Question
I got my cat when he was one month old from a shelter. Ironically I picked him because he did not bite me.
Once we got home it changed. He would stalk me at night as I slept and bite my face/nose (not a pleasant way to wake up). Stalking my feet from under the bed became a norm so much to where I would have to run and jump onto the bed to avoid his bite, though most of the time he would jump after me. I got a spray bottle to shake which would deter him and still does but unless I’m holding it he will still try to bite.
He is sweet, playful, and so curious too. Not afraid of anyone and all my friends love how outgoing he is, but the more he gets to know someone the more comfortable and aggressive he becomes toward them.
He is the worst toward me though. I often have teeth marks on my arms, legs, and hands. I can admit sometimes his aggression makes sense, like if I’m moving in a way that entices him, but sometimes it’s random or from anger. I will be sitting on my couch not moving and he will leap up and latch onto my arm or leg. And I mean latch, sometimes I have to pry his mouth open. Other times he will go cry for a treat and I will say no or ignore him because it is his 20th treat of the day and as I walk away he will latch onto the back of my leg.
I have gotten to the point where I am extremely angry with him. I give him lots of toys and play time but it does not matter, sometimes it even worsens it. I have tried all the walk away and don’t engage tricks but I can’t walk away because he will continue attacking. I have gotten to the point of hitting him to get him off me or throwing him off. I know that is not right to do and honestly when I do it he just likes to come back even angrier.
I am just looking to see if anyone has ever experienced something like this in an animal. I’ve tried every online help blog there is and can’t find something that works. I love my cat and will honestly put up with the biting forever, but I would love if I didn’t have to. The other thing is he only bites, never hisses, never growls, and never scratches.
Answer
We had a cat who would chomp down on you once. It was very bothersome, in and of itself, but also because you didn't know when the penny would drop and it would not be "chomp" but rather "rip and tear" and because we couldn't see a reason why.
We'd even have it happen when petting her and everything else indicated she was a happy kitty. Then out of the blue...
Years before, we'd had three ferrets. The most lovely, loving creatures you could imagine. It was utterly surprising to me a few years after they'd passed away to hear folks who'd had ferrets talking about being constantly nipped and bitten. Ours (all three) had never done anything of the kind.
One day when Piewacket nipped me and I scolded her, it occurred to me that it might be exactly what the ferret people had been talking about. They all said the ferrets clearly did it as a mark of... love? Happiness? Contentment? Pleasure? Take your pick, but you get the idea.
The next time Piewacket nipped me, instead of scolding her, I just stopped and carefully withdrew my hand, then gave her a quick last pet and a "love you," got up, and walked away. Kept on with that and over a few months found she nipped less, would never do it hard or middling hard anymore, and would even stop as she started to do so.
No idea about the "hunting" part, vis-a-vis her. She was quite old, maybe 17 from the shelter's records, when we got her, and past her hide under beds or in hallway doors and lunge out to get you stage. I did have a cat from kitten-hood once, and she certainly did that, but she never nipped except to express clear displeasure (we were kids, so that wasn't out of the norm any given day).
In any case, it could be something to consider. Worked for us, and yours and she had in common that they were very affectionate and it would occur even when you thought she was very happy. I believe, in fact, that it was because she was very happy. Same, apparently, for ferrets, usually. And the two are said to not be all that far apart on the species tree.
(By the way, not on point, but... since I've mentioned ferrets... the huge problem with ferrets is not anything behavioral, that's all likely part of their charm to someone who wants them, nor the fact they love companions so you need 2-3 or so. The huge problem is that their urine and feces are very much just like a human's, especially how they smell, and if you don't clean after them immediately, it's like having baby diapers left open and steaming, all around. Even if just in their habitat, it is bad. If you can't do the cleaning, you will be miserable so...)
Answered By - Jeorje