My cat bites and attacks me. Is he bored or just aggressive?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 6.5 lbs
My cat, Zachy, has had a serious play aggression issue for two years now. He is a healthy, neutered male who is usually very sweet, loving and playful. Whether I'm petting him, or just working on my laptop, he will get annoyed and then suddenly latch onto my arm or leg, kick and bite down really hard and very viciously. If I push him away he just comes back and continues to bite me. He loves to play but gets bored easily. His fave game is to jump out from under my bed and attack my feet.
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on December 3rd, 2019
This sounds like normal cat behavior for a young cat. I suggest you try some Feliway and some environmental enrichment. He is likely a bit bored. ( https://www.ceva.com.au/Products/Products-list/FELIWAY-R-Diffuser-Set ) ( thedrakecenter.com/materials/environmental-enrichment-indoor-cats ) ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AejmrLa_Cs4 )
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on January 28th, 2020
I suggest you try some Feliway diffusers in your house and do some environmental enrichment for him. Neutering would also help. As a last resort you can ask your vet to prescribe some behavior modification medication. ( https://www.petcircle.com.au/product/feliway-diffuser ) ( thedrakecenter.com/materials/environmental-enrichment-indoor-cats ) ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AejmrLa_Cs4 ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Training & Behavior
I have a 2 year old male cat who has recently begun exhibiting behavior where he bites and attacks my feet and ankles at random. I have tried sternly telling him no and trying to avoid being physically threatening back (i.e., scruffing him and firmly
Sometimes this behavior can be related to boredom, anxiety or a desire to play roughly. There are a few things you can do which may help. Try enriching his environment. Here is a great article about cat's instinctual needs: https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-every-cat-needs-a-place-to-climb/ Use a Feliway diffuser, set aside 30 minutes a day for vigorous play and/or switch the food to Royal Canin Calm. During the play time, if he seems like he wants to play rough, try to encourage him to wrestle with a stuffed animal. You may also try feeding him from a food puzzle and/or hiding food around the house for him to find. Most cats response best to combination therapy. The veterinarian can also prescribe medications which can help with behavior. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Training & Behavior
My kitten is extremely aggressive biting and scratching. Doesn't care if squirted with water or out in his kennel for a time out. When punished with water turns around and attacks our legs. If you try to pick him up he scratches and bites. Sometim
Sometimes this behavior can be related to boredom, anxiety or a desire to play roughly. There are a few things you can do which may help. Try to direct him to play in a different fashion. It's possible he is bored and so is inventing his own games. Try meeting his instinctual needs and providing some new stimulation. Here is a great article about cat's instinctual needs: https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-every-cat-needs-a-place-to-climb/ Use a Feliway diffuser, set aside 30 minutes a day for vigorous play (really get him moving) and/or switch the food to Royal Canin Calm. Try feeding him out of a food puzzle. Hide food for him to find. Provide a stand or resting place by a window so he can look outside. You may also try clicker training him for positive behavior. Here is a link about training cats: https://www.petcoach.co/article/can-i-train-my-cat/ Most cats response best to combination therapy. The veterinarian can also prescribe medications which can help with bad behaviors
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Simba is getting aggressive or more playful . I can't distinguish b/w his nature as he tries to bite us. Idk he is doing all this coz he wants to play or he's getting aggressive.My parents said this all happens as I feed him lil. pieces of meat.Can u
It's hard to know why pets develop certain behaviors. It's possible he thinks this is some sort of game. Try to identify any type of a pattern so you can predict what is going to do. You may certainly try distracting him as soon as you notice the rough behavior. Try to direct him to play in a different fashion. It's possible he is bored and so is inventing his own games. Try meeting his instinctual needs and providing some new stimulation. Here is a great article about cat's instinctual needs: https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-every-cat-needs-a-place-to-climb/ Use a Feliway diffuser, set aside 30 minutes a day for vigorous play (really get him moving) and/or switch the food to Royal Canin Calm. Try feeding him out of a food puzzle. Hide food for him to find. Provide a stand or resting place by a window so he can look outside. You may also try clicker training him for positive behavior. Here is a link about training cats: https://www.petcoach.co/article/can-i-train-my-cat/ Mos
Updated on September 24th, 2025
New Pet
I adopted a 12 week ago kitten from a shelter on May 7th of this year. Loki was a stray kitten. He is extremely aggressive. Loki bites me to the point of drawing blood and leaving bruises and scars on me. I play with Loki at least three times a day.
