6 month old cat biting me, not sure if it's playful or aggressive. How do I make him stop?

keyes

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I have to agree that if kittens are taken away to young from their siblings, they don't learn how to "play" nice.  I've had a couple like that and found out that if their playing got to rough when I was playing with them, I would then yell ouch however many times it took for them to stop.  For one thing, the loud noise of yelling would be enough to make them stop and usually back off.  They're adults now and we still play but if they get to rough, I yell ouch and they stop.
 

sonicspork

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Same deal in my house pretty much, I got a cute little rescue boy back in January...he was 5 months old then, so 7 months old now.  He was already neutered, they do that right away at this rescue.  First couple of days, he was mamma's snuggle baby.  Most well-behaved cat EVER.  After that 2 days or so, well...not s'much.  Although he is still awesome, and totally adored for his personality!  He is quite ferocious at times.

Thing I've learned is to read his language.  He has several "modes" of existence and they don't generally overlap.  So if it's sleep time, and I try to pet, he may bite a little or (more likely) get up and move away to lay back down where I can't bother him.  If it's play time and I try to pet him, yeah it's gonna be all teeth and claws.  Because I ignored his very clear tail whipping or posture messages that it is NOT petting time right now!  So if it's playtime, we can't force him to be a cute little snuggle-bunny, he is a mighty predator and killer of Invisible Things!  Or our legs!  Whatever! 

I'm pretty confident that as he eventually gets older he'll chill out some.  He's just all young and feisty now.

One suggestion that has really helped in my house is to trim his claws.  Believe it or not, he actually sits still for this (I know, I was shocked.)  Get the little clippy scissors they sell specifically for this purpose even at Walmart, and just clip the ends--be careful not to get into the "white" part of the claw, or basically too close to the toe, you can hurt your cat...but doing this once a week saves me from being sliced up.  His razor/fishhook claws were doing a lot more damage than his teeth.
 

catspaw66

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Welcome to TCS, SonicSpork.  Trimming claws is a good way to protect yourself, I agree.  My ladies hate the scissors, but will put up with human nail clippers.  Just avoid the white part and the pink part of the claws, as you said.
 

gloriajh

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He must learn that biting you is not acceptable. But as smitten4kittens said, it is normal behavior of a very active young cat. He is practicing his hunting skills. Have you watched a mommy cat discipline her kittens? She hisses and blows air on their faces. You can do those things too, especially if you are not holding a toy to distract him. Stare at him while you do it and then walk away.  In time your boy will stop. 
Good advice.  Observing a mother cat, or any other cat while they are determining the hierarchy is the best teacher for us to learn how to communicate.  

One time I was watching while one of my cats was eating her food and another one tried to join her - she put up her paw and he stopped trying to get her to share her food.  Now, when I want them to back off I hold up my flat hand and it works, they back off. 
 

gloriajh

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I know another cat would probably be ideal, but I can't afford one right now and this one I have is a handful XD

I'll try the toy idea, that means I'll always have to have a toy around me though LOL.
LOL  - or - maybe a "play date" with another feisty kitten. 
 

lorenaavila

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That is so truth. Cats have a lot of energy and most of the time, they just need to play a lot. When hands become a toy for them, it is time to play more with them and not allow them to bit any place of the body.  
 
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crtcatlady

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There are several things you can do;

1. When he bits you shove your hand or finger all the way to the back of his jaw and hold it there, it will be a little painful and you will have to hold his head with your other hand, hold it for at least a minute and then let him go. you may have to repeat this several time before he will stop, but I have found it to be a very successful way to train young kittens to stop biting.

2. Get him fixed. This may take care of some of his aggressive play behavior. This is play to him and he doesn't understand that it is not play for you.

3. When he attack your leg grab him behind the neck (like a mother cat) and hold out from your body and up in air for one or two minutes and them drop him! Again you may have to repeat this before his gets the idea that this is not acceptable play.

