Young Maine Coon With a Biting Problem

14 Month Neutered Male Maine Coon Bites Constantly


Our MC is 14 months old. Breeder released him at 8 weeks and we suspect too early and she did not socialize.

He bites when you pick him up, pet him, try and comb or clip nails. He rarely allows head scratching. Insanely active at times.

All lamps are now removed, hutch is empty. Breeder says just his personality. Says 8 weeks is ok to go to home. Has been to vet several times and no health issues.

We have had 3 prior MCs and never like this. All were friendly. No biting. No scratching and loved to be cuddled. We would not give him away as not fair to a new owner to deal with him.

We feed him and generally have to ignore him to avoid being bitten. Will sit in empty shower for hours. Basically is totally reclusive. No other pets or children in a quiet home. What can we do???????

At 14 months old none of his behaviors has modified. We are getting desperate and really don’t want to feed him tranquilizers.

Respnose:
I'm so sorry to hear about your experience. As you know based on your past Maine Coons, this is highly unusual and doesn't sound like a happy, content cat. I haven't had a cat like this, and this is the kind of question I usually recommend taking to a vet, which you've done.

I agree with your suspicion that he was taken from his mom too early, sold too young and didn't receive a proper start with lots of handling and socialization. However, every cat is unique. Perhaps others have done all right with their method.

Two things that come to mind are thorough, professional cat behavior training and calming pheromones like Feliway.

Hopefully others in our community here will comment and share their experiences and input, and help you find a way to move forward with your boy.

I hope you find a way to have a long and loving relationship with him.

Comments for Young Maine Coon With a Biting Problem

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Jun 04, 2022
 Biting boy
by: Helen

I have had great success for physical and emotional issues with Homeopathy. You could also contact the cat whisperer, Jackson Galaxy.

I rescued my guy, Christian, from the street. He was a feral kitten, 10 weeks old. He's super affectionate but a little nippy. It took almost 3 weeks for him to not be terrified at being touched.

When I trapped him, he was with his mom and his kitty siblings. He missed them terribly. I felt so bad. But with lots of attention and homeopathy he blossomed.
Jun 04, 2022
 Mine also
by: Community Member

I was given a MC by accident. He was almost feral.

My sister found him behind the store where she worked. A man had stopped after buying this MC, and the cat jumped out of the car.

She found him weeks later, but the man’s number was lost.

She gave him to me because she knew I had always wanted a smoky gray one. I already had two others, but this one was very dominant from the moment he arrived.

We tried to acclimate him with the others, but he wanted no part of it. He has been the dominant one ever since.

He also didn’t like to be held, petted, or even talked to.

What worked was time and patience, along with petting while feeding or right before. I made him sleep in the bedroom with me.

Now he sleeps on my feet all night and wakes me almost every morning by loving on me.

I also respect that he doesn’t like to be messed with and wait for quiet times to pet him. He still has to bite me once before he will let me pet him for a while.

I wouldn’t trade him for anything now. I’d take your cat too, but my husband won’t let me have any more.

Toys are a must for those bursts of energy. My cat even likes to play catch by rolling the ball back. He loves his scratch pad as well.

I hope this helps. If I can tame this almost feral cat, I’m sure you can with yours. (If not, I would love to have him.)
May 08, 2022
 This worked
by: Community Member

I took in a stray kitten. She was fine with the mentally handicapped young man who brought her to me, but she immediately bit me when I reached for her.

I had him put her in a crate. She hissed, bit, and even threw her food.

Finally she got food all over herself and discovered it was good.

I think she just wasn’t used to a human being kind. Long story short, she became playful and even a lap kitty, but she kept biting.

My friend, who was the head of the local humane society, told me the kitten didn’t realize it hurt.

When kittens play with their littermates and mom, they get bitten back. She advised me to teach her the same way by gently biting her ear just enough for her to feel it.

It worked. She stopped biting, though sometimes she would get excited and forget.

Then she would duck her ear and look very sorry. Strange as it sounds, it really worked.
Apr 26, 2022
 Cat lover
by: Donna Riese

What a beautiful boy. I’m so sorry he’s giving you such heartbreaking problems.

I admire you for not giving up or giving him away to someone else.

I know in his heart he loves you — he just doesn’t know how to show it. You could try another cat, maybe a female buddy.

