How to Stop Cats from Biting and Scratching

Stay calm. Never hit, yell, chase, or get angry with your cat. Doing so will only make it scared and confused.

• Never call a cat over to punish it. Cats don't understand why you're upset with them. They typically expect affection when you call them to approach.

Leave the situation. The first thing you should do is retract your hand and keep it out of the cat's reach. If the cat is still agitated after a few seconds, slowly stand up so it can leave your lap. Step away and avoid returning until the cat has calmed down.

• Avoid petting the cat after it scratches or bites. You need to show disapproval. After disciplining your cat, don't immediately start petting or caressing it. Doing so sends conflicting signals to the cat and might confuse it. It may begin to bite you to receive affection.

Clear the way for the cat to escape. Suppose you're trying to move to another room, but a cat is blocking the way, growling and showing its teeth. Assess the situation from the cat's perspective. It feels trapped, and you become a threat as you approach. The cat wants to escape but may have to attack in self-defense because there's no escape route. The simple solution here is to step aside and let the cat pass (it will run away immediately), while you return to your original path.

• Do not feed the cat for 20 minutes after it scratches or bites, as this could cause the cat to misunderstand and think it's being rewarded for such behavior.

Understand what will motivate your cat to change its behavior. Cats respond best to positive reinforcement, such as praising and rewarding good behavior, while ignoring or not rewarding undesirable actions.

• Provide the cat with a catnip-stuffed toy as a substitute for you. Reward the cat when it bites the toy.

Try using voice and gesture techniques. As soon as the cat bites or scratches, say 'NO' firmly and point your finger at the cat. Look directly at the cat with a cold or stern expression. In the world of cats, staring is seen as a sign of threat or dominance.

• This also helps you create distance from the cat after a scratch or bite, or ignore it for about 10 minutes.

Try using the clapping method. When the cat bites or scratches, clap your hands and say 'NO!' in a firm tone. Remember, do not shout at the cat or slap it in the face. Such actions could frighten the cat. Repeat this every time the cat bites or scratches. Your cat will eventually learn to stop this bad behavior.

• This method works well with dominant, aggressive, or bold cats; it is not recommended for shy or easily frightened cats, as it might exacerbate these traits.

Try ignoring the cat. When the cat stops biting or scratching, stand up and turn your back, walking away in a firm manner and avoiding any interaction for 5-10 minutes. Repeat this every time the cat attempts to bite or scratch you. It will associate this undesirable behavior with your lack of response.

• This method may not work for every cat, but it is especially effective with clingy cats who crave attention. It also works well with kittens, as they are still learning proper behavior.

Teach kittens the boundaries of acceptable play. Learn to mimic a reaction. When a kitten nibbles on your hand, let out a sharp yelp and pull your hand away. Then, stand up and walk off, signaling that the game is over. With consistency, the kitten will soon understand that biting leads to the end of play and will avoid doing it.

• If the kitten's bites are playful but you want to stop the behavior, gently resist. The cat will be annoyed by the resistance and stop biting. Quickly withdraw from the play if the kitten becomes too rough and you risk getting scratched.

Provide toys instead of using your hands or fingers to play with the cat. When cats are caught up in play, they can forget to be gentle, which may lead to scratches or unintentional biting. To prevent this, give the cat a toy, such as a fishing rod toy, laser pointer, or a catnip-stuffed mouse.

• Cats have a natural need to bite, chew, and scratch while playing, but they shouldn't use you or anyone else as their 'practice target'. Try playing with the cat using a fishing rod toy to keep your hands safe from bites.

Give the cat plenty of playtime. Schedule daily play sessions with your cat for 5-10 minutes. Let the cat chase the toy until it is tired out.

• Encourage your cat to engage in chasing and expending energy. A tired cat is less likely to attack than a bored one with excess energy and nothing to do.

Consider getting your cat spayed or neutered. Cats that aren't spayed tend to be more territorial than those who are. While unspayed cats aren't necessarily aggressive, neutering often has a calming effect, making the cat gentler and more affectionate.

