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Petstages Tower of Tracks Interactive 3-Tier Cat Toy?
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What about some toys that are like this? I use toys like these. They are prompted by the cat playing with it but are also encouraging them to keep playing by maintaining their interest.
What kind of toys does he have? Cats will choose what they like (they never want our advice). Make sure you have interactive toys... things that will tire him.
This ball tower thing is a hit with our cats.
Find other toys that might keep him bouncing around. And, of course, throw some big empty boxes in the garage... as they all play with the boxes anyways.
Did the place you got him from ever try socializing him with other cats? He might settle down if he has a feline buddy to hang around with (because humans are boring). If you try this, I would start with talking to the shelter people about his history and if they ever successfully put him with others. They may be able to help you match him with an acceptable playmate.
Keep trying... show him love and patience. With time, he may settle down. Thank you for giving him the chance. The fact that he's had homes and been returned shows him nothing is permanent. He needs to see that he's staying and that you care about him.
That's true, she could be mourning. And I have a wand toy that she plays with sometimes as well as a laser pointer which is her favorite. I got her catnip-infused mice toys that she doesn't care for. I also got her one of those cat tracks toys so she can play by herself but she hasn't touched it at all. I'm thinking I should just get her regular cardboard boxes at this point instead lol
Cute kitten and cute name!!
Wand toys for sure. I don’t like anything with feathers as I feel they come off too easily and I don’t want her eating them.
My baby also likes this
Churu cat treats are a huge favorite
Other random things I can think of at the moment are: elevated feeding bowls, a slicker brush, cat nail clippers, and a water fountain (they are more interested in drinking water when it’s moving)
Anything on a stick that you can wave around (feather or toy on a string) will get him moving.
Throwing a ping pong ball around usually gets the pouncing instincts going. Or set him in a bathtub (no water) and toss a couple in with him.
I cannot recommend this simple toy enough. We have two of these in the house and the cats are always smacking away at it. It doesn't look like a very active type toy, but they have some ferocious battles with it daily.
2 sweet but very shy girls had been looking for home for a long time. They are not lap cats so makes it harder to find them homes. They are about 2 years old and fully vetted.
The one in the front is the one Foster calls Tippy. She's thinner, her face is not as round as the one in the back, plus the stripe on her back is thinner. She's food motivated.
The one in the back Is Cubey. She's rounder. Toy motivated. Toy hoarder & will watch videos for cats on youtube for hours.
They both will take treats from hand.
They both like belly rubs, but only when they choose it.
Cubey Loves watching videos for cats.
Hoards toys.
Not food motivated.
Likes to go high.
Likes music by Queen.
Both cats are picky about food.
They don't care for fish.
Fancy Feast pate only. Purina One dry.
They sometimes sleep in the closet together, but not always together.
They never wake me up for breakfast.
Both cats like to look out the window.
They chase each other for fun.
They play with toys on their own. (No string toys as they eat them)
They like red laser & wand toys. They love this: https://www.amazon.com/Petstages-Tower-Tracks-Cat-Toy/dp/B00DT2WL26/
I got my kitten a track toy and haven’t looked back since. He loves that thing and it distracts him for as long as I’m asleep. A good (relatively) quiet one is this https://www.amazon.com/Petstages-Tower-Tracks-Cat-Toy/dp/B00DT2WL26 he LOVES it and I can sleep soundly
He played really well with it for the first couple weeks but I think he got too excited, hopefully no one else has experienced it. I've seen other toys that are similar just without the holes which I might get for him!
Yes she's in Australia, in the eastern states. I have been shocked at the way she has handled the situation. She has been incredibly defensive and constantly contradicts herself in an attempt to back track and explain it all away? So disappointing. Deeply concerned for her other kittens and their new owners because I'm sure I'm not the only one who has been in this situation based on her reaction.
My cats chew on the sticks and then lose them. Mine enjoy kicker toys and wool balls. One of mine is terrified of crinkle balls and one of them loves to play with Nerf ammo.
We used to have a German shepherd and she had one of those fox toys that doesn't have stuffing in it, which she gave to one of our cats and that is still that cat's favorite toy. She carries it around the house with her.
We also have a ball tower that a couple of our cats enjoy. I don't see any rules about linking to products on this sub, so I'll share the one we got: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DT2WL26/
My cat has plenty of toys but her top 3 are:
1- A stuffed toy that looks like a fish. The toy does nothing, it just looks like a fish but she's throwing it around all the time.
2- A tunnel, she loves going into the tunnel, sliding into it etc
3- Tall cardboard boxes, she loves to jump in and out of them
Other things she likes:
This toy with 3 balls in it
It's a cat toy, like this one. Probably left from Antonio Cupcake (RIP).