I really think the person you got him from did everything wrong. They were probably having problems themselves and gave him up too soon.

Who knows, he could have been mistreated and doesn’t know any other way to act. He might also miss his siblings.

For now, I’d give him his space, but keep trying every day. My newly adopted male kitten was very active from day one, he was feral.

I thought he would never calm down, and we had to seal up the whole house. Now he’s maybe a year and a half, very lovable, purrs all the time, and is still very active. He does bite and claw, and sometimes draws blood.

He even bites the back of my 4-year-old female on her neck. I honestly don’t think he knows he’s hurting anyone.. it’s just his way of playing.

I would never give him drugs to calm him down. I love him to death and let him know when he’s being bad. I never hit or yell, but he knows when we’re getting after him. He just wants to play, he just plays way too rough.

We’ve had many cats over the years, and every cat has been different. Our Maine Coon was perfect. Have you tried toys?

I’ll pray that one day soon things will change for the better and everyone will be happy and loving. God bless, and don’t give up.
Apr 24, 2022
 Biter to Babe, the long road
by: Community Member

It took me 15 years to get my orange Tabby to stop biting. If you have lots of time to wait, you may have a lap cat.

While she was a wild biter, she lived a great life outdoors and probably killed too many birds.

It was a journey and now she is 21 years old and near the end of her life. I would say she's done it all and had quite a cat life.
Apr 18, 2022
 Try CBD oil
by: Sandy

I have 9 cats, all rescues, since I do a lot of TNR work. My newest kitty, a lovable (at times) orange guy, was very aggressive when we first got him.

He would attack and bite my husband and me, charge at our other cats, and was basically incorrigible.

He was intact, but we had him neutered right away. He was definitely a stray, not feral. We tried putting him on liquid gabapentin, but it just made him a sleepy aggressive cat.

Finally, I read about CBD oil. I had tried hemp oil once on another aggressive cat without success, but CBD oil is different.

A friend found a reputable place in CA, and I ordered some. It’s been almost a month now, and our little orange boy is showing a remarkable change. It’s worth a try.

The link to the company is https://baileyscbd.com/products/100mg-hemp-cbd-tincture-cat-small-pet?variant=32094220943425
.

I’m sure there are other reputable companies too, but this is one I can recommend. I have no connection to them. I’m in AZ.

Good luck, and please don’t give up until you’ve tried everything.
Apr 17, 2022
 Your Cat Will Not Change
by: Community Member

I was afraid to be around our cat, Molly. Every day for 7 years I was afraid of her sinister soul and her unprovoked bites.

We took her to a place where she could no longer hurt anyone else. We now have a young red MC that is the love of my life.

Sweet, affectionate, and always keeps hus paws soft; claws are kept sheathed. Don't go 7 years like us. Your cat will not change. Maybe as a barn cat for yours??
Apr 16, 2022
 Biting
by: Community Member

I have a Ragdoll that was taken away from his mom at 8 weeks as well. He portrayed some of your MC.

However, while removing him young I believe when he puts his teeth on you its to play or get your attention. Doesn't break your skin.

Your MC treats you as if you are his mom or siblings. My Ragdoll use to grab my ankles with his teeth, grab my arm with his teeth to put him down but never broke my skin.

There is loud apartment related noise with loud human voices that frighten him as well.

He has separation anxiety when I leave. I believe giving a kitten away at 8 weeks is the culprit.
Apr 15, 2022
 Desexing.
by: Cathy W

He might calm a lot if he were neutered. That is, presuming he is entire.
Apr 15, 2022
 He might need a buddy
by: Community Member

My Maine Coon had a somewhat milder version of what you are describing.

He would bite me when walking past him and when trying to brush him (but head scratches were usually allowed and he never broke the skin with his bites).

I felt he was playing when doing this and that he really needed a friend.

I just got another kitten and he is so happy, playing all day with him and the biting has completely stopped.
Apr 15, 2022
 Outside
by: Andrea

Hi - I’m no expert by any means but are you able to find an outdoor space for him to recreate?

I have a cat patio for my two boys and they are out there for hours at a time (weather permitting usually).

It seems to calm them from the edginess they might otherwise have when inside for weeks at a time in the winter.

Also - both my guys were reluctant with affection until about 4 years old. They now sleep on my bed most nights but I did not ever have this excessive biting problem.

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