Learn to recognize signs of aggression. Watch for signs such as dilated pupils, puffed-up fur, and a cessation of purring. The cat may also growl, whimper softly, or hiss. Its ears may flatten backward, its whiskers point forward, and the corners of its mouth may pull back with its mouth slightly open (especially when hissing).

• A playful cat may also have dilated pupils due to excitement. Take this into account when reading the cat’s body language – so, the cat resting in your lap will not be excited and its pupils won’t dilate.
• If cornered, a cat may crouch and scan its surroundings looking for an escape route (which it is trying to find).

Determine if your cat was orphaned as a kitten and raised by humans. Kittens that didn’t have their mother may not learn how to moderate their attack play. These cats tend to grow up to be more unnecessarily aggressive.

• Cats raised by humans from a young age often give off very subtle signs before becoming aggressive. You should learn to identify these signs to avoid getting scratched or bitten.

Consider if your cat might be stressed or scared. When a cat is stressed and has no escape route, it can go into a frenzy. Stress can be caused by things like a noisy toddler cornering the cat, a change in environment, or the presence of strangers. It’s important to understand the emotional needs and responses of your cat. Don’t just assume the cat is being aggressive; it may simply be reacting to stress.

• The best response is to stay calm and create a peaceful environment. Turn off the loud TV, ask the children to stop making noise around the cat, and if someone is angry, ask them to move to another room to cry or yell.

Could it be that your cat is simply overindulging in play? If you often encourage your cat to engage in attack-like behavior by waving your hands and feet during play, don't be surprised if your cat scratches or bites your feet afterward, even when the play session has ended. Your cat may think it's still playtime.

Check if your cat might be sick or in pain. Cats experiencing pain or illness can display defensive behavior and may become more aggressive. If your cat shows signs of illness (weight loss, excessive thirst, vomiting) or pain (irritability, excessive meowing, scratching, biting), take them to a veterinarian for a checkup. Your cat's behavior might improve once underlying health issues are resolved.

• Older, frail cats may not like being picked up or petted and might scratch or bite to get some peace. Be mindful of your cat's age and handle them more gently. Give your cat more space to prevent behavioral issues.

• Teach children the proper way to hold and pet both adult and kitten cats. Proper interaction can prevent future issues.
• Provide your cat with toys instead of using your hands to play with it. This way, your cat will understand that your hands are not toys.
• If your cat continues to scratch or bite, gently but firmly tap its nose. The tap won't hurt the cat, but it will annoy it.
• A can of air works much better than a spray bottle. Cats dislike the sound of the air can, and it won't harm your cat.
• This method can be risky – consider whether it’s suitable for your cat. As your cat is about to bite or scratch, grab the back of its neck (try to gather all the fur on the cat's neck, which is easier with long-haired cats) and press its head down. Firmly say 'NO!' but avoid shouting at the cat. You don’t want to be harsh or scare your cat, just stop the behavior at that moment. Your cat may squirm (if so, release it before it tries to use its claws), but it will understand that you don’t approve of its action. If your cat stays still for a few seconds, release it. Be firm but fair.
• Many suggestions for stopping scratching and biting recommend using water or making unpleasant noises. These methods don’t seem to help much and might make the situation worse by frightening your cat even more. The best chance is that a sudden spray of water might stop the cat the first time, but if repeated, your cat will avoid you. If that’s what you want (at least it won’t scratch unless it comes closer), that's fine. But it won't be the best approach if you want to maintain a close relationship with your pet.

• If your cat reacts negatively to any of the methods mentioned above, stop immediately.
• If there are children in the house, teach them how to stay safe around the cat (don’t pull its tail, hit it, shout, or use a spray bottle unless absolutely necessary, etc.).
• If the biting behavior is sudden and completely out of character for your cat, take it to the vet for an examination. There may be an underlying health issue that requires treatment.
• Cat bites are very prone to infection. Monitor the bite closely and seek medical attention if needed.