cat hissing and odd behavior

Question
Our cat is about 1 1/2 years old. It has some of the oddest behavior!  Nothing like any other cat we have had. When it was about 6 months old it sucked on blankets. I read someplace that that is a behavior called wool sucking. Now she is always hissing at everyone. She really whines all the time and when she is around you she rubs constantly on your legs, but then when you go to pet her or pick her up she swats at you or tries to nip you. I think some of the behaviors, the rubbing and whining to eat, are habits that can be broken. But I just don't get the hissing. She is a very independent cat. She leaves for days at a time. She is a great hunter, but then is bullied by all the other cats in the neighborhood. I would appreciate alittle help. Thanks!

Answer
Hi Carol,

I assume your cat is spayed? Some of the behavior you describe sounds like a female in "heat". If she is spayed, there is a chance that a small piece of ovarian tissue was left behind during the surgery, and that can sometimes cause a spayed female to come into heat, although she can't reproduce. That would also cause ither cats to be drawn to her and torment her. You may want to visit the vet and have that possibility checked out especially if the behavior comes and goes in cycles. Your vet may want to do hormone tests or the behavior may be obvious to him. I have seen this happen a couple of times in spayed females and a second surgery was performed to remove the tissue that was continuing to produce hormones. The vet who performed the spay may be willing to do this for free if it was a mistake in surgery.

I would also advise keeping her indoors. Being bullied by other cats will not only affect her behavior, but she is at great risk for disease such as FIV, FeLv and infections. You may want to consider providing her with a cat enclosure so she can go out through a cat door to her own safe little kingdom. You'd be moody too if you were picked on and driven away from your home to return hungry days later.
See ideas at
http://catnet.stanford.edu/articles/enclosures.html

If she leaves for days at a time, it is only a matter of time before she never comes back because she is dead. She is likely being driven off by neighborhood cats and hiding out - she will be crossing busy streets or being chased by dogs - cats allowed outdoors have an average lifespan of 5 years because of all the accidents that can befall them. I highly recommend keeping her indoors or building an enclosure fo her. Here is more info about convertring outdoor cats to indoors only:
http://www.towncats.org/articles/article1.html
http://www.dupageco.org/animalcontrol/brochures/Indoor%20cat%20Brochure.pdf

As for the whining for food, the best way to avoid that is to not be associated as the bringer of food. Either leave dry food out at all times so she can eat as she pleases (and never feed treats scraps etc), or get a food dispenser that automatically feeds a portion at a certain time of day - so she sees the bowl as the food source not you!

For discouraging other behavior, such as nipping, try this. First, be aware of body language and pay attention to things she doesn't like. If she doesn't like being picked up - and most cats do not because it ruffles their dignity, do not pick her up. If she doesn't like being petted in a certain place on her body she may be ticklish there, so don't insist on petting her there. Cats will almost always warn you before nipping or swatting, so if you see her twitch her tail or stiffen, back off and leave her alone. Watch her face and tail for clues about how she feels. You wouldn't want another person to just come up and start running their hands all over you or tickling you whenever they felt like it - so try to avoid doing that to her. She may want attention but not to be "cuddled". Try just leaning over and petting her head or back when she rubs on your legs.

If you miss the signs and she does go to nip you - or succeeds in nipping you, immediately hiss at her and walk away. Then ignore her - do't even look at her - for at least 20 minutes. Being ignored is a good "punishment" for this behavior and she will learn that she has crossed a line with you.

Finally, I recommend you get the book "Think Like a Cat: How to Raise a Well-Adjusted Cat - Not a Sour Puss" by Pam Johnson-Bennett it is availabe at Amazon for about $10 and would be well worth it, it will help you understand cat behavior and train your cat to be a better companion.

Some cats will always have behavior quirks just as some humans do. Wool sucking is often a sign of a kitten that was taken from her mother too early, and seeking comfort just as humans who suck their thumbs. It will probably not be possible tostop that habit since it is so ingrained now just like adult humans who never stop biting nails or sucking thumbs.

Good luck!