Cat biting human for attention and revenge

Question
I hope someone can help me. I've been posing this question to "experts" and on cat boards and have yet to receive a response that really pertains to my situation. I got Smokey at about 4 weeks old. He was found at a gas station, alone and covered with burrs and passed along to me. He was neutered and is de-clawed in front at 6 or 8 weeks, due to my being a renter. I am sure if he had front claws he would be scratching me as well! He's an indoor cat and lives with another (extremely sweet and friendly female) cat and two bigger dogs. I took Smokey in when he was about 4 weeks old and weaned him. He is now seven years old.

Smokey is often very sweet as long as you don't cross him. When he's in the mood he likes to snuggle against me and suckle on a blanket or an article of clothing.  I remember Smokey as being much more laid back when he was younger, for instance, little children could pick him up in awkward ways and he wouldn't fuss or bite, but through the years he has developed more and more of a bad attitude. I should note that he does try to bite if I, and hopefully at least one other person, restrain him and sometimes will try to bite (or acts like it) if I nudge him off the kitchen counter. It seems like his attitude is "No one is going to tell ME what I can or cannot do!" He is not playing.

When he was around 2 years old he started to occasionally "revenge" bite me when he didn't get his way. This might happen after I block him so that he can't go through a door or when he has been trying to get my attention nicely and I was busy and didn't respond.  What I mean is that he will wait until I am not looking, and then sneak up on me (with that crazy look in his eyes) then jump in and bite once, then run away! This can happen up to 10 minutes after I "offended" him!

He's always been overweight, though he won't to eat anything but dry cat food. In the past two months, in an effort to reduce his weight, I've been only giving small amounts of food three times a day. Since cutting back on his food, he's been biting me much more often.  He will ask me nicely for food by rubbing against me or meowing. I might respond to this by petting him, but do not give him food unless it is time for him to eat. Well, now he is biting me because I don't feed him when he asks.  Same scenario, he waits until I am not looking, sneaks in, pounces with one bite and retreats. Now he is biting me or attempting to bite me on almost a daily basis.

I don't want any suggestions about spraying him with water or blowing in his face, as he makes sure to run to where I can't reach him as soon as he bites.

Please help, ignoring his biting only seems to make him more determined to bite me. No one else would take this cat, and I don't know how much longer I can put up with being bitten.

Answer
Martha,

Cats that were separated from their mothers and siblings at an early age tend to have behavior problems that can include being a 'biter'. It is mainly due to the fact that when a kitten is weaned too early it doesn't get a chance to learn about acceptable (and non-acceptable ) behaviors from it's mom and littermates. A mother cat will correct a kitten if it uses sharp claws or bites too hard. When kittens play together, they learn that biting or clawing a sibling results in being grabbed and bitten in return. A kitten that didn't get that learning opportunity doesn't know how to act or react properly. Suckling is another indication of being weaned too early.

You mentioned his starting the biting behavior about 2 years old. Unfortunately it was not nipped in the bud then, so now it will be a more difficult behavior to break. Cats go a lot by habit and if an action gets your attention (positive OR negative) then the cat will continue whatever he is doing that works to get that attention.

On top of that cat, like people, tend to get grouchy when they are hungry. I don't know the particulars of your cat, but some cats, again like some people, are 'big boned' and look overweight. If he is healthy and getting enough exercise (a pet laser light is excellent for that) then his weight may be normal for his body. Also an older cat has different dietary needs and requirements than a younger cat. Personally, I wouldn't cut off his food to periodic portions. I would feed free-choice a good quality dry food made specifically for 'mature cats' or even one for 'overweight cats'. Cats tend to eat less when there is a bowl always available than when they get fed portions. A cat may gobble down the food when he is only fed certain times, even when he is not hungry, because it is available and he is not sure when he is going to get more.

Cats go by association so you need to get him re-trained to associate his biting with something unpleasant to (hopefully) stop that behavior. I would suggest a rolled up newspaper (keep one handy or with you for awhile, you may have to anticipate when he is going to try to bite) and whap him with it and say the words "NO BITING!" loudly and firmly. It won't hurt him, but the noise and whack will scare him. He needs to associate the newspaper (or whatever you use) AND the words with his biting. It may take awhile because ingrained habits are hard to break. After you whap him wait a few minutes then love on him. You want him scared to bite you but NOT scared of YOU. Spraying water and blowing may be OK for a little kitten, but not for a grown cat.

Most cats found, as yours was, had feral parents. They are natural biters by instinct. I have had some ferals since birth and I've had to work on them not biting since they were kittens. They basically have stopped biting, but sometimes when one gets overly excited they will still do it.

Also ferals are hunters by instinct and when kept inside they need to satisfy their inbred hunting urges. Attacking legs, because they move, is one way some do it, utilizing their natural instinct to hunt 'moving prey'. Try getting some little furry stuffed mice that you can throw and he can catch; get a pet laser light (PetSmart, Petco, etc,) where he can chase the 'little red bug' on the floors, wall, and ceilings. They also love the sparkly craft balls that you get in a package in Wal-Mart's craft dept., or at a craft store. Mine carry those around in their mouth! And too, sometimes letting a cat be an indoor/outdoor cat helps a hunter type cat be more well-balanced emotionally. though that's not always a viable option.

Another thing that hunter type cats like, periodically for a treat, is a raw beef rib bone. Go to the supermarket and have the butcher cut some beef ribs in half. The cats satisfy their 'fresh kill' instinct by pulling on the meat, the protein is good for them, and the fibers in the meat help clean their teeth. Not all cats are interested in them but the 'hunters' usually enjoy them. Sometimes they will even growl at you if you look like you might take their prize away!

I'm sad to say also that declawing has been known to cause a cat lifelong emotional and physical issues. I'm just mentioning it because I want to give you any possible causes for his behavior.

If your cat is noticeably getting meaner, he may be in pain. Pain causes aggression. At 7 he is 44 years old and may start having some age-related ailments. Pain could be caused by arthritis, ear or teeth problems, etc. You may want to have an "older cat checkup" done on him by a vet that is knowledgeable in older cat care and conditions. Not all vets are which can be detrimental to the cat's health.

I hope I have given you some food for thought about the possibilities for the behavior of your cat and in trying to correct it.

Tabbi