Helen is still biting....any ideas?

Hi guys. Maybe you remember I adopted a tuxedo cat back in June. She's so much fun. She chases her tail and she runs across the table (okay so that isn't so fun!) and she gets into all kinds of mischief. For a two year old I thought she would be calmer but maybe the shelter was wrong on her age. She acts younger than two, so I don't know. Thing is, Helen has been a biter since day one and not little love bites but full on bites. She also scratches with her claws. My Dad who is 69 so he has thinner skin is constantly bleeding from Helen. Any ideas on how to help her not be a biter? I keep saying no! And thumping her on the backside with my finger when she bites but that doesn't seem to deter her. I've never had a cat bite this much. But boy is she is cutie pie. I'm still so glad we adopted her. But I don't like the biting and the scratching. I figure the scratching will stop as she gets older, at least that's how it was for Esther and Amelia but I don't know about this biting stuff. Esther bit a little bit but more like love bites. Amelia doesn't bite. Helen bites like she's trying to take a chunk out of your arm!!

Get a spray bottle, fill it with water and every time she bites or scratches spray she in the face. Usually doesn’t take long for them to get the idea. But you’ll need to be consistent and have the spray handy.

Going to second Nammu's idea about the spray bottle of water. In the meantime you could put caps on her claws so she can't do damage when she scratches.

Google "cat biting".

SK,

Please don't spray her, or thump her on her bottom.

She is most likely getting overstimulated, and both of those things will stimulate her more.

I have been dealing with a very bitey/scratchey cat for 10 years, so I have lots of experience with this!

Jackson Galaxy has an excellent video on this topic, please check it out:

I do think the overstimulation could be a factor.