| Biting is one of those innate things that cats like | | | | wall. Don't hit the cat, because that would only |
| to do, especially as kittens. Instinctively, cats want | | | | make it fear you. The noise will startle the cat |
| to play fight with things, which hones their hunting | | | | and very quickly it will learn that biting illicits a bad |
| skills for later in life. Of course, house cats don't | | | | response. |
| have to hunt anything other than the food bowl, | | | | Repetition is critical for cats to understand what |
| but the instinct is still there. | | | | you want. You can't talk to your cat, so there's |
| With a new cat, it's important to never let it use | | | | no other way to communicate to it that you don't |
| your hands as toys to play fight with. This would | | | | want it to bite you any more. You should also do |
| teach them that it's okay to bite and claw at | | | | the same thing (saying no, clapping your hands, |
| your hands, which will stick with them and be | | | | etc.) if the cat tries to bite other people, to |
| very hard to discourage. | | | | further reinforce that biting people is a bad thing. |
| Next time your cat tries to bite you, firmly say, | | | | Most cats shouldn't take too long to learn that |
| "NO" and don't interact with it. If you just say | | | | biting is bad. Particularly stubborn cats (like mine!) |
| "no" and keep letting it bite you or keep playing | | | | can take a few weeks, but they eventually learn |
| with it, it won't understand what you mean. | | | | and stop doing it, leaving your hands and house |
| If that doesn't work, move up to making loud | | | | guests much happier. |
| noise. Clap your hands together, or hit a table or | | | | |