continual biting male 11mth old cat nothing working

Question
QUESTION: I need help I have an 11mth male desexed cat named Nelson who will cuddle one minute then turn into a attacking lion that doesn't release his bite or claws at all. I have raised him from 3 weeks of age and he has been a real sook up until the past 3 months.  If you are asleep he will come up onto your bed knead the covers, and should you move the slightest he then grabs your skin with his teeth and wraps his arms and legs if possible around you so you can't move.  I have tried the "Ouch" and "No", yet that goes on deaf ears, I have ignored him for a week and shown no play or love.  Just fed him.  And still this behaviour continues.  It'll be for no apparent reason and at anytime.  Standing in the kitchen or sitting in a chair he will walk pass and take a nip.  Not all the time just when it suits him.  I am starting to walk on eggshells not know when I will be attacked.  I am also getting worried as I have a young nephew who comes over to sleep and I am scared Nelson will do the same.  His bit is extremely hard and he doesn't ease up.  Teeth marks are left and at times scratches.  I am at a loss as to why all of a sudden this is happening.  I thought he is trying to show who is boss in the house or that maybe he's hit his teenage years.  I would love to know what else to do as I have tried everything.  We are also starting to meow early mornings 1am for attention, when ignored Nelson climbs up on to things just to get you out of bed.  I am becoming sleep deprived.  HELP ... I would love your guidance so as this behaviour can be nipped in the bud, and we can enjoy our bright little boy again.

Regards,
Kaleena

ANSWER: Kaleena,

One problem is at 3 weeks, this kitten was away from his mother (for whatever reasons) way too young.  This can manifest itself as untoward behaviors later.  In this case, I think things are much simpler.

If you would see little kittens play with each other, they are terrible. They bite and scratch and wrestle.  Cat skin is much tougher than human skin and so, the cats do not mind the biting and scratching games.  However, cats must learn that we soft skinned humans cannot tolerate that kind of rough play.  We socialize our kittens by cuddling, soft talking, and gentle stroking. Kittens love this "game". We never wrestle with the kittens, nor do we encourage (intentionally or unintentionally) any biting, scratching behaviors. If the kitten begins the biting, scratching behavior, we put the kitten down and walk away. It does not take long for the kitten to figure out that it needs to play gently with humans. In time, with lots of patience, this may work on your 11 month old. It is possible that this technique along with a mellowing medication (see your vet) may help.

You can investigate clicker training (see: www.clickeretraining.com), Karen Pryor's web site and see what you think.  It is a very successful behavior modification technique that has had great success in cats.

Whatever you need to do with your cat to break him of these habits will take some time and much patience and perseverance.

Please let me know how it goes.

Best regards... Norm.




---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks Norm for your quick response.  Sorry I should of let you know I am a foster carer for an animal welfare league.  Hence the kitten being in my care at three weeks.  Luckily mum was also with us and the rest of the little until all kittens were weaned.  I then had the rest of the littler until they were ten weeks of age.  Nelson has always beeing a cuddly cat and adaptable, our border collie dog who is gentle and placid would watch the babies and allow them to climb all over him.  Nelson took to the dog and would sleep with him and play with his tail.  We do not rough play with Nelson or use our feet or hands as toys.  Ping pong balls, soft toys, and gentle nature is our approach as we are aware that how you treat an animal is how they become.  We have tried all aspects of trying to stop the aggressive biting behaviour, including the one you have mentioned.  As this behaviour has only just started to occur in the last two months I am at a loss at two know what has triggered it.  We have stopped fostering as he is strong and wants to play with all animals. He also watches everything and you can see his mind planning how he is going to do something and the outcome( very clever thinker) Yet to bite extremely hard unprevocted and not want to let go has got me baffled.  As I said he literally wraps himself and legs around you so as you can not get out of it.  Yes he has me baffled as I never have come across such a clever cat, who wants to show his strength.  I will look into the clicker website, as at the moment we have a water sprayer near all beds, kitchen, and lounge room.  People must laugh at us when they come to the house and see all the water sprays about.  As ouch no longer works nor No.  Could it be hormonal? Could he be trying to show dominance in the household?  
We will continue love him for who he is, yet he has to learn it's not okay to be a rough little man.  Look forward to anymore answers yourmay have.

Kaleena

Answer
Kaleena,

Yes it could be hormonal.  However, it is possible, since the onset was fairly sudden, that he has a medical problem and is in pain at certain times.  Cats do scratching/biting behavior when they are in pain. In both cases, the vet can give your cat a good physical and also check for his hormone levels.  Was this cat a monorchid (only one descended testicle) or a cryptorchid (no descended testicles)?  If so, do we know the vet got everything when he was neutered.  This does happen (more often than it should), and can also explain the hormonal behavior.  

The one thing I hesitate to bring up is that, if the behavior keeps getting worse and more pronounced there may be something we call aggressive, psycho kitty syndrome (I got this terminology from my vet).  In the worst cases, these cats literally attack and want to tear you up.  They end up being euthanized!

I will also tell you that cats do not respond well to negative reinforcement, so, in time the sprayers will probably be ineffective!!!!!.  I like the idea of clicker training since that is a positive reinforcement protocol.  You use special treats to get the cat to respond to the clicker.

Please let me know what your vet says.

Best regards... Norm.