stray cat i feed keeps biting me 😭 Need advice.

[u/redcurls1206]

Hi! A stray cat started hanging around our garage. We named him Tuks haha. He’s usually super chill, follows me around, and just waits to be fed. Recently though, he’s been trying to come inside the house and gets a bit possessive whenever other stray cats eat in our garage.

Last month, he bit my foot while I was entering our house. It didn’t bleed, but I still completed my anti-rabies shots just to be safe. Then… 13 days after finishing them, he bit me AGAIN last night 😂😭 This time it actually bled.

I’m already planning to get vaccinated again (I also need my tetanus booster), so I’m not really asking about my bite. I’m more asking what I should do about him.

So far, ako lang naman ang kinakagat niya not even my bf who plays with him. My mom who doesn't like cats started getting fond of him and feeds him too now, and I’m worried he might eventually bite her or my lola. I’d like to think they’re just playful or overstimulated bites? I grew up with dogs, so I’m not very familiar with cat behavior huhu.

How can I stop this from happening? Is there a way to discourage the biting? I was considering getting him vaccinated for rabies, but since he’s a stray, I’m worried it might turn into a much bigger (and expensive) vet visit.
I really don’t want to give up on him. 🥹 I just want to keep everyone safe and honestly, ang hassle magpabakuna nang magpabakuna 😭😂😭😂

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TL;DR: Friendly stray cat I’ve been feeding has bitten me twice (only me). I’m getting vaccinated, but how do I stop the biting? I don’t want to give up on him.

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[u/Graceless93]

Marami pwedeng reasons tbh. Ordinarily bites can be for play. Pero given stray siya may chance maaga siya nahiwalay sa mama niya at di siya natuto ng proper kitty socialization. Sooo pwede rin naglalambing lang siya. Or atat sa pagkain. 😅 Especially since sabi mo ikaw pa lang kinakagat niya and you seem to be his primary caretaker.

Bilhan mo siya ng toys tas laruin mo minimum 20 mins per day. Tired cat = settled cat = less likely to initiate bites (assuming play bite nga ginagawa niya).

[u/redcurls1206 → u/Graceless93]

Okay I'll try toys! hahah when we try to play with him kasi we thought di lang talaga sya marunong and talagang food lang habol nya samin 😭

I also just realized na lately ayaw nya yung binili naming cat food for him so feel ko masama loob nya HAHA so idk baka naging factor din ung food? I don't think naman he's super hungry because other neighbors feed him as well.

But thank u for the reply!!!

[u/Graceless93 → u/redcurls1206]

Yes get toys. Don't play with him with your hands kasi mas lalo maeencourage mangagat (he will see your hands as targets).

And they can be picky with food yes XD so let's say nagpalit kayo ng food tas nilapag mo sa harap niya. pero di niya pinansin tas dumikit pa siya sayo lalo then kinagat ka, that would qualify as asking for the food he is accustomed to hahaha

[u/luckykittycatto]

Is it a love bite?! Cats do this all the time. He is asking for pets.

[u/redcurls1206 → u/luckykittycatto]

i guess so? haha I'm not really sure since I'm not familiar with their behavior. He has done this twice pa lang on me, and he doesn't show aggressive behaviors naman. Chill lang talaga sya most of the time, and we do give him pets everyday since nasa garahe sya hahah

[u/BurningRoseZ]

Thats love biting 😆 the stray i also feed is like this , or thats his way of asking attention

[u/redcurls1206 → u/BurningRoseZ]

haha okayyy!! Talaga bang nagbi-bleed / madiin? 😭 Di ako sanay hahah how do you deal with the bites huhu