6 Year Old Biter!

I recently adopted my cat from a shelter, his name is Queso! He's not exactly a lap cat, but loves to be around people at all times. When I'm home he is always right next to me. The problem is he loves to bite and attack. He'll be curled up at my feet and then all of a sudden he'll attack my arm. I have scratches all over me. Full out butt wiggling wide eyed attacks unprompted. He's never hissed, never angry, and always purring. When you pet him he'll bite constantly and then rub up against you. He actually doesn't mind being picked up, and doesn't bite strangers or people he's uncomfortable with. Only people he's close to. I've had him for about three months now. I know he was a surrender, and I assume his last family must have given him up for this reason. They must not have trained him not to bite to show affection. What's the best way to train him not to act this way anymore?

I don't know how helpful this is to you...

But my cat was exactly the same. I had her from a kitten, but somehow she learned to bite, and we couldn't train her out of it. We tried absolutely everything, but I'd get bitten by her at least once a day.

Whenever we played with her she got really aggressive and always used her teeth. We'd be stroking her, she'd be enjoying it, and then when she'd had enough she'd swing around and bite our hands. This went on for a couple of years.

And then we decided to adopt another cat (not for this reason, we just fell in love with one!) and from the day we brought her home, our older cat never bit us again. It's been over a year since then and I haven't had one bite from our older cat in that time.

I think she was lonely and frustrated, as she was alone for eight hours a day, and wanted a playmate.

I don't know if that's a possible solution for you, but just wanted to share my experience!

I cannot really help you, but I owned a cat just like yours.

She was abandonned by her mom (feral) when she was two days old and raised by dogs (breastfed by one, actually).

This meant she was never socialized properly and I, being very naive regarding cats (she was my first and only till now), did not do much to teach her.

But I loved her and endured it for two years. Then I got divorced and we moved temporarly to my parents house. When I left, they asked me to leave her there (she would be spending 12hours on her own per day otherwise), and I thought it was the best for her. 

She lived until she was 15 and never stopped bitting me! She never bit my Mom or my Dad and was very affectionate with them. But believe me, she loved me most of all, and she showed it by bitting. That was what she had learnt.

And she never learnt to retract her nails either. Ouch!

She got better with age, that is the only consolation I can give you.

Have you tried redirecting it?

Hello cassiepurrs, welcome to TCS

Though he likes hanging around you and other people, at the same time he could be bored. Cats like him needs to have his energy drained. Get those kitty wands with feathers tied to a string and play with him. Or get ping pong balls for him to chase. Also have some toys lying around so that at anytime he bites, use the toy to distract him and firmly say 'NO' and walk away.
Cats needs playtime so we must have playtime with them a few times a day

Yeah, I feared the best response to this problem is getting another cat.. I'd love another one and I don't need an excuse to get one, but it looks like this might be it! We'll see, I'm going to try some training and more toys first and see how far I get. I think he just might be bored. ): 

Would it be worth it to start using a spray bottle? I have using negative reinforcement, but I fear I need someday to tell him what he's doing isn't allowed. Any type of pushing him away or getting up just makes him fight back harder, he translates it as playing!

It MIGHT work, but it might as easily get him to fear you or actually attack you out of anger. Cats don't associate punishment with the cause very well. 

Never use a spray bottle and squirt water on your kitty. That will only instill fear in her and not disciplined and make her more aggressive. Cats don't work well with punishments. Further more with a squirt bottle you get your cat wet and what if water enters the ear?

Some will recommend the Feliway diffuser to calm her down or catnips for her. Go over the routine without punishments a few times and she'll get the idea. Be patience and be loving

Have lots of toys on hand. Whenever I taken in biting fosters, I have all kinds of toy mice everywhere within my reach, in my hands and pockets. When they start biting, I push a toy near their mouths and let them bite and grab them then I walk away. I'm not saying it's the absolute answer, but it helps. Have patience, it will get better with consistency and time. Just don't ever try to discipline or punish them. That certainly does not work.