Does your cat attack you?

My cat sometimes attacks me at random. I will be getting my slippers and then a paw flashes out and tags me on the hand. Or I am getting the mail and it pounces on me from behind some bushes.

Also when I am trying to pick up the cat sometimes it will sit there and strike at my hands with its paws.

Very common behavior for our furry overlords.

Mine does that all the time...Aren't they sweet angels?

No they are not.

Mine also bites me if i try to pet it on the chest.

IT, this sounds like kitty is telling you in no uncertain terms it does not like to be petted on the chest.

Confess. You love cats.

mine bites when I'm petting her too!

You could get them fixed and declawed. If the behavior continues shake a plastic bag at the cat.

Fixed, yes. Declawed, NOT. How would you like all your fingernails pulled out?

Illegal, keep their claws clipped. You'll be fine.

He's not biting hard enough to the point where he breaks skin and draws blood, is he?

If it's just a light bite, then he might be playing with you. Some cats like to play rough.

As long as he's not hurting you or showing other signs of aggression, then there shouldn't be a problem.

I've had/have a lot of cats and never had one who attacked me. The most any will do is soft bats, but only when they're kittens. Has anyone played rough with your cat? That will teach the cat to be aggressive. Also, I suggest you keep your kitty's claws trimmed. As for declawing, noresponsible vet will declaw a cat. Declawing is the same as removing part of the cat's "fingers"...think of how it would feel and be to have your fingers cut off to the first bend.

When your cat gets rough, immediately stop all interaction with it except to gently, but in a firm tone, say "NO". Then walk away. When your cat is not being rough, make sure you pet it and praise it. As soon as it exhibits rough behavior, use the same firm NO.

Cat may need more toys and your interaction, more spaces all it's own (like up high to watch all)...

We live in the land of the flea and the home of the plague Your cat loves you

Thank you for this advice, I am using it, and also the plastic bag advice I got in another post here.

My cat has not been roughoused. It is very playful and sometimes if my hands are in the vicinity of it, it will smack them.

Seriously, you need to play with your cat more. It sounds like he has a high prey drive (a lot do...this is normal, he's a cat ). A good option is to play with him using wand toys like "da bird"...cats love it:
Da Bird Interactive Feather Cat Toy

There are lots of wand toy options for cats. Try and work in 20 minute play sessions into your day as often as you can. (Especially one at night before you go to sleep.) There will be less sneak attacks made from under the bed and elsewhere b/c he will get his energy out in other ways AND he will be a much happier cat!

And Sister Rags is correct...if you are playing with him and he starts to engage in play that is to rough directly with you (vs. the toy), you need to say NO firmly, stop the play, and walk away.

Cats are most vulnerable on the their chests and their stomachs (because that is where their organs are located), so some cats will naturally bite you if they don't feel comfortable being petted there. That's pretty normal; it's best just to recognize that and not pet your cat there if he doesn't like it. Most cats don't like being petted everywhere.

BTW, please skip the plastic bag, stuff like that just makes me cringe...trying to startle/scare your cat isn't useful when he is acting on his playful instincts. You may create anxiety in cat where there was none before, or else he might start to associate something unpleasant with you and not want to have much of anything to do with you. Neither are desired results.

I have been playing with him a little more by putting out some string for him to chase. So far attacks are down 50%

I would like to put him on one of these, though. He would love it.

Mine attacks my ankles, esp when I'm ignoring him on the "loo". If I pretend to cry, he immediately frowns, licks me, and walks away.
He usually sideways bites me, but sometimes he gets carried away. That's when I boo hoo and he stops.

I wonder if this would work with your cat?

Yes this reminds me of what my mother did with her cat when I was young, and from memory he would stop immediately as well.