Kitten that bites way too much

Mar 15, 2003
12,668
103
106
My new cat (3 1/2 months old) has a horrible habit of biting and scratching people. It could be when you're petting him - which I get, he wants to be alone. Or he just walks up to your leg and starts attacking it, unprovoked. I'm covered in so many scratch and bite marks taht my co-worked probably think I'm suicidal - any advice?
 

dullard

Elite Member
May 21, 2001
25,918
4,508
126
I have no advice, other than to never play rough with it. Often once you have an "attack cat" they stay "attack cats" for life.

Was this kitten the runt of the litter by any chance?
 

ch33zw1z

Lifer
Nov 4, 2004
39,515
20,170
146
grab him by the scruff of the neck with one hand and under his front legs with the other....so he can't move. sternly tell him no until he calms down and realizes he's not in danger, more importantly he needs ot know who's boss. it may take a little time, but be overbearing enough...he'll succumb
 

pnad

Senior member
May 23, 2006
405
1
0
Place the tip of your thumb on your middle fingernail.

Apply pressure against thumb with middle finger.

Aim at kittens nose.

Release thumb.

<THWACK>


You are bigger than a kitten. You CAN win this fight. Don't let a 6oz animal kick your ass. You need to teach it that you are the dominant animal in the house.
 

StevenYoo

Diamond Member
Jul 4, 2001
8,628
0
0
Originally posted by: pnad
Place the tip of your thumb on your middle fingernail.

Apply pressure against thumb with middle finger.

Aim at kittens nose.

Release thumb.

<THWACK>

haha, that made me literally lol
 

Stumps

Diamond Member
Jun 18, 2001
7,125
0
0
grab said cats paw, push the middle part of the padding with your thumb, now apply the out streched claws to said cats body and drag across it until the cats ceases aggresive actions towards you.

trust me this does work...they hate being scratched.
 

Shadowknight

Diamond Member
May 4, 2001
3,959
3
81
For a quick fix until he stops, buy some clippers and clip his nails. You need to make sure you DO NOT cut the portion that is "colored" that's flesh. It's kind of like cutting our fingernails, but when you cut to the pink you're actually hurting them. My cats don't scratch, but when I play with one of those cat teaser wands, it's harder for them to hook onto the toy. They enjoy chasing it more than catching it, so it makes playtime more fun for them as well if they have a harder time holding onto it. If you want to make sure you don't screw up clipping their nails, blow $10 and take them to a professional pet groomer and have them show you where (and where not to) clip their toe nails.
 

HendrixFan

Diamond Member
Oct 18, 2001
4,646
0
71
Use a watergun. Cats hate it, and learn pretty quickly what is punished via watergun.
 

dug777

Lifer
Oct 13, 2004
24,778
4
0
Watergun is good, and we ignore her when she gets scratchy...

I'm loath to suggest flicking the kitten, but if all else fails it's a simple Pavlovian thing is it not? So it should work, it's just a bit cruel ;)
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,550
940
126
Yeah, it's cute when they're kittens but once they start getting bigger it's no longer cute-IT HURTS!!! I would just tell it no in a very stern and loud voice and go do something else away from the cat. Do this every time the kitten starts clawing and biting. Keep this up and eventually it will learn.

Another thing you might try is a squirt gun filled with water. Cats generally don't like water much so a couple squirts in the face usually will dissuade a cat.
 

glen

Lifer
Apr 28, 2000
15,995
1
81
Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
My new cat (3 1/2 months old) has a horrible habit of biting and scratching people. It could be when you're petting him - which I get, he wants to be alone. Or he just walks up to your leg and starts attacking it, unprovoked. I'm covered in so many scratch and bite marks taht my co-worked probably think I'm suicidal - any advice?
Clip his claws.
He will grow out of the biting.

 

So

Lifer
Jul 2, 2001
25,923
17
81
One of my friends applied the philosophy "if you wanna try to eat my finger, you get all of it" -- having a whole human finger stuffed into their face == not fun for the cat. IDK if it worked though, since I haven't been around his cats for a while.
 

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
61,838
17,553
136
Originally posted by: So
One of my friends applied the philosophy "if you wanna try to eat my finger, you get all of it" -- having a whole human finger stuffed into their face == not fun for the cat. IDK if it worked though, since I haven't been around his cats for a while.

I actually had a problem years back with one of my cats biting. So I picked it up and bit it.
She stopped biting.
 

reverend boltron

Senior member
Nov 18, 2004
945
0
76
Originally posted by: So
One of my friends applied the philosophy "if you wanna try to eat my finger, you get all of it" -- having a whole human finger stuffed into their face == not fun for the cat. IDK if it worked though, since I haven't been around his cats for a while.

Did they all die mysterious finger-choking related deaths?
 

So

Lifer
Jul 2, 2001
25,923
17
81
Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Originally posted by: So
One of my friends applied the philosophy "if you wanna try to eat my finger, you get all of it" -- having a whole human finger stuffed into their face == not fun for the cat. IDK if it worked though, since I haven't been around his cats for a while.

I actually had a problem years back with one of my cats biting. So I picked it up and bit it.
She stopped biting.

...and moving


...forever.


:(