new bad habit - jumping on/climbing people

[boscibo]

Hanna just started doing this the other day - she thinks it's OK to jump on or climb up people. Very painful. I have no idea how to stop this behavior, except to not let myself get into a position where she can jump on me. I try and keep her nails trimmed, but she's going to get spayed at the end of the month so I've been putting it off cause the vet will clip them for me.

How can I let her know that climbing on or jumping on people is not OK?

[boscibo]

Oh, and when I say nails trimmed I don't mean declawed - I just get the tips clipped off. I don't declaw my cats.

[sasvermont]

I would try the old fashioned way - saying NO in a very loud voice. It has finally starting working with my cats. Well, not Gabe, but Gramer and Miley. Gabe just cringes and stays putt, and does not stop or turn around - he just keeps a lower profile.

Aren't cats fun?

[NoahsMommy]

Basil, our kitten is still learning this...when he jumps up on us (while we are eating is a no no, otherwise, it's OK without nails) we say "NO" loudly and put him on the floor....he eventually learns...a squirt bottle works too.

Good luck, let us know how it goes.

My newbie Inka does this all the time too ... . When I yell "NO!" , she looks so scared and starts complaining with lots of "mows" ...!
I must teach her not to do that anymore ; it is painful , and people wearing nylons will surely NOT appreciate this ...

[tuxluvr]

This is major deja vu - I was coming to pettalk to start this thread...Ritz has NEVER done this in the past....today, I was working in my office and Ritz was sitting on the file cabinets near the front window in her usual spot...I had to bend over to hook up a printer...when my back was "flat"...I felt this kitty paw on my back, then all of a sudden she jumped onto my back.

I thought she was just "passing through" using me as a bridge to the desk (another parking spot for Ritz)...but she stopped and settled in and stretched out, apparently thinking this was a good spot for a nap. I had a devil of a time getting her off (hard to reach back there) finally backed up to the file cabinet and slowly started to stand up so she wouldn't scratch the bejeesus out of my back......

Ritz did like to attack ankles....generally a strong NO will stop the behavior

[yumyum6970]

Try the water bottle my cats run when I squirt them

[boscibo]

Well, I have a little more insight on this problem. It seems my boyfriend is letting her jump up on him when he is wearing his big, heavy bathrobe. I told him not to let her do that anymore - she doesn't know the difference between heavy clothes and someone wearing thin clothes.

She tried to climb up my legs today (I am wearing jeans), and clapped my hands and said "No!" loudly - she jumped back down.

My BF lets the animals get away with murder, if it was up to him the dogs and cats would have places set at the table for them, and we'd sleep on the floor and they'd get the beds....

[moosmom]

My cat Maya Linn has been doing that. I'll be sitting at my computer online and BANG!!! she jumps up on my shoulder and purrs and wants some loving. She doesn't do it with anyone else, just me. I don't mind. But I guess when they start doing it with other people and it hurts, that's an entirely different story.

I think the main thing to do is put her down immediately,say no sternly and walk away. She'll get the idea.

[kitten645]

My BF lets the animals get away with murder, if it was up to him the dogs and cats would have places set at the table for them, and we'd sleep on the floor and they'd get the beds....

Hey! I resemble that remark. My cats graciously let me live in their apartment and they let me sleep in the bed!

Calvin likes to jump into my arms. Unfortunately it's usually when I've got groceries in my arms or when I walk into the dark house after work and can't see him (he's black to boot!) He's gotten better about it having fallen off me enough times!

[RICHARD]

i have given up on trying to protect myself.......

eddie will jump on my lap while i am in the recliner, it's when he decides to bail that gets me in trouble, at this moment i have about 15 scratches on my legs.......

when people ask why i am all torn up i tell them i teach midgets to fight w/knives. there has been occasions that he has COME CLOSE to really hurting me.....but my luck has held out so far.

[AmberLee]

Cassy used to like standing on my back when I'm stooped over and gave it up for a while. He's back doing it again. If I have the time, I tickle his tummy or his paws till he jumps off. Otherwise I straighten up VERY slowly.

He particularly likes doing this when I'm cleaning the litter pans. Except when he's impatiently waiting for me to finish scooping so he gets 'dibs' on the clean pan.

[kittymom]

I work from home and when I sit at the computer, one of my cats, a calico, will jump up on my shoulders or the back of the chair and purr to say I want some loving and why do you spend so much time with that thing when I am here.
If I don't take the hint, she jumps and walks between the computer screen and my face hitting me with her tail.

She also has started using my husbands legs as a scratching post. She is declawed so it is no big deal, but it clearly is her way of reminding us who is the boss around here.

[Barbara]

Climbing legs is something my cats only did when they were younger. Now (they are 6 years old) they don't do it anymore.
But Filou like most Abys jumps on my shoulders and gives me nosekissies and headbumpies. (Of course he uses his little dragon claws to keep the balance when walking round my shoulders- but he never does it aggressively) It is his favorite way of showing his affection and although I run always for a big bath towel when he starts to look in a certain way I would never prevent him from doing so because he is so cute and I like his hugs, kisses and purring. He is very light too and I am glad Tigris (13 lb) doesn't jump.

[wayne0214]

Tiger will jump on my shoulders when she "desperately" wants something. I wouldn't mind it so much if she didn't use her claws to hang on. I have to yell at her to "get off my back". Lately, however. she is not doing this as much as she was. Also, she will continually pester me to get her something. If I am on the keyboard, she will continually encircle me, round and round, until I get up and find what she wants. It if wasn't so aggrivating it would be funny, especially if I were the one watching.

......wayne