I recommend you put some Feliway diffusers in your house and do some environmental enrichment for him. Usually these two things help. ( https://www.feliway.com/us/Products/FELIWAY-CLASSIC-Diffuser ) ( thedrakecenter.com/materials/environmental-enrichment-indoor-cats ) He is too young to be prescribed behavior modification drugs and those should only be used as a last resort anyway. You may have to re-home him if you cannot get the behavior under control.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My cat has been going pshyco attacking my family so bad that it has resulted in multiple trips to the vet. It comes on suddenly, he’s happy then all of a sudden starts growling and he turns lion like. We took him to the vet and they blamed us because
I suggest you try some Feliway diffusers in your house and do some environmental enrichment for him. Neutering would also help. As a last resort you can ask your vet to prescribe some behavior modification medication. ( https://www.petcircle.com.au/product/feliway-diffuser ) ( thedrakecenter.com/materials/environmental-enrichment-indoor-cats ) ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AejmrLa_Cs4 ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Training & Behavior
My 5 month old kitten full on bites me for no reason disputes being fed and played with. He will also meow for my attention and then bite me when I try to give it to him.
This actually sounds like normal kitten behavior. Was he hand raised as an orphan or weaned too early from his mother? Those are the most common reasons that a kitten would act out in aggression. I recommend you put some Feliway diffusers in your house and do some environmental enrichment for him. Usually these two things help. ( https://www.feliway.com/us/Products/FELIWAY-CLASSIC-Diffuser ) ( thedrakecenter.com/materials/environmental-enrichment-indoor-cats ) ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AejmrLa_Cs4 ) Be sure to get him neutered as soon as you can. Hormones can also increase aggression.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
New Pet
Our kitty Bravo has recently started attacking one of my older cats to the point that she basically lives in the bathroom. When he sees her his body completely changes and he becomes laser focused on attacking her. We've tried the feliway infuser and
Sometimes this behavior can be related to boredom, frustration, anxiety or a desire to play roughly. There are a few things you can do which may help. Try enriching the environment. Here is a great article about cat's instinctual needs: https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-every-cat-needs-a-place-to-climb/ Use a Feliway diffuser, set aside 30 minutes a day for vigorous play (really get him moving) and/or switch the food to Royal Canin Calm. Provide a stand or resting place by a window so he can look outside. You may also try clicker training him for positive behavior. Here is a link about training cats: https://www.petcoach.co/article/can-i-train-my-cat/ Most cats response best to combination therapy. The veterinarian can also prescribe medications which can help with bad behaviors. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Training & Behavior
We found a stray cat. Had her spayed and all her shots. About a month she her being inside she started attacking. Could this be because she wants to go outside and play? (She always sits and watches from the windows or doors)
She may not be getting enough stimulation inside and she may be attacking for attention or secondary to stress. You could try playing with her for 20-30 minutes a day and offering plenty of toys for indoor enrichment. This information on aggression in cats could also help: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/common-cat-behavior-issues/aggression-cats
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My cat attacks people without a reason and he doesn't do it in a playful way.He bites and scratches really hard that my skin bleeds.He does this without a reason and i cannot predict when he will attack,he attacks even when he purrs.I tried to put hi
This sounds like normal kitten behavior actually but I understand your concerns with the children. If the kitten doesn't have other kittens to play with , this type of behavior is often exhibited. I recommend you put some Feliway diffusers in your house and do some environmental enrichment for him. Usually these two things help. ( https://www.feliway.com/us/Products/FELIWAY-CLASSIC-Diffuser ) ( thedrakecenter.com/materials/environmental-enrichment-indoor-cats ) Hope this helps. If you have more questions you can always opt for a private consultation where we can chat back and forth. That way you can ask as many questions as you'd like. Best wishes.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Harry is bitey. He attacts his older siblings. He is always the instigator of wrestling. And he has bitten me: toes, hand, etc. None of my other cats are biters, so I don't know how to handle it. I'm not sure if he's playing or bites because he's s
Harry is still a kitten. It is normal for kittens to be much more "aggressive" in their playing techniques. The key is to get them to play more appropriately. The first thing I would do is to work on environmental enrichment for Harry. This website has a number of good ideas for that.
https://indoorpet.osu.edu/cats
Kittens need to be kept busy for hours each day and it is normal for them to spend a lot of time hunting. One of my favorite things for cats is a no bowl feeding system like Doc & Phoebe ( https://docandphoebe.com/ ) that requires them to "hunt" for their food. You could also try a feeding ball.
https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/petsafe-slimcat-cat-food-dispenser-in-blue
I also recommend using laser pointers and interactive cat toys like a Cat Dancer (
http://www.catdancer.com/ ) to get cats to play with you more appropriately.
Good luck! I hope that was helpful and gives you some ideas. Thanks for using Boop by Petco.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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