Biting

When we first got Joey he was such a good boy, never bit or clawed anything. Well lately he's been biting my dad and my grandpa a lot. There's even been a couple of times when he would bite me outside of play. Like usually he does give me little playful bites which I don't mind..but I let him know when he's being too rough by saying "OW!" and then he stops whatever he was doing..and we go back to playing. But lately Joey's been acting really agitated a lot and i'm really concerned. Do you know why he's probably biting everyone or at least how to stop it? We're mainly worried because we'll have little kids over here every once in awhile and we don't want them getting hurt.

Originally Posted by Lil_Axl_Gurl

Like usually he does give me little playful bites which I don't mind..

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A cat has several different kinds of bites which it gives under different circumstances. But when a cat gets excited and gives a warning bite, he isn't able to distinguish that you are OK with love bites and play bites but not with warning bites. So basically, you have to teach him that you and other humans will not tolerate ANY bites under ANY circumstances.

Well how do I get him to stop biting in general? Joey's 2 years old so it's a really hard thing to do..and I don't even know where to start..

More information would be appreciated- when does he bite? What is being done to him before he bites you?

He mostly bites the men I've noticed..but usually when he bites me he's wrestling. From what the guys tell me he bites whenever they're going to pet him.

Not all cats like to be petted and stroked. I would stop touching him. Petting is something we as humans crave, and really some cats could care less. Plus if they are rubbing his belly or wrestling him while he is on his back, that is an act of war. His claws and teeth are at the ready and he will use them.

Do you still live at home? Or do you live by yourself??? I have a similar thing with my cat elliot, he has always lived with me and my mom, and has not been around men.. when a man comes into the house he freaks out and hides, and if one tries to touch him he will slap or bite.... your cat may just not like men Do you play with him with your hands??? Its reccommended you dont do that, because then cats see your hand as a toy. Just tell the men to let him approach them and not go to the cat and pet him

Originally Posted by BigOrangeMenace

Do you still live at home? Or do you live by yourself??? I have a similar thing with my cat elliot, he has always lived with me and my mom, and has not been around men.. when a man comes into the house he freaks out and hides, and if one tries to touch him he will slap or bite.... your cat may just not like men

Do you play with him with your hands??? Its reccommended you dont do that, because then cats see your hand as a toy. Just tell the men to let him approach them and not go to the cat and pet him

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I live with my mom my dad and my grandpa so he's been around them ever since we first got him.

I understand your situation because I have the same problem! Only difference is I know why my cat bites....

I used to be pretty aggresive with Toby because he reacts very well to it. He likes to wrestle and I use my feet as a toy for him because I thought it was so cute when I would go walking through the house and he would latch onto me and I would drag him

Unfortunately after 2 years, I have grown tired of having scratched and sore feet and he bites my husbands feet now which my husband hates! So now we don't play let him play with our hands or feet, just with toys. And if he tries to bite us we put our hand gently over his mouth and say "no bite" in a firm but not loud way. It's actually working because whenever we correct him he then licks our feet instead and we shower him with praise for it, so he is getting the point I think.

I feel bad that I taught him to bite and now I am taking it away

Originally Posted by TigerAmy

I feel bad that I taught him to bite and now I am taking it away

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You're doing the right thing.

Cats have a better relationship with their humans if the humans don't have to be afraid of being scratched or bitten during normal interaction.

Originally Posted by coaster

You're doing the right thing.

Cats have a better relationship with their humans if the humans don't have to be afraid of being scratched or bitten during normal interaction.

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Thanks! It helps to hear that

Well it just bugs me because my mom doesn't have a problem with the lil love bites..and his warning bites really don't hurt bad..and i don't have a problem with it either. But my dad is such a big baby I swear!!

Plus after he gives warning bites he licks as to say "I sorry!"

Well, if you don't teach him not to bite, then one of these days when he's spooked he's going to unintentionally bite too hard and injure someone.

Whomever said some cats don't like to be petted is right, that's how my cat Lil is and if you go to pet him too much he will bite. My solution is that I don't pet him at all, I just let him come to me when he wants it and it seems to work out for us. I read somewhere that the biting when petting thing is because the cat likes the petting at first and then they get overstimulated and they can't handle it, so they bite to stop the petting.

Originally Posted by coaster

Well, if you don't teach him not to bite, then one of these days when he's spooked he's going to unintentionally bite too hard and injure someone.

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I want to teach him to not to bite I just don't know how to. I'm trying your trick and it's not working very well.

I think he finally understood what I'm talking about this time because he took my little lecture well. So I feel more comfortable keeping Joey with us so he's not going anywhere!

I basically told him why he is biting so we're all doing great now! Thanks for all the help guys!!

I know you will make the best choice to ensure that your little Joey has the most secure, healthy life possible.

I'm glad you were able to talk with your father about why Joey is biting and hopefully their relationship will improve. I hope your father took your discussion to heart so Joey can be safe and happy with you for many years to come.

Originally Posted by valanhb

I'm glad you were able to talk with your father about why Joey is biting and hopefully their relationship will improve. I hope your father took your discussion to heart so Joey can be safe and happy with you for many years to come.

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I hope so too.

Good to hear.

I know it's hard. I have a biter myself. He likes a little petting, but cross that line and he bites you. It's harder for me because all of my previous cats loved to be petted. So I settle for being a lap.