Instructions
Spay or neuter your cat to limit aggressive behavior. Besides preventing unwanted litters of kittens, spaying or neutering helps control hormone-induced aggression. According to the ASPCA, males will want to go out looking for potential mates, while females will try to get noticed by the local male population. For outside cats, this can lead to cat fights and encounters with traffic, dogs and disease. Cats who stay inside will become aggressive, anxious, and exhibit undesirable behavior like biting and attacking.
Play with your cat to exercise her mind and body. Cats want to exercise their natural impulse to chase, catch, and kill. Constructive play, with appropriate cat toys and games, not only keeps them entertained, but helps them satisfy their cravings for the hunt. It's important not to condition your cat to bite during these play sessions. Encouraging your cat to bite, nibble or gnaw your limbs will only make him more likely to continue this behavior while you sleep. Focus his attention to play mice, and other inanimate chew toys.
Prevent your cat from viewing your bed as a play zone. If you play with your cat on your bed, she will naturally want to continue to play while you sleep. Make your bed an off-limits zone so she doesn't associate that space with play, and especially aggressive play. It's important that you are consistent with this policy. Cats won't be able to discern appropriate play time from inappropriate play time. Make your bed a no-play zone all day every day.
Spray your cat with a water bottle when he bites and attacks you while you sleep. Water is a non-harmful way of correcting negative behavior. Using the spray bottle every time he does it will establish the message. He will be deterred when he sees you reach for it. Keep the spray bottle next to your bed for easy access.
How to Stop a Cat From Attacking & Biting While You Sleep
Limiting aggression, and providing your cat with proper exercise and boundaries, will help you deter negative behavior such as attacking and biting while you are trying to sleep. Spaying or neutering will help control natural aggression. Making sure your cat has proper mental and physical stimulation will also help prevent overly aggressive play. Learning how to correct your cat in a non-harmful way will condition him not to misbehave.