How can I make my cat stop biting and scratching me?

Question

I have tried using a spray bottle and that didn't work and I have tried grabbing his scruft and laying him down and telling him no but that doesn't work either. So I am kinda running out of ideas and I don't want to hurt him. But it's getting to the point where people are asking me why I have to many scars on my feet and legs... it's just not good.
Any advice?

Answer 1

You will have to dicipline him like if he was a dog... you know how puppies like to bite... Just take your finger and thump him on his head and say no biting, no it doesn't hurt him but it does stun him out of his playful attack mode ... he'll more than likely run away and soon enough he'll get to the point when all you have to do is say no biting and he'll stop this worked on ALL of my cats through out the days!! =) It will work! Or get him a friend like a kitten or something where he can rough house with instead of using you as a scratching post... and if that doesn't work and he is an inside cat than i would get him declawed... Hope this was helpful!!!

Answer 2

You have to let it know who the leader is. So far it has been the cat. I had a cat like that one time and although I have been told it is not the best way in the world to do it, it worked. It was a Siamese that would get up and bite the earlobe. When she did it, I would turn at once and bite her ear to show her what it was like. After about two to three times she never did it again. In the wild a cat has its mother to teach it what the rules are to live by but where is the mother figure at your house? The mother will slap it, sometimes very hard, to let it know what was done will not be tolerated and the cat learns not to do it any more. You need to give the cat a place that it can claw and scratch that is ok for it to do it there. When it tries it anywhere else, take it immediately to the spot and let it know THAT is where it is to scratch. When it does, praise it abundently so it knows you are very pleased with it. If it goes anywhere else and tries, especially with your hands, legs or anywhere on your body, slap it hard and take it immediately to the scratching post so it knows what it is supposed to do. It may get a bit worse for a short time but then will be much better when it gets the message that the scratching on you will not be tolerated. Also get a few toys for it to play with and bite on and it will stop wanting to bite you so much. Consistency is key here. Do it every time it bites or claws you and it will stop very fast.

Answer 3

Do you use the spray bottle on stream? If you are using the bottle on mist, it isn't doing any good. Cat's hate water in the face, aim for the face and yell at him. Don't put any thing in the bottle except for the water. Hot sauce? Hello no! That could get in his eyes and burn them. Scruffing his neck and laying him down is pissing him off. That's kind of rough treatment there. No wonder he is going after you like that. Roll up a piece of newspaper and swat him on the rear end. Don't hit him hard, just enough to let him know he is doing wrong. Use a stern loud voice too when you spray him or swat him. Let him know you are the boss in this situation. Scruffing him the way you do is really making matters worse. Make the connection here. You do that to him, he doesn't like it, he is retaliating against you.

Answer 4

Okay--first of all, how old is this cat? Is it still a kitten? If so--good, this is easier. If he is not neutered, get him to the vet ASAP and get the neutering done. This alone will stop a lot of this, as he is trying to use YOU to be his mate. Keep the spray bottle, but (you may have to get another one--or, a water pistol)--that has a direct stream-shot--and shoot him directly between the eyes and firmly say"NO!" He definitely wants "something" (mine will go thru this every once in a while, and I've never yet--in 9 years--figured out what he wants). Is his litter box clean, does he have fresh water & dry food? Do you provide toys for him to play with? Another thing you might try is to dis-tract him completely with a flashlight. Yeah, it'll be a "pain" to remember to carry the thing around with you, but when he starts in on your feet & ankles, turn on the flash light and shine it several feet away from you on the floor--a laser pointer will work, too. If you do not have scratching posts for him, you also need to provide at least one of these (I have 2--one that's like carpeting, and one that's wood), mine uses both. Cats DO need to scratch---but NOT their owners. YOU need to let this guy know who's the boss around there. Good luck to you with this--I've been thru it a couple of times and still carry my "battle scars".

Answer 5

When my cat used to misbehave I would catch him in the act (otherwise it won't work), pick him up and tell him "no" firmly, and shut him in a room for about 15-20 min then let him back out. You have to keep up with this everytime he acts up and eventually he'll get the point. It just takes A LOT of patience and persistence!
Just a note...spanking or hitting your cat is never going to do any good, if anything it could make him more violent and apt to act out against you.
Also, if you are using a squirt bottle be sure not to squirt it directly in his eye. Cats have very sensitive eyes and this could cause damage.
Good Luck!

Answer 6

Ooo ya poor love, you have a feisty little puddy cat eh?

I would have suggested water spray but ya bin there done that! Everytime puddy cat bites/scratches you time him out (sounds crazy I know but surely worth a try) tell him off and then put him in another room and close the door for a bit, wont be long I'm sure before he puts biting and being put in another room together and stops it!!!

As we know cats are quite Territorial and i was once told that they can end up believing that they rule the roost! Another solution to this problem maybe to stare your cat out (I know its sounds mad). I adopted my current cat form my Aunt who had spoiled her rotten and when she came to my house she was thought she could take over almost, I had a couple of days where I sat and stared her out and she has backed down, I also have a lot of neighboring cats that come in to my garden, I have stared them out and now when they come in to the garden and I'm about they scarper!!!!!

You probably think this is mad LOL

Answer 7

This is usually caused by playing with them they're young and it's "cute". Now that the cat's older it wants to play rough. Don't use your hands to play with them. Use a string, ball etc. They associate the hands and your body as a play toy. Now you have to break them of the habit. A loud noise and dose of water should work. Make sure no one else is playing or teasing the cat; so it is not getting mixed messages. Be consistent, it will take time.

Answer 8

You'll have to pop your cat next time. It's not abuse and you shouldn't pop it hard enough to hurt it. Pets are like children: when they do something wrong, they need to know it and one way to do it is to pop it (a child on the hand, a pet on the nose or rear). A good spanking is not what I'm suggesting. Just a little pop to let it know who is who.

Answer 9

Grab by scruff of neck, turn on back, look in eye to show dominance.

Whenever cat attacks, repeat.

I used to tease a cat by turning him on his back and snapping at his paws. One day he lunged and gr abed my nose. Our eyes were only an inch apart but I understood that he was telling me that we were not going to play this game anymore. It worked! I haven't done this, guess I am easy to train!

Answer 10

IS HE NEUTERED????? male cats bite and scratch more than females because they have to practice mating. when they get excited, they bite. they give kitty kisses --love bites---teach kitty to be gentle with his bites and scratches--these are instinctive behaviors and do not change--they can be made more gentle.
my kitten is a maine coon--they bite gently and scratch without claws when they play with their human--but they still do the acts.boys will be boys--make sure he is not making you his mate--get him fixed.
enjoy kitty.....good luck with the gentleness factor--it works if you are consistant.