Cat Bite / why cat bite.

Question.
Honey is nearly 12 months old and we have had her "'since she was six weeks old. We live in a flat so she's kept indoors. It's too small for two cats so we only have her. My husband and I are around for most of the day so Honey is not lonely. She's always been naughty but nothing abnormal.The past few weeks she's been biting and scratching our feet, just before bed and during the night. I do like to stick my feet out but I don't wiggle them for her attention. Even when they are hidden she burrows underneath the quilt for them. We've tried keeping her out of the bedroom but she miaows and scratches the door for a long time until I let her in when she continues her biting again.She used to be 'my' cat, and would follow me and sleep on me when I was relaxing and so on. Now she's changed. She cuddles my husband and bites me more.

I play with her and talk to her and praise her when she's good and she has plenty of toys. I do shout when she bites and scratches me though; it's a natural reaction to screech! We have a water spray bottle for when she's naughty but I think she actually likes it as she continues being naughty.

Answer.
Because Honey is an "'indoor cat she cannot engage in natural predatory behaviour so some of the motivation for her biting could be misdirected predatory activity. You say Honey has lots of toys but you do not give any indication as to the form that your play takes. Chasing fishing rod-style toys will help, especially if some of the toys enable Honey to catch, kill and eat prey. Little tissue paper parcels containing small segments of prawn can be very useful for this. Using puzzle style feeders to give Honey her food ration can also help. Instead of the water pistol concentrate on redirecting Honey's behaviour into acceptable channels such as acquiring her food.

It is also important to try not to react to her biting and this is best achieved by wearing protective footwear and walking gaiters so that you are not hurt and don't react. Praise her for the alternative behaviour of not biting in order to teach the right lessons. .

_{source Your Cat Mag.}