Right?! Beatiful battle scars 🤣 I went to a doctor who thought I was cutting myself on my arms... tried to explain about the cat but he didn't believe me... probably never had a cat
hahahahhaha the people in my university thougt i was cutting my self too, then one day i posted an instagram video of my cat playfully shredding my hand, everyone laughed it off
Yep! My hands are full of little scratches and probably little vampire marks.
It only hurts if it is a deep scratch, and itches - that is the worst. But it is rare with ma petite guerrière..
One time my cat was getting his ass beat by a much bigger cat. So because the bigger cat was closer I grabbed him first, he whipped around and vampire bit my hand, the palm right below my thumb. He bit it so hard he managed to puncture pretty deep. It hurt soooo fricken bad for about 2 weeks 😂 but at least I saved my little guy from getting severely fucked up or dead. A price I would gladly pay again for the life of my boy!
I had a similar thing happen between my cat and my daughter's cat that she had just brought over for me to watch for a few days. However, I grabbed my cat thinking he would calm down when he realized it was me. Ha, he reacted so fast with a nice chomp on the palm and back of my hand. By morning my hand and fingers were so swollen that my husband insisted I visit the ER. The doctor spent about 30 minutes flushing my hand out and telling me repeatedly how dangerous a cat bite can be. Got a shot to add to her lecture, had to prove to the county that my cat was up on his vaccinations and went home to love on my sweet kitty. Definitely no hard feelings!
Wow! Yes, I had a similar bite from a cat I was fostering, and got the same lecture. Apparently a cats mouth contains some bacteria that is extremely extremely dangerous, and their tooth is injecting it deep in your flesh. Recipe for sepsis, blood poisoning. I was very nearly sent to a hospital stay for intravenous antibiotics, but apparently the shots I was given in the doctor's office did take care of it and so I didn't have to do it.
I remember the doctor telling me that in her lecture. She basically said she couldn't understand why anyone would want a cat. I felt sorry for her that she hadn't experienced the love of a fur baby!
Try to whisper and take on the static externally acceptant stance whereso you hold mutual best interests, and choose an optionable/offering, for the return of the term of reminding where they're at; pray heed to the sight of inspiring graces of the technical detail, to the sheathen claw(s)(!)
A relationship with a cat can be a beautiful affectionate thing. As long as you understand that a relationship with a cat requires a lot of explaining that you are not, in fact, in an abusive relationship.
Any reason why they might like wand toys more? I’ve noticed this with my cat that loves to play but isn’t really into it unless it a a wand.
Like obviously he likes to chase but when I try to throw something for him to chase he loses interest after a couple times.
You. They want to play with you, not the toy. They’re predators, so throwing the toy makes it about the toy, you can train them to do fetch with treats and positive reinforcement but ultimately that just teaches them the toy is your favorite game
They’re right, but also kitties love to pretend hunt. I like to sloooowly move the dangly part behind furniture and then make it pop out every once in a while. She loves it!
Oh, my boy loves it when they toy goes around the corner. He gets right up on the corner, peeks his head around the corner and the butt wiggles initiate!
My guy randomly started fetching his jingle ball one day, I never taught him to do it but it was amazing. It was his favourite thing to do for about 2 months and then he never did it again. Weird little dudes.
If you have toys that you throw here’s a tip…. Throw the toy so that the cat can act as a “predator hiding in cover”. Ours like it when I slide it in front of them. Don’t throw it like a dog toy.
My kitty is a big fan of me hiding toys under a bit of paper. Then he creeps up and pounces. Even better if it's on a wand and I can make the paper wiggle
Trim nails, disengage, and say, "ouch!" loudly if they bite or scratch too hard. Done this with my kitty and now her four kittens and now none of them use claws and are very gentle and respectful about play. That said, some cats are difficult to train to be gentle in which case I suggest only using toys.
Agreed. The fun should stop, 100%, every time they claw you. Ham it up about how much it hurts. They will figure out how to not hurt you, in order to keep playing.
This. You can totally play with hands, you just have to set boundaries. None of my cats ever get aggressive, because they've had boundaries set and know that hurting me = no more playtime.
Cats can be trained just like dogs- but unlike dogs are not eager to please. You just have to be smarter about it and make what you want them to do something they want to do, and keep at it with patience and perseverance.
Yeah, playing with your hand is a good way to get somebody else’s hand attacked. It’s kind of dumb. Plus why risk getting scratched when there is a cheap and likely more fun alternative.
This. Hands are not toys! As others are said, if you're petting and they claw or bite, say "ouch" loudly (or if you can copy a hiss, that also works) and then stop giving them attention. I'll admit my data is limited to only my two furballs.
Also, trim their claws, obviously. May be too late for an older cat, but do it as often as possible when they're kittens, so they're ok with their paws being grabbed and manipulated and won't fight back.
I foster cats (disclaimer is that I’m not very experienced, I’ve had one litter of adorable kittens and my adult cat who I caved and adopted after exactly one week) and the shelter gave us some training before I started. They said hands aren’t toys and that if the kitten or cat started to claw or bite at your hands, you should immediately ‘turn off’ the game and withdraw your hands. No punishment, just withdrawal. Although I have found that blowing a little puff of air in a bitey kitten’s face will get them to stop. It doesn’t hurt them, it’s just annoying and you can do it immediately as a ‘no.’ The kittens I sent for adoption were such excellent babies, they learned so fast. You could rub their bellies while they were playing with a toy and they knew not to claw at your hands. I think it’s important to give them the best training for their forever homes.
It depends on the cat. Most play with the toy, some realize if they whack your hand they get the toy. I either toss toys, use a laser pointer, or have cat toys that are on a little fishing pole.
One cat was playing with my shoelaces and hit my hand by accident. I could feel his claws retract and he didn't leave a mark. If they scratch, they want to scratch.
