. She was always wanting to play. And she was ok for a nap at bed time but then would want to get up and play not too long later and throughout the night. When she couldn't find anything to occupy her she would attack my legs and feet in bed in an attempt to get me up to play.

What we did was play with her for about 30-45 minutes before bedtime and get her good and tired. And I mean rigorous playing. Beat her out completely. Also even if you have the dogs in maybe put a small amount of food on a dresser so she can have a snack if she wants it. Put it somewhere the dogs cannot get but she can. Or you can try giving her a little snack before bedtime. This should also make her tired. With the rigorous playtime and snack before bed she should be pretty good for the night. Good luck and keep us posted.

[kittycats_delight]

How old is she first of all?

My Vixen used to do this all the time when she was little. She was always wanting to play. And she was ok for a nap at bed time but then would want to get up and play not too long later and throughout the night. When she couldn't find anything to occupy her she would attack my legs and feet in bed in an attempt to get me up to play.

What we did was play with her for about 30-45 minutes before bedtime and get her good and tired. And I mean rigorous playing. Beat her out completely. Also even if you have the dogs in maybe put a small amount of food on a dresser so she can have a snack if she wants it. Put it somewhere the dogs cannot get but she can. Or you can try giving her a little snack before bedtime. This should also make her tired. With the rigorous playtime and snack before bed she should be pretty good for the night. Good luck and keep us posted.

[Freedom]

Sorry I didn't get back to respond to your question before this. Holiday madness, you know?

It is harmless to kitty, but they don't like the taste and feel of it, on their tongues, paws, etc. So it is a deterrent to keep them away from . . . cords, legs, feet, whatever.

Sandra