I adopted a 3 yr old Balinese off Craigslist back on Sept 18. The owner was becoming increasingly busy and felt it was better that she go to a home with a family who would have the time, or get another cat for company. Roommates didn't want another cat, and I responded to the ad, she noted I had 3 other cats, so kitty came to live with me.
We have a 3 floor house, and when we bring home a new cat they live in the master suite until they are sure of the litter/food, then they can roam. As of now, she's sticking to the master suite/her cat tree, although she meows outside my bedroom door, lays by the steps, at the bottom of the steps, in my bathroom when she figures someone is in there, and the other bedroom. She has come down a few times to the 2nd floor/kitchen/living room. But she doesn't tread down to the basement. She isn't thrilled with the other 3 cats--she's still hissing, but hey don't give a care she's there. She'll come nose to nose with them and walk away, other times she hisses and walks away. She's playing with the youngest cat's tail, batting at it and biting, but he just takes it. She'll come nose to nose with the dog, sometimes hiss, but most of the time smells back and the dog walks away. The cat grew up with a small hound dog, but never any cats. Hopefully she'll come around and tolerate the other cats better, but until then, there's enough house for them all.
My current issue is her biting me. I continually keep the door to my room shut as I want to get work done, but when she wants attention she'll meow at the door until she is let in. Okay, fine. She'll lay on the bed at my feet, but when she wants attention she'll hound me for it. She'll get on my lap, walk all over me, lay down in my way, put her head under my hands and nudge them. Sounds sweet right? Yeah, until she decides to bite me! I thought was tired of being petted, so I'd lay off after I gave her a light tap with the "NO BITE" finger point. She'll run away to the door or another part of the room and 5 minutes later, she's back. I thought that I was petting her where she doesn't like it (back sides), so I stopped petting her there, but she still is biting. When I think she's getting ready to bite (mouth coming open), I remove my hands and stop petting her, but she'll run all over me and lick for attention. About 10 minutes ago, she came over my lap, layes down, and was demanding my attention. I gave her a head scratch and petted her for a few, then left her alone. She nudged my hand, then I began to pet her, and she bit me! She got whacked, got off the bed and cleaned herself, and is now laying across my feet. Another night I had her on my lap, left hand petting her and right scrolling on my laptop. She goes and bites my right hand! It's not only hands/forearms, she has attacked my feet. I went to pick up a paper by my feet, and she was curled around my feet. I gave her a head stroke for a few, she enjoyed it, then all of a suddent bit me. I told her not, gave her a tap, and next thing I know she bit my feet! My feet weren't moving or anything--there are screws and muscles/tendons have been removed so that I have almost 0 range of motion--so she couldn't have mistaken my feet for toys/playthings.
This isn't a new phenominon, and she's only doing it with me. She'll lay in bed with my parents and lay on them, but only the first week would she bite my mother. I'm at my wits end! I have a nasty raised mark on my wrist where she bit me.
She's in good health, and has no known health issues.
Why the heck is she biting me? Could she be doing it for attention, or does she want to be left alone? Could it be the breed (my dad's aunt was a huge cat person, and all of her Siamese her entire life were extremely tempremental). And how the heck can I get her to stop it?!
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I have two cats - brother & sister - they are both 9 years old. The female has "bitten" me ever since she was a kitten. I call it "love bites" even though it hurts some. It is like she is nibbling me telling me that she loves me or wants more attention.
So, I guess this post is just to sympathize with you as I really don't know if there is any "behavioral therapy" you can do for this problem. Hopefully, her bites are not breaking the skin as that is another issue in itself (i.e. infections and a sign of aggression).
I think possibly my female cat thinks I am her mom and that is why she nibbles me. Maybe I took them away from their mom too early (they were about 6 weeks old). Not sure why my boy cat never does it though.
It is annoying and I do the same sometimes - push her off my lap, etc... I don't hit her at all but when she does it I say "no" and kind of hold her head/muzzle for a few seconds. Usually, she gets the picture. Although, she comes back for more a few minutes later.
I have found cats are nothing like dogs - they have a mind of their own and don't usually "bow down" to their owners like dogs do.
Ironically, Olivia, my female is on my lap right now, laying on top on my right arm while I am typing and I am preparing for the "love bite"!
Kitty won't stop biting me...
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