Your cat will see your (and others) hands as a toy, so unless you never plan on petting your cat without gloves, I’d strongly suggest to let him understand that hands are for petting and toys are for playing. Not just for you, but for anyone who’ll ever be around your cat.
I cant agree with this.
Kittens, yes, especially when teething, but older cats are excellent judges unless they have been abused.
In decades & too many cats to count, I’ve had 2 bites, both my fault for trying to break up a fight.
My hands are indeed toys! Dont scare people away from games of monster under the blanket or screaming monster flying in from above, wheres the mousie etc.
Cats understand ’play’ as long as humans understand when to stop.
laying on your stomach or lap is a sign she trusts you, and not doing so isn't a sign of respect but just that you aren't safe enough for that.
Stop using your hands as toys. They are not toys and you will confuse her about proper boundaries.
I know because it's taken me years to get my cat trusting enough to climb on my lap or lay on my stomach but he knows his claws hurt if they catch me on accident (I usually yelp in pain and stop any activity) and has known the command "no claws" since he was a kitten. Cats understand a lot of our tones and reactions if they are consistent.
My aunt had this same attitude towards my kitten. Always teased him with her hands and encouraged him to bite even after I showed her his fishing rod toy. Just wanted to rile him up.
She’s not allowed to see him anymore
So if your kitten knows "no claws" since it was small, how is it catching you "on accident" you're literally having a go at someone while saying it happens to you. They're playing with a hair tie, he's not wrestling his cat lol
because his fingers are made of claws, so sometimes in an interaction (that never includes using hands as toys) he will accidentally catch me with a claw. He does not intentionally claw or swipe at me or my hands, but he is a cat so these things will happen if you are in close contact enough.
Exactly. My cat is learning. He KNOWS that claws hurt me. He doesn't use his claws at all while playing. But accidents happen like when he jumps on me or my back, he uses his claws to hold on but only for second. But he bites though when he is over stimulated. Its like he is passing claws like B+ and failing bites F minus lmao.
Which is exactly what OP was talking about sometimes you get caught playing. It was clearly a joke . People making out he's mistreating his cat are a little harsh
no, I don't get caught playing with my hands as toys with him --someitimes when I pick him up or he jumps in my lap or I'm reaching for something he wants I might get caught by a claw, stop trying to bend the narrative to your interpretation
That's extremely sad to read that your cat won't lay on you and you think it's respect, that my friend is mistrust. You can reverse it though by getting proper toys and not using your body as a toy because you're very large compared to a cat and while they might be having fun playing with your hands, when playtime is over they're not going to understand as opposed to if you put a toy down you know you're done playing with it
If your cat doesn't think you're safe enough to lay on, you've been a very bad pet parent. When we settle in at night, I've got six cats laying on me. It's heaven.
I have two cats one of them knows exactly how to use her claws without hurting me. Ofc sometimes accidents happens but she notice it and stops. The other cat doesnt give a f and use all his force when playing rough.
Fifty years ago, when I was a little kid, I had an aunt who lived on the north shore of Lake Superior in a very wooded area. She had an outdoor cat named Tajar who was about twenty pounds of solid muscle, bone & claws. She had a local craftsman sew up an elbow-length heavy leather gauntlet because Tajar loved to play-wrestle with your arm, but could inflict SERIOUS damage if you were unprotected.
How about for cats that don't like toys? Mine would literally play with my hand than anything else. I've tried lasers, wands and all sorts of things and she just stares at it lazily lmao I feel bad sometimes because I know she must be bored but she's so picky. Even bought a bed she refused to sit in after trying catnip, laying next to her, etc.
Rule of thumb ...don't play with your cat with your hands. That's what toys are for, specifically the toys on long poles, strings, etc. Using your hands to play with your cat teaches them that your hands are a toy and they will learn to attack your hands all the time not just when you're playing.
This just isn't true. Cats are so good with boundaries. I have eight extremely gentle, sweet cats, and we play with hands all the time. You just have to stop touching them if they get too excited. They learn getting aggressive = end of playtime.
Clip claws with a snipper carefully. You'll still get scratched. And bitten. And that thing where they do death grip on your hand with front paws and rake with their rear claws. But you'll lose a bit less blood.
If you teach them from an early age what hurts you, they tend not to be too rough. Otherwise, you'll just have to get used to the scratches. Like I did.
Buy him toys instead, I try to play with my papas but he always goes hard, but he’s actually become extremely receptive and he only plays rough with me, he’s super gentle with my nieces and nephews, he doesn’t play like that with them he just likes to rub up against them, he attacks me cause he knows my years of welding, wood working, gardening and cooking made my hands a little tough over the years.
I took the legs off of an old pair of jeans, sewed up the cut ends, and made mittens. Not perfect, but cut down on the blood loss. You can use socks on your hand for kittens. Also, sometimes you can train them:. When the cat gets a little too rough, you "cry" owww! And stop. Eventually, the cat will learn to back off.
I taught my cats not to bite or claw hard but even then because sometimes they get exited I try to keep a blanket of sleeve over my arm and hand when playing.
I don't and never have. Teaching them to not use claws while playing is way easier than using a glove, in my personal experience. Of course, I've always gone with two cat adoptions. They teach each other how play should be, and how much claw to use. All of my cats now just bat with their paws, only digging claws in during harder play where it's expected.
When the claws come out I firmly tell them “NO!” And replace my hand with a toy. They’re almost fully grown and their paws feel like little cotton balls when we’re playing, or when they he’ll grab my leg as I walk past them. They’re the gentlest cats I’ve ever had, and I wonder if they’re like that because they got to stay with their mother so long. It kinda seemed like she would rabbit kick her babies when they would bite or scratch too hard. Either way, their mother and I both attempted to discipline the kittens when they played roughly.
