Biting Cat - Insight Appreciated

[Anonymous]

Hi all - I was hoping you all might have some insight into my cat's behavioral issues. I have a male, neutered cat who I believe is around 3 years old. I adopted him from a shelter as a kitten - maybe 6-8 months old. He had been picked up a stray but that's all I know about his history. He is indoors only.

He has a frequent and severe biting problem. I believe that sometimes he thinks he is playing. He exhibits the classic cat stalking behavior - eyes wide open, staring. He will pounce at me and attack with his teeth. He also bites unprovoked, and often after he has initiated the attention - ie while cuddling. I've read tons online and spoken to the vet about play aggression, overstimulation, etc and how to curb this behavior, but thus far nothing has worked. I have tried walking away, putting him into another room, a spray bottle, and hissing at him. I have also tried Feliway, calming collars, calming water drops, you name it. He responds to nothing and tries even harder to latch on. My arms and hands are constantly scratched and bitten.

By all accounts, he is perfectly healthy. I naively believed he would grow out of it as he reached adulthood. Instead, the problem only seems to be getting worse. I believe that he is probably bored and has too much pent-up energy, although I play with him much as possible. He has tons of toys and everything else a cat could want or need. He is incredibly sweet, loving, and well-behaved when he isn't biting. It is a case of dual personalities - I can sense that he wants to be good but doesn't know how. His biting is really overshadowing my feelings about him and I'm at my wit's end.

I am terrified that one day I will become so frustrated and hurt that I will get physical with him. I am also realizing that he can never be around children or other pets in the future with his level of unpredictability. It seems likely that he was taken from his mother too young and was improperly socialized as a kitten, and I am fearful this is behavior that I won't be able to break.

Has anyone dealt with this and have any advice? Cat behaviorist, medication? I'd prefer not to get another cat, and that seems risky anyway. I plan to take him to the vet soon for another appointment focused solely on this issue. Thank you very much in advance.

[Anonymous]

OK, I've one of these, too. Same age, same history. He also "kneads" me, as a kitten would, feeding at his mother's teat. I haven't resolved the issues completely, but I deal with it by recognizing the signs you've described and disengaging completely before the biting begins. That has lessoned the incidence of biting. I wouldn't hesitate to smack him if I was charged and bitten, however. Not to hurt, but to startle and disengage.

I wouldn't use spray bottles or hiss back or any of that stuff. Just give him space when you sense the onset of this behaviour. Good luck - perhaps a Cat Whisperer will show up with better insight.

[Anonymous]

Was he declawed? Declawed cats can be more "bitey" b/c you have taken away their first line of defense: their claws.

[Anonymous]

We have one cat on Prozac. Have you tried this ? She was not biting but she was showing stress and anxiety by peeing outside the box. This mellowed her out and curbed this problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OK, I've one of these, too. Same age, same history. He also "kneads" me, as a kitten would, feeding at his mother's teat. I haven't resolved the issues completely, but I deal with it by recognizing the signs you've described and disengaging completely before the biting begins. That has lessoned the incidence of biting. I wouldn't hesitate to smack him if I was charged and bitten, however. Not to hurt, but to startle and disengage.

I wouldn't use spray bottles or hiss back or any of that stuff. Just give him space when you sense the onset of this behaviour. Good luck - perhaps a Cat Whisperer will show up with better insight.

Yes, he kneads a lot too. I know these are classic symptoms of being taken from his mother too early.

I have gotten pretty good at recognizing when he is about to bite and I do push him away, but he is persistent in lurching back at me and LATCHING on, like I'm prey or it's some sort of game. He will also come over and cuddle with me - about half the time with no issues - really wanting to cuddle, nuzzling against me and being a total sweetheart. I try not to overstimulate him in these situations but he'll still bite unprovoked. What scares me is his unpredictability. I really just don't know why he's doing it.

No, I have not tried Prozac but I have read this could be effective. Naturally, I'm wary of putting him on drugs but will happily do it if it will help.

[Anonymous]

And no, he is not declawed. He rarely uses his claws to attack - just his teeth.

[Anonymous]

Lots of cats knead w/o biting. There are many theories why cats do this but every single cat I've had (and I've had 6 since childhood, all of whom lived to be 15-20 years old) has done this.

I have had a couple that exhibited what you describe, including my current old lady (15+ years old). She's really sweet. But, even when she initiates snuggling, after a bit I can tell she's had enough. Eyes get wide. Tail flicks. If I don't stop, she'll "attack" and scratch/nip me. She has -always- done this. I just read her signs and disengage when I see them.

She has never stalked or done it "unprovoked."

She doesn't pee in the house. She's generally loving. She's funny. She's gorgeous. This is just her quirk. I ignore and disengage before it starts. If I forget or don't, I grab her gently by the scruff, hold her gently and tell her "no." Then I walk away. Really, not a big deal.

[Anonymous]

I am also realizing that he can never be around children or other pets in the future with his level of unpredictability.

First PP back again - I forgot to mention, I've a dog with whom my cat has an excellent, friendly relationship. I also have young nieces who adore the cat and he has never bitten them. They are growing up in a home with cats and dogs and know to be gentle and respectful with him. So, I'm the only one he bites. Go figure.