Unprovoked Cat Biting

[JelloButt]

My cat "Smudge" is a six year old mix breed cat. Over the past six years he has taken to biting. At first it seemed it was just hunting behavior or play, something like that. For example he would hide around a corner, jump out and bite me (fairly hard) and then run away. Was pretty tolerable. More recentley over the last year he has now visciously attacked me several times. On the arms, back, legs and feet. I will be walking across the kitchen floor doing some mundane thing. He will either just be sitting about or wallking beside me seemingly minding his business. Out of no where he will attack me. Scratching and biting many times over and over leaving teeth marks that severely break the skin and bleed. The last time being last night when he attacked my leg leaving bruises and bite marks that bled copiously and even ripped a large hole in my pants! I have scars on all limbs! I am at the end of my rope with this and its all I can do to not kick him out the door. (The love gets me every time....lol) I am actually scared of my cat. It seems ridiculous but it is so painful and really scary! If anyone knows anything about this....anything at all I could greatly use your help and would be super appreciative. I deeply love my cat but refuse to live in fear in my own home. HELP!! Thanks for taking the time...

[Ghilly]

A couple of questions:

Is your cat neutered?

Is he by any chance declawed on the front feet?  I see where you said he scratches you, but cats can do an awful lot of damage with their hind feet when it comes to scratching.  

Ghilly

[JelloButt]

No hes not neutered. Thats my next step lol. I am hoping this will help. I dont wanna just kick him to the curb till I've tried although I cant say there isnt any love lost here. This has happened twice now again since my initlial post. Its getting a little outta control at this point. But on the same token there is an issue with the neutering. Its gonna cost me a couple hundred as he has floating testicles. This requires surgery hence why he is not fixed. Its gonna get done though cause I cant put up with this any longer, Any suggestions for in the meantime? I mean I gotta save up for the surgery.

[JelloButt]

Oh and no hes not declawed. Not a big believer in that. I think any cat should have the right to defend themselves. But no hes not. I have tried the nail covers though. Wasnt impressed with that lol.

[Ghilly]

I'm extremely glad that you feel the way you do about declawing, I can't stand the thought of them being declawed.  :::shudder:::  I've tried the Soft Paws as well, and my guys kept them on until they fell off on their own about 6 weeks later!  I was so surprised that they went along with it!  LOL  The reason I asked about declawing, however, is that declawing a cat takes away his first line of defense, and often they will start biting to make up for the fact that they can't scratch.

The neutering will help!  I have a cat who was just 11 in January, and when he was a young kitten I only had one other cat, a neutered male.  I had just gotten a divorce, and so I put the neutering off longer than I should have because of the money situation with lawyers and stuff.  When I finally had him neutered he was a little over a year old, and he BIT like a PIRANHA!!!  It took a couple of months after the neutering for the biting to stop, but it takes a while for the hormones to level out after the surgery, so I figure as soon as his body figured out that he no longer had his testicles, he stopped biting.  Now he's the sweetest cat EVER, in fact, he's SO mushy that he's disgusting sometimes!  LOL  I think you'll definitely see a change with neutering.

Ghilly

[Ghilly]

As far as suggestions as to what you can do in the meantime, I've been thinking about it, and I really can't come up with anything.  You mentioned kicking him to the curb, and no love being lost, if this is really how you feel, you might be better off placing him with a cat rescue group and being honest with them about why you're doing it.  They would probably be able to get the surgery done for less than you would, and they could place him in a home afterward.  If you want to PM me with where you live (just a general idea, I don't need an address), I can give you the names of some rescue groups in your area that might be able to help you.  Let me know.

Ghilly

[JelloButt]

Well I dont think that I want to place him anywhere just yet. There is too much history with him and he is like my other child. I cant give up on him just yet. I am gonna try all that I can before that happens. The only reason I say that there is love lost is that well....it really hurts when he bites and quite frankly I wouldnt put up with it from a person let alone a cat. I have bruises all over the place as we speak lol. Its insane! I agree that the neutering will probably help. Thats my first line of defense. If nothing comes from that then the next step is another visit to the vets and if I cant get anything from that then I shall take it as it comes I guess. Placing him will be the last option when everything else has run out. Thanks for all your help on this though. I just didnt know what else to do. Thought maybe some people had some tricks up thier sleeves....lol. But at least I know that its not a totally unheard of thing. I cant thank you enough!!

[spcraze]

I have a 1 yr old mix breed cat and he does the same thing. He even attacks me while I'm sleeping. He is neutered though not declawed as I too am against that. I have to tell you though I do have thoughts of doing it when he attacks! would never though. anyways I have tried several things such as getting him new toys and playing w/ him more often to help reduce his enery, changed his food, bought natural herbal solution to help calm him and nothing. he is an indoor cat (is yours?) and sometimes I wonder if he just needs to go out but I have a hard time w/ that because of the street that we live on. also someone else told me that I should get another cat to play w/him. maybe you can try some of these things and maybe they will work for your cat. also if  you find something else that works let me know because I could use some useful advise too. I love my cat though at time I too think about getting rid of him because he is getting out of control. good-luck to you.

[marissposa]

Kudos!  on your decision to not declaw your kitty.  Have you tried "softpaws"  nailcaps?  http://www.softpaws.com/
You can get a goomer to apply them if you have trouble doing it yourself.  
Also, cat harnesses are available if you want to take your kitty on supervised outdoor time.  I do with my cat.   It took some patience to get her adjusted to it and she doesn't really leave the immediate area, but she LOOOOOVES just chillin in the sunlight.  It is worth a try.