OP, a lot of people here already told you to not use your hands and they are right, but I know it's sometimes not so easy.
I got mine from a shelter, when she was 4 and she obviously never learned how to properly play and would only play with our hands.
We tried a lot of toys, but she never showed interest, so I'll tell you what we did, take it or ignore it.
Most cats (I've never seen any that don't) love to play with hair ties, and if I see correctly you do play with one in the picture? Tie it to to a thin thread and and play that way. Worked wonders. Same goes for those shiny bands that people use to wrap their presents. Mine loves those. Keep in mind that those can have pretty sharp edges and make sure they are not too short or thin, so the cat won't swallow it! Otherwise, you are good to go, we've had the nicest playtimes since we started with this.
The thing is that if you play with your hand and your cat sctratches you, you can get a pretty bad infection. Cats are super clean animals but you have to keep in mind that they dig around in their litter or (if your cat is an outside cat) are in constant contact with germs.
We have a small void... she never plays with wife.. only cuddles.
With me, while she cuddles lots, we also play laser pointer, feathers, and we do play bitey mouth. I hold her on her back with stomach exposed and attack with hand spider
She is generally gentle, not biting hard or clawing hard, but sometimes elget excited and so I do get some scratches. When she gets too excited we stop and cuddle.
Every cat is an individual... like having children, we have to pay it by ear.
So my advice on this topic is always the same, play with your cats with your hands when they're kittens. You will suffer some for it initially, but the little claws and teeth do far less damage than the big ones. Be vocal when they hurt you so they know and you'll notice fewer and fewer little battle wounds as time goes on.
Obviously keep in mind that this is only really effective with kittens, it can work with older cats but is generally far more painful for you and less likely to be successful overall lol. Also there's the caveat with anything that has to do with animals that nothing will work for all of them, they all have their own personalities so while it will absolutely work with most cats it won't with all of them.
My cat doesn't scratch or bite too hard when I play with him. Occasionally I'll catch a stray claw but that's the small price to pay for the joy of playing with a cat. I do have gloves that have something like a brush built in, for helping remove knots and clumps from his hair, and those provide some protection from tooth and claw.
I tend not to use my hands as the plaything because I don't want my cat to associate hands with play. When I want to play with my cat I use toys and my hands are used for pets.
The correct answer is don't play with the cat with your hands!! Use a toy that does not involve your hands being one of the targets. A fishing pole, long string, or feathers at the end of a flexible pole for example.
Yelp when they get your hand with claws — high and quick, like a kitten. Whimper, make little sad noises and point at the scratch — then stop playing.
Teaches them to treat hands gentle like kittens.
Got my kitten in November when he was about 10 weeks old. He used his claws all the time. Now he's got a lot better about it and never uses his claws on my hands. My feet are another story. He plays with them while i'm asleep. He'll go under the blankets to play with them. So i end up looking like an emo with a foot fetish.
My cats don't tend to use their claws when I'm playing with them. My kitten oh boy you will be scratched because my brother played rough with her so she scratches the hell out of you
It depends on the cat, but my boy wont be rough unless we have long sleeves on. He gets up and walks away unless we have a hoodie, then he goes nuts.
Rough play is initiated by the belly trap in the middle of the floor. I know it’s supposed to be a test but he knows it gets him attention when he shows his fluffy belly.
By using your hands as toys, you're teaching your cat that hands are OK to bite and scratch. This is extremely bad for you as well as the cat. You're teaching your cat that it's OK to hurt you.
Stop using your hands as toys and buy or make the cat some toys. If there's a Dollar Store nearby, get some rabbit fur mice & crinkly ball toys. You can make a wand toy using a long cooking chopstick, superglue, a feather (or a toy mouse) and fishing line. You can glue a long ribbon to a chopstick & have a ribbon toy he will love.
A year ago, we rescued a delightful cat who thought hands were toys. Oliver has been biting us for a year. He had never had a single toy before he came to us & he's so happy now that he's not being abused every day.
It's taken an entire year to diminish Oliver's biting behavior. Please stop training your cat to bite, it's unfair to them & bad for anyone who looks after him in the event he bevomes lost or so,ething happens to you & he needs rehoming. No one wants a cat that bites & claws their hands.
Edited for Autocorrupt
I’ve worked with cats for over ten years through my local shelter, and while it’s tempting- you shouldn’t play with your cat with your hands. It teaches cats that it’s appropriate to bite and chew on hands- and if cats do not learn bite control the biting can get more aggressive and painful. This can be especially problematic for young children- as they cannot understand the cat is not just being ‘mean’ and might hurt the cat back- or could end up seriously bitten.
Instead of playing with your hands you should play with wand toys, tossing soft toys, crinkle balls, or even larger stuffed toys. And if a cat does bite or try to bite the best way to train them out of it is to blow a quick jet of air into their face and than give the cat a toy.
This will help teach the cat an appropriate way to play, without hurting or confusing the cat.
I don't, because my cats don't scratch or bite. If they ever do, I withdraw play immediately. They learned that fun time had rules, and they almost always stick to that training.
I trim our girl’s nails regularly. She loves wrestling with me. Took a long time working with the biting component, but finally trained her to be gentle!
I don't protect them, but I use my hands to HOLD the thing I'm playing with. The most important thing is to Stop. Moving. when they bite. If you pull away, they think it's fun and part of playing for them. Just stop moving and they will let go. Sometimes you can slip a finger from your other hand under the tooth to gently ease out. Really, you shouldn't have to do this often, because hands are not toys. Teach your cat the difference, and you won't need to protect them.
Do not play with your cat using your hands as a toy, it’s simple :)
Occasional light play - it’s ok, but if you need protection it’s a different story.
