Carolyn Osier, a breeder of cats for more than 30 years and an all-breed judge for the Cat Fancier's Association, says such problems are often linked to people who acquire kittens too young.

Osier says cats develop certain social skills at different times. A kitten acquired at six weeks of age may be capable of eating from a dish but still needs to master social skills such as learning how to play together. Kittens learn their fighting and predatory skills by engaging in what look like serious tussles, but actually are play battles that don't involve the use of teeth or claws. If a kitten chomps or claws too hard, the game is over and he learns to control himself with family.

Kittens who are denied access to other kittens and adult cats during this period will try to learn these lessons as best they can by interacting with people. They will tackle ankles or arms, biting and kicking just as they would another kitten. But because humans don't know the appropriate "play gentle" signals, nor have they sharp little teeth and claws to fight back, these kittens don't learn that such aggressive behavior hurts. Osier says that 12-week-old kittens who experience the training to develop these social skills will be no less bonded to people later.

Dr. Myrna Milani, author of "CatSmart," says that cats may bite and claw people who inadvertently stimulate the animals sexually when they stroke them. A normal feline female partner holds still when a male grips her neck with his teeth and holds her with his front paws, then may lash out with her claws following sex. People who don't know this often panic when they feel the firm, but not harmful grip of teeth and front paws. This can make cats panic, too.

Some think neutering will eliminate this behavior. But neutering only removes reproductive organs. It dulls sexual urges but the hard-wiring remains.