Expert: Brandy - 2/19/2007

Question
I have a 1 year old black long haired male cat tamed from wild. i realize the cat is in heat.I would like to know if it is normal for the cat to bite the back of my hand as it normally would a female cat? I am one of two males in household 2 females and 3 female children. why am i the one it always prays on? i am the owner of the cat. he follows me around yelling, and reaching out for my leg as i walk by.

Answer
Sorry for the delay in replying...
Male cats don't go into heat, and like pretty much any other male mammal existing on earth, can mate any old time. And since you mentioned heat, I'm assuming he isn't neutered, which means that he's vying for dominance of the house (and people think that only dogs recognized Alpha Males).  

He's also playing with you. When he reaches for your legs, he's replicating the play he most likely did when he was a kitten. Do you still play with him? Use dangly toys, etc? Just because he's not a kitten doesn't mean he doesn't need play - and this might help you re-establish your Alpha presence. If the children in your household already play with hi, then he's not attacking their feet because he gets enough attention from them.

Besides setting some (admittedly limited) time for you and the cat, please consider neutering him, as it should help calm him down - no, he won't get fat or be mad at you for having him fixed, those are human emotions - and whenever he attempts to tackle your feet, stop, push him away if need be, until he gets the hint that feet-tackling is a no-no.

He's also not yelling, just pretty much talking to you, especially if you tend to reply to his calling.