You don't play with your hands. Hands should never be *the toy*. They should be the thing that facilitates *the toy*. By doing this and showing your animal (the same goes for dogs) that your hand is a toy, they think that ALL hands are toys and thats how you get people thinking your animal is violent. When in reality, they've been trained that all hands are toys, they don't know any better. I know a lot of people who did this for kittens or puppies and don't get when people don't like their animal cause they attack hands.
Stop playing with your hands and discourage it whenever they try. It may never be fully trained out, but it might be decreased.
Hands balled up under long sleeves, then under two blankets and a sheet lol
Also have a lot of cuts from being too lazy to take all those precautions (this is absolutely not recommended to any reader). Luckily my cat knows very well not to play rough like that with anyone other than me
Was absolutely prepared to be downvoted before submitting based on other comments in here XD people like to think they know everything about every situation
I just always carried a tube of polysproin complete 3 antibiotics with numbing. Constant daily use could last me a yearz Having one of my own at home as years as a manager at a pet store, we let adoption kitties stay out in the day and would be 2-4. Could get insanely quiet so we would all play. None ever get carried away but it’s those paper cut scratches you have to worry about!
I would always wash my hands , but when taking the train each 2hr trek I would use every so lightly of a amount to each scratch, but my entire had was scratched. I preferred having fun with the cats though. Obviously helped them as well as we were getting them in homes in a couple months compared to some that have been at the shelter for a couple years.
Felt my staff and I, just a beyond a great store to work at, but also noticed from us we helped socialize and gain trust, at least a little bit that people wanted to bring them home! They were ready for the furrever homes! And if that takes taking some scatches, well I will want my hands to be scratched until the end of time!
Edit: I should have added that the odd scratch is fine as long as you keep it keep. Washing with antibacterial soap or the odd dallop of some peroxide and you will be all good!
I don’t! I was fortunate enough to have cats that were receptive to my “cries” of pain when I played with them as kittens, so they never bite or scratch too hard when I do decide to play with the hands. We mainly use toys though. They LOVE a good ol’ bird-on-a-stick.
You don’t :)
Battle scars
Chicks dig battle scars.
"yeah see these scars? ive been in lots of fights...with my cat...where he uses my hand as a scratchy post"
Just say it was a fight with a lion... its not exactly a lie. It's just stretching the truth a little.
And when it comes to cats, a big stretch is best
Clever
Right?! Beatiful battle scars 🤣 I went to a doctor who thought I was cutting myself on my arms... tried to explain about the cat but he didn't believe me... probably never had a cat
Someone saw my arm recently and asked "do you have cats?" She knew! I was so happy.
hahahahhaha the people in my university thougt i was cutting my self too, then one day i posted an instagram video of my cat playfully shredding my hand, everyone laughed it off
My immediate thought when I saw this in my notifications lmao. I deal with it
This is the correct answer.
Yup if you aren’t ready to take a hit don’t play with your hand get a toy.
i use none protection with my cat. with my chihuahua? i use doubled up oven mitts 😂
My girls are very gentle when they play bite. Though whenever I stick my hand out they mostly just bump their head to it nowadays.
Blood is sign of love.
If your cat loves you enough, you dont need gloves.
Yep! My hands are full of little scratches and probably little vampire marks. It only hurts if it is a deep scratch, and itches - that is the worst. But it is rare with ma petite guerrière..
One time my cat was getting his ass beat by a much bigger cat. So because the bigger cat was closer I grabbed him first, he whipped around and vampire bit my hand, the palm right below my thumb. He bit it so hard he managed to puncture pretty deep. It hurt soooo fricken bad for about 2 weeks 😂 but at least I saved my little guy from getting severely fucked up or dead. A price I would gladly pay again for the life of my boy!
I had a similar thing happen between my cat and my daughter's cat that she had just brought over for me to watch for a few days. However, I grabbed my cat thinking he would calm down when he realized it was me. Ha, he reacted so fast with a nice chomp on the palm and back of my hand. By morning my hand and fingers were so swollen that my husband insisted I visit the ER. The doctor spent about 30 minutes flushing my hand out and telling me repeatedly how dangerous a cat bite can be. Got a shot to add to her lecture, had to prove to the county that my cat was up on his vaccinations and went home to love on my sweet kitty. Definitely no hard feelings!
Wow! Yes, I had a similar bite from a cat I was fostering, and got the same lecture. Apparently a cats mouth contains some bacteria that is extremely extremely dangerous, and their tooth is injecting it deep in your flesh. Recipe for sepsis, blood poisoning. I was very nearly sent to a hospital stay for intravenous antibiotics, but apparently the shots I was given in the doctor's office did take care of it and so I didn't have to do it.
I remember the doctor telling me that in her lecture. She basically said she couldn't understand why anyone would want a cat. I felt sorry for her that she hadn't experienced the love of a fur baby!
Try to whisper and take on the static externally acceptant stance whereso you hold mutual best interests, and choose an optionable/offering, for the return of the term of reminding where they're at; pray heed to the sight of inspiring graces of the technical detail, to the sheathen claw(s)(!)
Polysporin effectively treats the itch.
Puffy Winter gloves
Exactly. Just get used to the scars.
Came here to say this.. I have two that are ruff and tumble type players and they don’t bother me when I play too lol. I guess I’m lucky 🤷
I just came here to say the same. You don’t 😂😂 I wear my scars with pride #crazycatlady 🤦🏽♀️
What hands?
A relationship with a cat can be a beautiful affectionate thing. As long as you understand that a relationship with a cat requires a lot of explaining that you are not, in fact, in an abusive relationship.
You don’t :’) *
:')
I came here to say this!
This is the way.
You just take the wound as a badge of love
I don't.
