My cat bites my hands and feet.

by Kelly Watt

I adopted her from the street. I was up late one night and she was there, I tried ignoring her but she was to little to make it on her own, about 4 months. She will solicit petting and then bite my hand and at times nip me if she doesn't like something I did. I don't want this to be her temeperement in adulthood. If I take her to the pound it's over she won't be chosen, she'd be terrible with children and she veiws hands as an enemy. I suspect she was yanked from the mother to early and someone hit her.

Answer by Kate
This is learned behaviour and she thinks it is part of the game. She will not understand that biting is not something we humans appreciate.

As she is so young it should be easier to get her out of the habit (your right, her mother would have taught her not to bite when playing).

The process is one of giving her a negative reaction when she bites and a positive one when she doesn't. If this is repeated over and over again every time, she will soon learn.

The negative response is, stop, make no sound (sound is a positive reaction), don't look at the kitten and walk quickly away from them. They will soon learn that if they want the petting or game to continue then they should not bite.

I have several pages here on the website under cat behaviour about cat aggression and cat discipline for further information.

Hope your kitty learns quickly. Best wishes Kate