My cat bit me, what should I do? What am I doing wrong?

I have a red tabby and she adopted me and the hubby last year when she walked into our home.  She was 6 months old at the time.  Anyway to make a long story short, if I don't play with her, she attacks me.  Just right now, I was on the bed on the computer lying on my stomach when she bit my leg so hard I screamed.  I chased her and picked up her up and threw her down on the floor, she got up and ran to the basement.  My husband gave her a stern look and closed the door.  She's on punishment right now.  My hubby says she doesn't respect me because Ginger doesn't bite him. He's right, she knows he is the top cat.  I forgot about this, it is the third time this has happened to me.  I had to order a special cream for my legs to get rid of the bites and scratches from Ginger.

I need help, this is my first pet.

Some info are missing. Is she fixed? When did this behavior start? However:

 My hubby says she doesn't respect me because Ginger doesn't bite him. He's right, she knows he is the top cat. 

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This is a dog thing, not a cat thing. Although there may be dominant cats and submissive cats in a multi-cat household, generally they don't extend this difference to their humans. Cats respond to rewards (and punishment, but not in the way you expect it to).

I chased her and picked up her up and threw her down on the floor

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Please don't do this. You are so much bigger than the poor thing, what is "not hard" to you can do serious damage to her. Anger and physical abuse is never the right way to treat another living being. Here is an article on why using discipline on a cat does not work:

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/cats-and-discipline-dont-mix

And here's one on aggression towards people:

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/cat-aggression-toward-people

Your first step is to determine why she attacks you. Something triggered her aggression -- she does it to you but not your husband. Cats don't do it because they think it's funny. 

You may want to consider soft paws in the meantime. These are little caps that you (or a vet) can put over their claws so that it doesn't do much damage.

Thanks for you help.  I went on a site about dealing with an aggressive cat and they suggested about looking her in the eye and saying no.  After putting in her in time out and ignoring her.  It worked but I have to be consistent with this.  I don't know why she does this but most of the time she does it when I wont play with her.  She can be a bully.

She keeps doing it because she gets your attention.  Usually the way to stop a cat who demonstrates a negative behavior for attention is to completely ignore it.  It can take time too.  In this case; I think it is ok to put her in a time-out type situation but read the articles linked above too.  Those should help.  Any more questions; please just ask! 

I am asking this too as you did not answer after FhiCat asked. IS she spayed? We need to know this first and foremost because this could be the reason for her aggression.

IF she is spayed, then being rough with her will only fuel her anxiety and anger. Cats will lash out when they have pent up negative energy. Does she have much vertical space in the home? Cat trees? Shelving? Do you have interactive play sessions with your young kitty such as using wand toys like these Do keep wand toys in a cabinet though when done playing. The strings are very tempting for cats to chew and ingest.

Playing with your cat this way (interactive toys) is an excellent way to bond with her as well. She will become closer to you. Cat's are not like dogs and do not see human's or other's as alphas, ever. She just needs to burn off some energy and needs some one-on-one playtime. The wand toys are an easy way to do this. Then, offer her a very special treat after the play session.

Cats love routines and if you play the same time everyday, she will come to look forward to these bonding playtimes. I think you will see her become more loving and settled once you begin a routine with her.

PLEASE refer to this article packed with extremely helpful behavioral information: http://www.thecatsite.com/a/the-dos-and-donts-of-cat-behavior-modification

She's spayed but she is allowed to go outdoors.  We have a feral cat colony and she doesn't like the cats.  I think she was aggressive because of the other cats and the way I play with her using the laser toy.  This is the only game she wants to play now.  She is not feeling the wand toy anymore and doesn't respond to it.  

Laser toys are not ideal because the cat can get frustrated because they can't catch and chew on light. If you play with one, be sure to end it on a toy so she can actually catch the thing she is chasing.

Sorry, but do you play with her at all? You said she does this when you don't play with her. She is still a baby and she needs to play for hours a day. She is trying to get your attention to play. Please do not chase or throw your cat - that will make her fearful of you which will result in aggression. Jackson Galaxy recommends starting a play session with a laser pointer to get the cat revved up, then switching to a toy they can catch and play with. When they start to get tired, give them a treat. The reason for this is that in nature, a cat's life consists of hunting, eating, grooming and sleeping in that order, then waking up and doing it again. So to burn off their energy, you have to mimic that cycle - meaning use a toy they can "kill" and then give them something to eat as their "reward" for their "hunt." But you have to play with kittens all the time. Honestly, you should be playing with her for a few hours per day at a minimum - EVERY day.

One of my cats in the first few weeks of staying in my home would attack my feet. I would pretend to be asleep and literally look at her suddenly focus on my feet when she thought the time was right and try to pounce on it (I would dodge).

I think cat behavior is intelligible and there's a reason for everything. In the case of my cat, she did it because she was frustrated with me and was jealous of the new "cat" (which was just Tigger, a doll I had brought out of the closet). Funny, eh?

Anyway, your cat is frustrated. That's why she is biting you. Perhaps she's jealous of your husband too.