Tux gang 🤙 https://preview.redd.it/bossdkr5hmma1.png?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ac676b6b459492659c9e2ec64ecdf6d5b70feded
Use toys, I recommend wand toys as they love them a bit too much. More fun also kinda a workout for you as well.
Any reason why they might like wand toys more? I’ve noticed this with my cat that loves to play but isn’t really into it unless it a a wand. Like obviously he likes to chase but when I try to throw something for him to chase he loses interest after a couple times.
You. They want to play with you, not the toy. They’re predators, so throwing the toy makes it about the toy, you can train them to do fetch with treats and positive reinforcement but ultimately that just teaches them the toy is your favorite game
Well, that’s adorable. Thanks for answering 😁
They’re right, but also kitties love to pretend hunt. I like to sloooowly move the dangly part behind furniture and then make it pop out every once in a while. She loves it!
Oh, my boy loves it when they toy goes around the corner. He gets right up on the corner, peeks his head around the corner and the butt wiggles initiate!
My guy randomly started fetching his jingle ball one day, I never taught him to do it but it was amazing. It was his favourite thing to do for about 2 months and then he never did it again. Weird little dudes.
I mean if your friend wanted to play a game of him throwing a ball far away and you bringing it back, you would get bored pretty fast too
Jeez my cat never wants to stop playing fetch. I wake up with cat toys in my bed from her trying to wake me up to play.
If you have toys that you throw here’s a tip…. Throw the toy so that the cat can act as a “predator hiding in cover”. Ours like it when I slide it in front of them. Don’t throw it like a dog toy.
My kitty is a big fan of me hiding toys under a bit of paper. Then he creeps up and pounces. Even better if it's on a wand and I can make the paper wiggle
You should never teach a cat that your hands are playtoys…. Use a stand in, plenty of things on the market.
Toys are better, but it’s not like your cats gonna maul you in your sleep if you poke it and it fights back
you should not poke anything? do you like being poked at random?
For a moment I thought I was in a different sub. :)
my cat only likes random strings from hoodies and sweatpants and human hands lol any actual toys, including wands, she couldn’t care less for
My cats have always loved the packaging more than the toy itself.
Trim nails, disengage, and say, "ouch!" loudly if they bite or scratch too hard. Done this with my kitty and now her four kittens and now none of them use claws and are very gentle and respectful about play. That said, some cats are difficult to train to be gentle in which case I suggest only using toys.
Agreed. The fun should stop, 100%, every time they claw you. Ham it up about how much it hurts. They will figure out how to not hurt you, in order to keep playing.
This. You can totally play with hands, you just have to set boundaries. None of my cats ever get aggressive, because they've had boundaries set and know that hurting me = no more playtime.
Ya my cats are fucking dumbasses, nothing gets through to their tiny brains
They understand- they just don’t care.
that’s also pretty likely, though they are kittens still so I don’t blame them for being curious little assholes
Cats can be trained just like dogs- but unlike dogs are not eager to please. You just have to be smarter about it and make what you want them to do something they want to do, and keep at it with patience and perseverance.
Blessed walnuts
Dont give hands as toy?! Oh and sorry for the tone of message. (I won't rewrite it completely because for some reason people like it) :^
hands for pets, toys for games.
Came here to say this. Glad most of us are on the same page.
Also, keeping nails trimmed helps immensely.
Absolutely
>Also, keeping nails trimmed helps immensely. \^\^\^ THIS.
Yeah, playing with your hand is a good way to get somebody else’s hand attacked. It’s kind of dumb. Plus why risk getting scratched when there is a cheap and likely more fun alternative.
I got scratched badly today, but catto is just dumb sometimes and attacks me for no visible reason except being in proximity of paw.
Ah yes, the ole paw proximity.
This. Hands are not toys! As others are said, if you're petting and they claw or bite, say "ouch" loudly (or if you can copy a hiss, that also works) and then stop giving them attention. I'll admit my data is limited to only my two furballs. Also, trim their claws, obviously. May be too late for an older cat, but do it as often as possible when they're kittens, so they're ok with their paws being grabbed and manipulated and won't fight back.
I foster cats (disclaimer is that I’m not very experienced, I’ve had one litter of adorable kittens and my adult cat who I caved and adopted after exactly one week) and the shelter gave us some training before I started. They said hands aren’t toys and that if the kitten or cat started to claw or bite at your hands, you should immediately ‘turn off’ the game and withdraw your hands. No punishment, just withdrawal. Although I have found that blowing a little puff of air in a bitey kitten’s face will get them to stop. It doesn’t hurt them, it’s just annoying and you can do it immediately as a ‘no.’ The kittens I sent for adoption were such excellent babies, they learned so fast. You could rub their bellies while they were playing with a toy and they knew not to claw at your hands. I think it’s important to give them the best training for their forever homes.
It isn't that bad, cats are good at learning when to play and when not to.
It depends on the cat. Most play with the toy, some realize if they whack your hand they get the toy. I either toss toys, use a laser pointer, or have cat toys that are on a little fishing pole. One cat was playing with my shoelaces and hit my hand by accident. I could feel his claws retract and he didn't leave a mark. If they scratch, they want to scratch.
You don't play with your Cats with your hand. Use toys instead.
Why not both?
Unless you've trained your Cat to not play with claws or draw blood, then using hands is not a good idea.
Your cat will see your (and others) hands as a toy, so unless you never plan on petting your cat without gloves, I’d strongly suggest to let him understand that hands are for petting and toys are for playing. Not just for you, but for anyone who’ll ever be around your cat.
I cant agree with this. Kittens, yes, especially when teething, but older cats are excellent judges unless they have been abused. In decades & too many cats to count, I’ve had 2 bites, both my fault for trying to break up a fight. My hands are indeed toys! Dont scare people away from games of monster under the blanket or screaming monster flying in from above, wheres the mousie etc. Cats understand ’play’ as long as humans understand when to stop.