4. MOST IMPORTANTLY...PLAY WITH HIM. If he attack you as soon as you come in the door he has to much untapped energy (especially if he is an only cat) he needs to play. Try to schedule a play session before work, after work and an hour or so before you go to bed. The session don't have to be long (10 to 20 minutes) but try to make them a regular part of his day.

Hope this helps you.;)
 

catspaw66

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Please, don't shove your hand or finger in your cat's mouth.  And picking up a cat by the scruff, holding it for two minutes and then dropping it is a good way to get a visit from the ASPCA or police.
 
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auroraei

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Please, don't shove your hand or finger in your cat's mouth.  And picking up a cat by the scruff, holding it for two minutes and then dropping it is a good way to get a visit from the ASPCA or police.
Yeah I would never do that.......I have no idea if that person was joking or is serious, but wow...
 

minka

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Shoving a finger down the throat of an animal that is biting you is actually a legitimate technique, but you don't quite do it the way it was explained..
You barely have to touch their tongue even, it's not something that hurts them, it's just not something that any other animal would do and so it just confuses them to the point where all anger is negated.
However.. This is also a technique used more on *wild* animals, and not probably necessary in this instance..
 

callista

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Yeah I would never do that.......I have no idea if that person was joking or is serious, but wow...
Holding a kitten by the scruff is safe, though. When they're that small, it doesn't hurt them and it calms them right down. But a full-grown cat? Uh-uh. That would be painful. Though you can use the scruff as a "handle" to grab hold of a cat which has its weight fully supported in some other way. I have been known to grab a cat's scruff when I am holding it in my lap to clean its teeth or clip its claws.

Definitely would caution against sticking a finger in a cat's mouth in response to biting. Other than the obvious risk of the cat deciding to simply bite the finger, you would also risk scratching the cat's throat with your fingernail. That could, if you were unlucky, get infected, and it might make the cat scared of you. Not something you want to happen. If it is play-biting, a loud "Ouch!" and refusing to play any more will do the trick. If it's aggressive biting, then you have to address whatever is making the cat panic or see you as an enemy.
 
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bobtheflyfisher

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Once you have been bitten by a cat you will immediately know the difference.  Having volunteered in a shelter for

a number of years I have been bitten numerous times by feral cats...

I have a 7 year old Maine Coon that still mouths my hand when he gets excited.  I have seen this behavior in litters before

and it is an 'inclusive' behavior; one that shows you are part of his family.  Your cat may grow out of it but I would guess that

it will be part of it's behavior set when hyper stimulated.  I would rather put up with the occasional mouthing than feline shunning.

You can try using a lure or toy to distract a hyper cat.  Sometimes I will use a feather lure to burn off the excess hyperness.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Good luck and enjoy your feline family member.

p.s.  I used to be a dog person until our big guy adopted us.  Now it's cats only. ;-)
 

callista

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Aww, but dogs are cool too! You should see a big friendly cat-loving dog play with a kitten. It's adorable!
 
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auroraei

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His biting is getting worse and nothing is really helping, and his bite is getting stronger. He bites all the time now and is never cuddly. When I wake up in the morning and he wants attention and plops down on the floor for belly rubs, I will pet him for a second then he bites me instead and I have to pull away and stop. He used to sleep with me and now he's not even allowed in the bedroom because all he will do all night is bite your hands, and if you move your hands he bites your elbows, then arms, ect....he thinks it's a game. If I pick him up, he tries to bite my face now, he's even scratched my glasses. If he is downstairs and I am walking upstairs, he will latch onto my leg and bite it as I try to walk upstairs.

I don't think it's agressive because he hasn't hissed or anything BUT it's extremely annoying and I'm saddened that he is no longer cuddly AT ALL.

Nothing I do is working on him. I try blowing in his face, saying NO, scruffing without lifting, clapping my hands.......nothing makes him stop unless I push him off or get up and leave.

