When will my cat get over the phase of biting me? What am I doing wrong????

Question

I have a 6 month old male cat who hasn't been neutered yet, but will be soon. I have had him since he was 8 weeks old. I was told he was bottle fed. He didn't really have encounter with his mother, but he had litter mates for the first 8 weeks. He is a very nice cat who I can tell adores me. I live alone and don't have people over often. I do not have any other pets. He follows me around everywhere and meows a lot at me. He likes to cuddle, nuzzle, and purr his little heart out. Basically he's a very nice cat, but he gets very hyper and attacks me. He leaps at me when I'm walking, he attacks my hand when I'm using the remote for the TV, mouse for the computer, or anything. I don't use my hand as a toy. I use to squirt him with a squirt gun, have yelled NO, hissed at him, and even distracted him with his toys. Nothing seems to work.Is there anything else I can do? He really can get aggressive.Is he getting too old for that at 6 months, or is there still growing up for him?

Answer 1

He will settle down a lot after he's neutered. At six months he is coming into puberty and getting a massive load of testosterone. Think of the 14 year old boys you know, obnoxious right, well that's where he is right now.
We (at the veterinarian where I work) call neutering cats "tutoring" them, because they "learn" to behave better after they get snipped.
Hope this helps, good luck

Answer 2

It could be a phase, he could be playing with you (cats use teeth and claws even when just playing, usually I can distinguish between playing and attacking bites) Or (since he was bottle raised) he may not understand that he is not supposed to bite you. I hand raised a kitten, and let her play with me when she was little, because it didn't hurt (I was only 15, and wasn't thinking about future consequences at the time) and now she still wants to play and it HURTS! She especially has a thing for sneaking up behind me when I'm walking and biting my ankles. Since he is still young, you may be able to get him to stop. The squirt bottle idea usually works pretty well for most cats, since it surprises them, plus they aren't really fond of getting wet. One word of advice, (just like in raising children) when he misbehaves, don't play with him or give him a toy. That is a reward, not a punishment. He is getting your attention and getting something to play with. You should squirt him with water, or whatever other punishment you can come up with (since he is still little, picking him up by his scruff and then swatting his behind may work, that kind of punishment usually depends on your particular cat's attitude) and then ignore him. Do not give him any attention when he misbehaves. After he has calmed down, you can reward him by petting him, or giving him a toy to play with.

Answer 3

I am no vet, but I would think that would be quite normal for a male cat. Getting him neutered may remedy the problem. I would ask your vet when you take him in about this behavior.

Answer 4

Cats like to bite when they're playing. It is just instinctual for them. I used to have a cat that never really grew out of biting. It maybe something you just have to learn to deal with.

Answer 5

most of the time the cat is just showing effection does he bite while you are petting him or brushing him? if i play with my cats too long they bite me, not hard, just to say,"thats enough"

Answer 6

its just that age. hes not too old. cats are moody anyways. he probably gets annoyed by you. id try some trust building activities with rewards (treats)

Answer 7

he just dosent want you to pay attention to anything else but him my cat is the same way if he is not attacking me he is sucking my thumb or ear he just loves you

Answer 8

sometimes, behavior is very hard to change