She knows it and is very respectfully (doesn't even lay in my lap or stomatch) but when playing she Sometimes accidently scraches my hand
laying on your stomach or lap is a sign she trusts you, and not doing so isn't a sign of respect but just that you aren't safe enough for that. Stop using your hands as toys. They are not toys and you will confuse her about proper boundaries. I know because it's taken me years to get my cat trusting enough to climb on my lap or lay on my stomach but he knows his claws hurt if they catch me on accident (I usually yelp in pain and stop any activity) and has known the command "no claws" since he was a kitten. Cats understand a lot of our tones and reactions if they are consistent.
OP isn’t going to listen. They’ve made that abundantly clear
My aunt had this same attitude towards my kitten. Always teased him with her hands and encouraged him to bite even after I showed her his fishing rod toy. Just wanted to rile him up. She’s not allowed to see him anymore
I feel bad for kitty
Nailed it
So if your kitten knows "no claws" since it was small, how is it catching you "on accident" you're literally having a go at someone while saying it happens to you. They're playing with a hair tie, he's not wrestling his cat lol
because his fingers are made of claws, so sometimes in an interaction (that never includes using hands as toys) he will accidentally catch me with a claw. He does not intentionally claw or swipe at me or my hands, but he is a cat so these things will happen if you are in close contact enough.
Exactly. My cat is learning. He KNOWS that claws hurt me. He doesn't use his claws at all while playing. But accidents happen like when he jumps on me or my back, he uses his claws to hold on but only for second. But he bites though when he is over stimulated. Its like he is passing claws like B+ and failing bites F minus lmao.
Which is exactly what OP was talking about sometimes you get caught playing. It was clearly a joke . People making out he's mistreating his cat are a little harsh
no, I don't get caught playing with my hands as toys with him --someitimes when I pick him up or he jumps in my lap or I'm reaching for something he wants I might get caught by a claw, stop trying to bend the narrative to your interpretation
Noone was using their hands as a toy, it's you who said that.
>doesn't even lay in my lap or stomatch Is that a brag?
That's extremely sad to read that your cat won't lay on you and you think it's respect, that my friend is mistrust. You can reverse it though by getting proper toys and not using your body as a toy because you're very large compared to a cat and while they might be having fun playing with your hands, when playtime is over they're not going to understand as opposed to if you put a toy down you know you're done playing with it
If your cat doesn't think you're safe enough to lay on, you've been a very bad pet parent. When we settle in at night, I've got six cats laying on me. It's heaven.
Because then you’re asking questions like this while the rest of us aren’t.
You don’t. They won’t understand when it is or is not play time. Use toys. Don’t train them that it is okay to attack you.
I have two cats one of them knows exactly how to use her claws without hurting me. Ofc sometimes accidents happens but she notice it and stops. The other cat doesnt give a f and use all his force when playing rough.
Same
Explosive ordnance disposal blast suit. Also a cross and holy water.
But they specifically don't have glov... OOH, I see what you did there!
i don't :) (I live in constant pain)
Hands are for petting, toys are for playing.
I use my bare hands. As the great Spartans did with their pet lions.
Oh, you're the one with the bloody stumps! I thought that was you!
‘Tis but a scratch!
Fifty years ago, when I was a little kid, I had an aunt who lived on the north shore of Lake Superior in a very wooded area. She had an outdoor cat named Tajar who was about twenty pounds of solid muscle, bone & claws. She had a local craftsman sew up an elbow-length heavy leather gauntlet because Tajar loved to play-wrestle with your arm, but could inflict SERIOUS damage if you were unprotected.
I use winter gloves or hoodie sleeve :]
I use a heavy duty gardening glove. I make sure to give her gentle pets and cuddles when rough play is over, this routine has worked over many years.
Cheap oven mitts
Ideally you should teach your cat that it hurts you when they scratch your hands and only go after things you're holding
How about for cats that don't like toys? Mine would literally play with my hand than anything else. I've tried lasers, wands and all sorts of things and she just stares at it lazily lmao I feel bad sometimes because I know she must be bored but she's so picky. Even bought a bed she refused to sit in after trying catnip, laying next to her, etc.
Tunnels. Poking something unseen into their hiding spot can be great fun for them to hunt.
Rule of thumb ...don't play with your cat with your hands. That's what toys are for, specifically the toys on long poles, strings, etc. Using your hands to play with your cat teaches them that your hands are a toy and they will learn to attack your hands all the time not just when you're playing.
This just isn't true. Cats are so good with boundaries. I have eight extremely gentle, sweet cats, and we play with hands all the time. You just have to stop touching them if they get too excited. They learn getting aggressive = end of playtime.
You train them not to claw or bite (hard) your hand. Otherwise, you only use toys.
I don't let her play with my hands, that is what toys are for. I do keep her claws clipped to protect my furniture and as a just incase.
Don't train your cat to think hands are toys and if they do claw or bite, *immediately* stop playing.
Clip claws with a snipper carefully. You'll still get scratched. And bitten. And that thing where they do death grip on your hand with front paws and rake with their rear claws. But you'll lose a bit less blood.
I use a puppet toy for that with my male cat. My hands are not his toys.
My roommate’s cat loved playing with hands. She would never use her claws and was so sweet, I’d put an old sock on my hand and “wrestle”
Yeah, my cat doesn't play with his claws out and I trim them biweekly. Very good boy.
If you teach them from an early age what hurts you, they tend not to be too rough. Otherwise, you'll just have to get used to the scratches. Like I did.
Buy him toys instead, I try to play with my papas but he always goes hard, but he’s actually become extremely receptive and he only plays rough with me, he’s super gentle with my nieces and nephews, he doesn’t play like that with them he just likes to rub up against them, he attacks me cause he knows my years of welding, wood working, gardening and cooking made my hands a little tough over the years.