Only thing that makes him stop is if I put a toy by him, but the thing is is that I don't always have a toy next to me, and that doesn't sound like a solution anyways. I want him to be able to go in bed with me :(
 
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keyes

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There's always the water filled spray bottle.  I can't remember if you said that he's has been neutered yet,  If not, I would get it done as soon as possible.  With some males, as they start coming into sexual maturity they start getting more aggressive and usually taking care of the little testosterone carriers will help.
 
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auroraei

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There's always the water filled spray bottle.  I can't remember if you said that he's has been neutered yet,  If not, I would get it done as soon as possible.  With some males, as they start coming into sexual maturity they start getting more aggressive and usually taking care of the little testosterone carriers will help.
Water bottle just stops it momentarily but he just goes right back to doing it. And yeah I'm getting him neutered, I have a place in mind but they can't do it until like another week. I can't wait!
 

sk_pacer

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How about giving him time? He's 6 months, and is probably teething as well as being a typical kitten that explores things with not only eyes and nose but paws and mouth as well. I have yet to meet a baby anything, including human that doesn't at least mouth objects as part of the exploration process. If he's teething, give him something to chew on and redirect the chewing from your fingers and other forbidden objects to the allowable ones; there are chew toys that come in cat sizes.

FWIW, one of mine took her teething problems in hand on her own - she killed a cardboard box, just chewed it to bits; still chews cardboard to some extent, so she has a big box in the middle of the kitchen just for that purpose.  
 

peer jones

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'Pauli' is now over a year old, has been speyed and still chews on my fingers

She is just wanting her mommy and is a real friendly cat

I probably should train her not to but it isn't too often and she will stop when I move my hand or start stroking her
She has a stash of toys but will play with almost anything

Hopefully having him neutered will completely change his behavior but it may be as posted earlier, he was removed from litter too early and your his 'family'
 
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jcat

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... there are chew toys that come in cat sizes.

FWIW, one of mine took her teething problems in hand on her own - she killed a cardboard box, just chewed it to bits; still chews cardboard to some extent, so she has a big box in the middle of the kitchen just for that purpose.  
:yeah:
Mogli (9 months) was chewing on a wicker basket, so I picked up some "dental toys" for him, which he's actually using. He's also working on a cardboard box.

The biting/chewing is usually just a phase most cats grow out of, and neutering is a must. A really tiring play session with Da Bird, "red dot" (a laser pointer), a ping pong ball or the like in the evening usually helps them settle down in bed for the night. Even a big paper bag (without handles) or a pile of newspapers helps them expend excess energy.

Although they appear to be offering their bellies to be rubbed by rolling on their backs, a lot of cats don't like it and will react with bunny kicks. Our RB cat, Jamie, would roll over like that for people he liked, but I was the only one who could actually rub his belly. Anybody else got scratched or nipped if they dared touch it.
 
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auroraei

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Mogli (9 months) was chewing on a wicker basket, so I picked up some "dental toys" for him, which he's actually using. He's also working on a cardboard box.

The biting/chewing is usually just a phase most cats grow out of, and neutering is a must. A really tiring play session with Da Bird, "red dot" (a laser pointer), a ping pong ball or the like in the evening usually helps them settle down in bed for the night. Even a big paper bag (without handles) or a pile of newspapers helps them expend excess energy.

Although they appear to be offering their bellies to be rubbed by rolling on their backs, a lot of cats don't like it and will react with bunny kicks. Our RB cat, Jamie, would roll over like that for people he liked, but I was the only one who could actually rub his belly. Anybody else got scratched or nipped if they dared touch it.
 Phoenix has those exact toys and he rarely touches them. I also have out a bunch of cardboard boxes for him to play with and he hasn't torn them to shreds or anything. He's such a weird cat, his personality is changing day to day and I'm just worried I'm doing something wrong or not doing something that will lead him to be like this forever.
 
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