How do I stop my cat from biting and scratching me?
Quick answer
Most cat biting during play is not aggression — it is hunting practice that was never taught to stop.
The full answer
Kittens learn bite inhibition from their littermates: when a sibling yelps and stops playing, the biter learns that teeth end the fun. If your cat was taken from its mother too early, or was encouraged to attack hands as a kitten, that lesson never landed. The fix is to make biting end the game, every single time.
Keep your hands out of the game. Never use fingers or toes as toys, even when your cat is small, because it teaches a habit that hurts once the cat is grown. Play with a wand toy on a long string instead, and let the cat chase and pounce on the toy. The moment teeth or claws touch your skin, freeze, say a sharp “ouch” once, and stop all interaction for 10 to 20 seconds. Then offer the toy again. This is exactly how littermates teach the rule, and it works fastest when it is consistent.
Watch for the warning signs so you can end play before a bite happens: a twitching tail, flattened ears, dilated pupils, and skin rippling along the back all mean “too much.” Give your cat a short break and try again later. Provide two or three ten-minute play sessions a day with a wand toy, plus puzzle feeders, so your cat has a real outlet for hunting energy. If biting is sudden, hard, and comes with hissing or growling, or if it started after a change at home, see your vet: pain and stress are common hidden causes.