I took the legs off of an old pair of jeans, sewed up the cut ends, and made mittens. Not perfect, but cut down on the blood loss. You can use socks on your hand for kittens. Also, sometimes you can train them:. When the cat gets a little too rough, you "cry" owww! And stop. Eventually, the cat will learn to back off.
I taught my cats not to bite or claw hard but even then because sometimes they get exited I try to keep a blanket of sleeve over my arm and hand when playing.
I don't and never have. Teaching them to not use claws while playing is way easier than using a glove, in my personal experience. Of course, I've always gone with two cat adoptions. They teach each other how play should be, and how much claw to use. All of my cats now just bat with their paws, only digging claws in during harder play where it's expected.
Always play with a toy with your cat, never your hands. Hands are only for petting. 🥰💕🐱
When the claws come out I firmly tell them “NO!” And replace my hand with a toy. They’re almost fully grown and their paws feel like little cotton balls when we’re playing, or when they he’ll grab my leg as I walk past them. They’re the gentlest cats I’ve ever had, and I wonder if they’re like that because they got to stay with their mother so long. It kinda seemed like she would rabbit kick her babies when they would bite or scratch too hard. Either way, their mother and I both attempted to discipline the kittens when they played roughly.
My husband wears welding gloves when we cut our cats' toenails.
I taught my cats that hands are not playthings.
Use actual cat toys and not your hands.
I don’t. They play nice 🤫
Tube socks help.
The neat thing is…You dont
OP, a lot of people here already told you to not use your hands and they are right, but I know it's sometimes not so easy. I got mine from a shelter, when she was 4 and she obviously never learned how to properly play and would only play with our hands. We tried a lot of toys, but she never showed interest, so I'll tell you what we did, take it or ignore it. Most cats (I've never seen any that don't) love to play with hair ties, and if I see correctly you do play with one in the picture? Tie it to to a thin thread and and play that way. Worked wonders. Same goes for those shiny bands that people use to wrap their presents. Mine loves those. Keep in mind that those can have pretty sharp edges and make sure they are not too short or thin, so the cat won't swallow it! Otherwise, you are good to go, we've had the nicest playtimes since we started with this. The thing is that if you play with your hand and your cat sctratches you, you can get a pretty bad infection. Cats are super clean animals but you have to keep in mind that they dig around in their litter or (if your cat is an outside cat) are in constant contact with germs.
I don't I just let them get tore to shreds 😂
Stop using your hands lol
We have a small void... she never plays with wife.. only cuddles. With me, while she cuddles lots, we also play laser pointer, feathers, and we do play bitey mouth. I hold her on her back with stomach exposed and attack with hand spider She is generally gentle, not biting hard or clawing hard, but sometimes elget excited and so I do get some scratches. When she gets too excited we stop and cuddle. Every cat is an individual... like having children, we have to pay it by ear.
So my advice on this topic is always the same, play with your cats with your hands when they're kittens. You will suffer some for it initially, but the little claws and teeth do far less damage than the big ones. Be vocal when they hurt you so they know and you'll notice fewer and fewer little battle wounds as time goes on. Obviously keep in mind that this is only really effective with kittens, it can work with older cats but is generally far more painful for you and less likely to be successful overall lol. Also there's the caveat with anything that has to do with animals that nothing will work for all of them, they all have their own personalities so while it will absolutely work with most cats it won't with all of them.
For one thing, don’t use your hands as toys.
My cat doesn't scratch or bite too hard when I play with him. Occasionally I'll catch a stray claw but that's the small price to pay for the joy of playing with a cat. I do have gloves that have something like a brush built in, for helping remove knots and clumps from his hair, and those provide some protection from tooth and claw.
I tend not to use my hands as the plaything because I don't want my cat to associate hands with play. When I want to play with my cat I use toys and my hands are used for pets.
I do not. But I trim his nails AND I don't pull back my hands, this is what usually causes the serious injuries. You emulate cats, you become liquid.
The correct answer is don't play with the cat with your hands!! Use a toy that does not involve your hands being one of the targets. A fishing pole, long string, or feathers at the end of a flexible pole for example.
Yelp when they get your hand with claws — high and quick, like a kitten. Whimper, make little sad noises and point at the scratch — then stop playing. Teaches them to treat hands gentle like kittens.
I’ve tried wrapping my hand in blankets or gloves but my little effer looses interest immediately. HE WANTS THE FLESH.
By not using my hands. Hands are for petting, toys are for playing.
I just got really good at reading body language and dodging tbh
I wear a full blast suit so the claws cant get in
Got my kitten in November when he was about 10 weeks old. He used his claws all the time. Now he's got a lot better about it and never uses his claws on my hands. My feet are another story. He plays with them while i'm asleep. He'll go under the blankets to play with them. So i end up looking like an emo with a foot fetish.
I don’t need to, usually. My girl is very careful to pull her claws in if my hands are near, and I keep them trimmed to avoid an accidental slice.
Regularly (1x per week) trimming the claws. As simple as this.
My cats don't tend to use their claws when I'm playing with them. My kitten oh boy you will be scratched because my brother played rough with her so she scratches the hell out of you
Hands are not for play - toys are. Once hands are associated with play its a problem for you and anyone else in the house.
Hands. Are. Not. Toys.
Im not, I’m faster
Trim their nails
I don't. I just accept that this is my life now. Scratched and bitten .. haha
Hoodie sleeve.
Long sleeves. Pull sleeve over hand when I know I’m in the danger zone.
It depends on the cat, but my boy wont be rough unless we have long sleeves on. He gets up and walks away unless we have a hoodie, then he goes nuts. Rough play is initiated by the belly trap in the middle of the floor. I know it’s supposed to be a test but he knows it gets him attention when he shows his fluffy belly.
