Expert: Becky - 2/27/2006

Question
Our cat Luscious, who is about 4 months old, is very agreesive.  She bites and attacks anything that moves, and has gotten to the point of biting too hard that if we don't pull away she will puncture our skin.  At times, she is calm and cuddly, but sometimes, we will just be standing there or sitting there, and she will put her ears back and lick her face, while making a growling sound and then pounce and bite and scratch us.  We've tried to tell her no and a few other little things, but it seems as though she just gets mad at us and retaliates more.  We try to give her a toy or something to distract her and she doesn't care about it half the time when she is being agressive. Please help us, we love our cat, but we dont know what to do.

Answer
Hi Jennifer,

Luscious is just a kitten and what she is doing is actually quite normal. Kittens will often pounce and attack each other like you are describing.  This is their way of learning how to stalk and hunt.  It sounds like yours is a bit more agressive though, and I can see where that can get out of hand.  I have a Siamese kitten that is the same age as yours, and he will grab my hand and try to bite and buck with his back feet.  I take his head and pull it off, and firmly tell him "NO"!.  Do not physcially hit your kitten as this does NOT work with cats.  By the tone of your voice, you let her know you mean business.  When she starts to bite and will not stop, then take her and put her in a crate or another room for a little bit until she calms down.  Please understand that she is not trying to be mean or trying to attack you in an agressive way, although I know with those razor sharp teeth , it sure seems that way!  She is only doing what is her instinct, to hunt and attack!  Try to be patient, and when she is being good, you should really praise her.  
She will outgrow this, and I think with some firm training , she will do better in no time.

God Bless,
Becky