yes me again! Gizmo has been nipping a little, gentle and not breaking skin or hurting, I thought it was when she has been petted more than she wants while we are learning to read her signals. She rubs against us for strokes which we give her, other times she doesnt want to but makes that clear. When I was brushing her (she picked up the brush and was rubbing on it so took the hint!) after a while she nipped me, (I wasnt touching her belly or legs) and also did it when I was stroking her sister, jealous madam!

Each time I told her no firmly and left the room.

I just spoke to her previous owner and she said they will gently nip sometimes as an 'I Love you' sort of gesture ...whilst Im convinced a purr or a chirrup would be far preferable I dont suppose I have the choice!

I dont want her nipping the kids - or me! her old owner said she tells her no and tugs her collar and says 'stop that now and behave' and carried on brushing etc and usually she doesnt do it again.

Any thoughts? shes nearly 2 so I know its not easy to stop ingrained behaviour, but I dont want to be constantly on the watchout for a nip cos that may make me seem tense to her or soemthing, any ideas? or is this just one of these little cat foibles we just live with and tell her no til she gets the message?

kids are so much simpler lol!!! shes started to chirrup a me the last couple of days so thats good start, Snuggles now comes out her bed at night and doesnt race from the room in the morning to get away so she seems to be settling, Gizmo is eating and Im sure Snuggles is too as they are both using the litter box, and guessing nothing would come out if it wasnt going in!

my neighbour had a prob wi her cat nipping , she used a water spray but her moggie hated it (a gentle one) and the cat did learn that if it nipped it got sprayed- the cat stopped nipping, still puches its luck now and again lol but lots better, good luck x

thanks for the advice hun, I will try that and see if it works n keep you posted, cheers.


Im really keen not to be concerned about being nipped - or of the kids being -cos if Im anxious I know they will sense it, so am filling up that bottle right now!

Gizmo accidently scratched my little boy this morning, he was messing with the DS adaptor and she pouncec on the lead and accidently caught him, he cried because it hurt and it shocked him (didnt break skin) and I explained she was playing, she looked really worried and followed him round for a bit, everytime he walks passed her now she chirrups at him like shes saying 'sorry!'

aw poor giz just trying to play!, my cat was quite lazy (he passed away last year and very sorely missed) he just used to watch everything but he loved a ball of wool!

aw bless him! Yes I think he felt shocked cos it hurt so I had to explain to him she wasnt intending to hurt him, she was playing with the lead, he seems ok now tho - I remember the first time a dog (not mine) nipped me I was really stunned and shocked by it, but maybe that was the whacking great needle the doctor produced cos my tetanus wasnt up to date! D

Behavior is the best way to show her TT,when she nips,nip her ear firmly so she feels it but not to hurt,and ignore her also put your hand on top of her head-this how another cat would show dominance

hiya, how is gizmo getting on?