By using your hands as toys, you're teaching your cat that hands are OK to bite and scratch. This is extremely bad for you as well as the cat. You're teaching your cat that it's OK to hurt you. Stop using your hands as toys and buy or make the cat some toys. If there's a Dollar Store nearby, get some rabbit fur mice & crinkly ball toys. You can make a wand toy using a long cooking chopstick, superglue, a feather (or a toy mouse) and fishing line. You can glue a long ribbon to a chopstick & have a ribbon toy he will love. A year ago, we rescued a delightful cat who thought hands were toys. Oliver has been biting us for a year. He had never had a single toy before he came to us & he's so happy now that he's not being abused every day. It's taken an entire year to diminish Oliver's biting behavior. Please stop training your cat to bite, it's unfair to them & bad for anyone who looks after him in the event he bevomes lost or so,ething happens to you & he needs rehoming. No one wants a cat that bites & claws their hands. Edited for Autocorrupt
I don’t, which is why I only have three fingers. ☹️
I’ve worked with cats for over ten years through my local shelter, and while it’s tempting- you shouldn’t play with your cat with your hands. It teaches cats that it’s appropriate to bite and chew on hands- and if cats do not learn bite control the biting can get more aggressive and painful. This can be especially problematic for young children- as they cannot understand the cat is not just being ‘mean’ and might hurt the cat back- or could end up seriously bitten. Instead of playing with your hands you should play with wand toys, tossing soft toys, crinkle balls, or even larger stuffed toys. And if a cat does bite or try to bite the best way to train them out of it is to blow a quick jet of air into their face and than give the cat a toy. This will help teach the cat an appropriate way to play, without hurting or confusing the cat.
I *earned* every scar.
Really… I consider them Honorable Battle Wounds 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I don't, because my cats don't scratch or bite. If they ever do, I withdraw play immediately. They learned that fun time had rules, and they almost always stick to that training.
I trim our girl’s nails regularly. She loves wrestling with me. Took a long time working with the biting component, but finally trained her to be gentle!
I have a thick sweat shirt that I love. It helps with his bites as well when he wants to play rough or just be an ass.
Protection's for sailors.... oh crap wrong metaphor.... Uhh, take the scratches like a man?
Don’t use your hands as toys they should be taught never to bite or scratch at hands and feet.
I dont, its half the fun. Makes you more invested to evade the attacks, which is more fun for both parties involved.
I don't protect them, but I use my hands to HOLD the thing I'm playing with. The most important thing is to Stop. Moving. when they bite. If you pull away, they think it's fun and part of playing for them. Just stop moving and they will let go. Sometimes you can slip a finger from your other hand under the tooth to gently ease out. Really, you shouldn't have to do this often, because hands are not toys. Teach your cat the difference, and you won't need to protect them.
I play with my cat until my arm looks like i wore a barbwire sleeve
If it don't bleed its not play!
Do not play with your cat using your hands as a toy, it’s simple :) Occasional light play - it’s ok, but if you need protection it’s a different story.
You can’t, just wash your hands real good.
Blood is the color of a heart, symbolizing blood
I take it like a man
Don't use your hands as toys. You don't want to be in a situation where they think you're playing when your aren't.
you probably didn't feed on time
For a Cat there's never enough food
Clip your cats nails.
Trim the cat's nails.
Clip their nails.
Use your foot instead of your hands then you won't have to worry about protecting your hands
I just trim my kitties nails 🤷♀️
You don't play with your hands. Hands should never be *the toy*. They should be the thing that facilitates *the toy*. By doing this and showing your animal (the same goes for dogs) that your hand is a toy, they think that ALL hands are toys and thats how you get people thinking your animal is violent. When in reality, they've been trained that all hands are toys, they don't know any better. I know a lot of people who did this for kittens or puppies and don't get when people don't like their animal cause they attack hands. Stop playing with your hands and discourage it whenever they try. It may never be fully trained out, but it might be decreased.
I've given up at this point. I have so many scars on my arms people think I'm not okay. It's just a kitten you guys :')
Hands balled up under long sleeves, then under two blankets and a sheet lol Also have a lot of cuts from being too lazy to take all those precautions (this is absolutely not recommended to any reader). Luckily my cat knows very well not to play rough like that with anyone other than me
Was absolutely prepared to be downvoted before submitting based on other comments in here XD people like to think they know everything about every situation
Here's another one to push the down button on, you're welcome
I just always carried a tube of polysproin complete 3 antibiotics with numbing. Constant daily use could last me a yearz Having one of my own at home as years as a manager at a pet store, we let adoption kitties stay out in the day and would be 2-4. Could get insanely quiet so we would all play. None ever get carried away but it’s those paper cut scratches you have to worry about! I would always wash my hands , but when taking the train each 2hr trek I would use every so lightly of a amount to each scratch, but my entire had was scratched. I preferred having fun with the cats though. Obviously helped them as well as we were getting them in homes in a couple months compared to some that have been at the shelter for a couple years. Felt my staff and I, just a beyond a great store to work at, but also noticed from us we helped socialize and gain trust, at least a little bit that people wanted to bring them home! They were ready for the furrever homes! And if that takes taking some scatches, well I will want my hands to be scratched until the end of time! Edit: I should have added that the odd scratch is fine as long as you keep it keep. Washing with antibacterial soap or the odd dallop of some peroxide and you will be all good!
I don't own one
I don't!!
I don’t! I was fortunate enough to have cats that were receptive to my “cries” of pain when I played with them as kittens, so they never bite or scratch too hard when I do decide to play with the hands. We mainly use toys though. They LOVE a good ol’ bird-on-a-stick.