How to Keep a Kitten & a Cat From Biting & Scratching at You

If you're a cat owner, you know that the joy of having a cat is sometimes accompanied by some pain. Kittens and cats have a natural tendency to scratch. Sometimes the scratches damage furniture. Other times, the scratches land on you. These scratches can range from being barely noticeable to drawing blood. Cats who scratch, and even those that don't, may also exhibit a predisposition toward biting. This could happen when the cat is excited, frightened, territorial or angry. These behaviors can be very disruptive, potentially causing you to give up your cat for adoption. Before resorting to that most extreme of options, try the following ways to stop your kitten or cat from biting and/or scratching you.

Instructions

    • 1

      Don't let your cat bite while playing. Many cats will bite their owners during playtime. These bites are not aggressive. They usually don't leave marks or draw blood. Nevertheless, allowing your cat to bite when he is playing sends the message that biting is sometimes OK. This will confuse your cat. Never let him bite you.

    • 2

      Use the cat's toys to your advantage. When your cat tries to bite you, say "No" firmly and give your cat a toy to play with instead. This will teach her that biting you is wrong, but that it's OK for her to bite her toys.

    • 3

      Spray your cat with water. Keep a small water bottle with a spray cap handy in your house. When your cat bites you, spray him with the water while saying "No" firmly. Your cat will come to associate being sprayed, which he won't like, with biting. You and also use this technique when your cat scratches.

    • 4

      Keep a scratching post in your house. When your cat tries to scratch you, pick her up and put her in front of the scratching post. Place the scratching post in a room that your cat likes.

    • 5

      Shake a bottle of coins. Fill a small bottle with several coins and shake it when your cat tries to scratch you. The noise from the jar will frighten the cat, and he will come to associate the noise with scratching you.

    • 6

      Socialize kittens. The best way to prevent a cat from being aggressive toward humans is to get your cat accustomed to being around different kinds of people: men and women, young and old. This is easier to do if you have a kitten. If you have an adult cat, you can still socialize her; it will just take more time.