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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!houxm!hjuxa!akl
From: akl@hjuxa.UUCP (Anita K. Laux)
Newsgroups: net.pets
Subject: Re: cat bite
Message-ID: <384@hjuxa.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 18-Mar-86 10:14:09 EST
Article-I.D.: hjuxa.384
Posted: Tue Mar 18 10:14:09 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 19-Mar-86 05:17:43 EST
References: <2030@uwmacc.UUCP>
Distribution: na
Organization: Digital Equipment Corp. Holmdel, NJ
Lines: 26
Summary: cat PLAY!!

()
In article <2030@uwmacc.UUCP>, wu@uwmacc.UUCP (peter wu) writes:
> ******
> My friend has a cat and I like to play with it. Once in a while
> the cat will lie on the floor with her stomach up for me to
> caress. But after caressing her for maybe 15 seconds, she would
> always grab my hand with her paws and bite my hand lightly (but
> still hurt a little).
> On one occasion she managed to scratch my hand.
> 
> Does anybody else have the same experience?
> Is it trying to tell me to get lost or is it playing?
> 
> peter

This is typical of cat PLAY. They love to do this, just be a *little*
careful of the claws  - they sometimes get a bit too serious about
their nibbling. When that happens, tap the cat's nose with your finger
and say "NO!" They'll usually stop dead in their tracks and look at you
with a typical "who, me??" look. Note the word "tap" - don't clobber the
poor thing. A feisty feline who persists would probably enjoy a catnip 
toy better than your hand.

AKL@DEC