how do I stop my cat scratching and biting?

[DivaDebs]

Hi there. My cat is only about 8 months old, and very naughty! She loves to bite and scratch (me mostly!) Is there any way I can stop her? I don't want to smack her, or tap her nose? Thanks

[Viz]

I have 3 cats. They all were pretty "bitey & scratchy" growing up. I used to distract them with a toy. IE: when they got playful with me (my hands mostly) I'd get a scrunched up bit of paper or a small fluffy toy & get them to deal to those instead. They soon got the idea that they were the fun things to attack. Now the mogs are grown, they are placid with me but dangerous to everything paper! Wonderful, amazing, funny, etc beasties cats are!

[DivaDebs]

Thanks very much. Great idea actually, and will teach them. She always seems to choose a moment when I haven't got a toy to hand though - like when I am sleeping!!! Maybe I should hang a wee mouse off my hand... Aren't they funny little critters? PS - she just bit my hand as I was typing that!!

[drgnrdr]

Please go to this website:

http://www.catsinternational.org/

at the top click on "articles" then go to "Aggression to People" and check out "Play Therapy" 1 and 2. This may be what your looking for.

They do not advocate hitting your cat either, it's better to use something else as a deterent, they have a few useful tips on this. Check it out.

[DivaDebs]

Great information on that site. Thanks very much.

[undercovers]

i attacked my cats with rolled up newspaper! not in a mean way just as a play fight thing, did it everyday and if the mog got carried away (they did really enjoy it) and got too vicious i would tell them off and stop the game... now it took them awhile but they got the hang of it - all out warfare on newspapers but be nice to undercovers hands... i then play fighted with them with my hands just rolling them around and that, which again i should stress they enjoyed, and let them hit me without claws ect. they soon learnt how much pressure they could exert before they hurt me. Then they were the softest cats (with humans - birds still get savaged)

[veritymoon]

my cat used to bite my feet untill i got a water pistol!