You did say the hissing has subsided a bit, so it will probably just take a while. Continue to show both that they are special. Maybe get a few new toys that they can play with together (I still think the three tier round ball spinning toy is awesome.... all our cats love it.)
Not sure if someone mentioned this already, but one of those circular track toys with balls on the tracks. I’m probably doing a terrible job explaining what the toy is, so I included a link for you! Congrats on adopting those adorable babies!! (https://www.amazon.com/Petstages-Tower-Tracks-Cat-Toy/dp/B00DT2WL26/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=1NI0VS473GWCF&dchild=1&keywords=circle+track+cat+toy&qid=1630162516&sprefix=circle+track+&sr=8-3.com)
Its not quite, its not electronic, but I've not seen a cat who won't spend hours with it.
We're always play with the ball here. All of our cats like ball tracks. 😊
They go super crazy for this one so if he continues to do so you might want to invest in one.
My sister got it for him off Amazon! They're called roller ball towers. Here's a link to my specific one, but there are even cheaper ones. https://smile.amazon.com/Petstages-Tower-Tracks-Cat-Toy/dp/B00DT2WL26/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=cat+toy+roller+ball+tower&qid=1605412944&sprefix=cat+toy+roller&sr=8-4
I saw you’re getting a scratching post. Great! Make sure you follow the personality of your kitty. I have two - one loves to be up high, the other loves to burrow under blankets or go in holes. So I got an almost ceiling high cat tree with cubby holes that satisfies both of them.
My girl cat loves this ball tower. Its great for solo play and it’s cheap.
Personally I/my family have always had multiple cats but you have to consider her personality again. It won’t a perfect fix on its own and you should have a backup plan if they did not get along. My parents have introduced many cats over 25 years and only had to rehome two (due to violence) but it does happen.
I'm very late, but thank you to the kind soul who got my boy something new to play with :) He's very picky with his toys but he loves this one!
Named after Duke Kahanamoku, this little dude is a ball of energy. Cat tree and variety pack of toys coming from Amazon today and tomorrow. Also, one of these things. Any other suggestions to keep him busy so I can get some work done are welcome.
I've talked to a few other people on another cat forum about long-term "caging" of cats. Of course, this is what vets, shelters, and breeders often do with cats - as long as they're providing food, water, a litterbox, and a few toys, there's no reason why a cat cannot spend time in a crate/cage. I've talked to people who have had to cage cats constantly and long-term because of a serious injury (such as a broken pelvis from getting hit by a car). The cat must be prevented from moving/jumping/playing, so it needs to be caged for at least a few weeks while it heals. Cats usually adapt to it just fine.
I also have a few "no interaction from me needed" toys out for my cat, such as this one:
https://www.amazon.com/Petstages-317-Tower-Tracks-Chase/dp/B00DT2WL26
I can leave them out for my cat and she plays with them when she feels like it, which is good. It could also help with your kitty.
Hey there. I would definitely get her checked by a vet if you haven’t yet. Just in general it’s good to establish care even if nothings wrong so you know who to call when something is. Vets have been super busy since the pandemic and many have had to turn non-client emergencies away.
I have 2 fat lazy and older cats that still play with some toys. They are picky too. One is spin toy with a ball in it. This is for the lazy cats. They do not have to move to play with it but it’s good mental stimulation. The other good toy is a laser pointer. I’ll try to find a similar spiny toy on Amazon just to show you. Lastly, cat nip is a fun time!!
If she hasn’t settled in well since you got her, maybe try Feliway wall plug ins to help her feel more comfortable in the new environment. Having only had her since March really isn’t that long for a new kitty to settle in but can seem long to us humans.
Petstages Cat Tracks Cat Toy - Fun Levels of Interactive Play - Circle Track with Moving Balls Satisfies Kitty’s Hunting, Chasing and Exercising Needs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DT2WL26/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_6GP0PNGK7KKN8NVP90JM
My cats also liked these:
Pet Zone Fly By Spinner Cat Toy https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XPJQQZC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_3TCFFS5SR846WP51RF13
Cat's Meow- Motorized Wand Cat Toy, Automatic 30 Minute Shut Off, 3 Speed Settings, The Toy Your Cat Can't Resist https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DSSA54C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_W4BJF0E4AP6KFH768SW6
PS I assume you adopted her or took her in from someone, thank you for adopting an adult kitty :)
The one we got our cats is this one.
This ball tower thing. I'm not kidding, they love it so much and play with it all day and night.
You can try some "no human interaction needed" toys such as these:
https://www.amazon.com/Petstages-317-Tower-Tracks-Chase/dp/B00DT2WL26
http://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/petmate-crazy-circle-cat-toy
I have one of each - I can leave them out for my cat and she plays with them when she feels like it, which is good.
I also use ball toys, some with a bell in them and some that light up and blink (e.g., https://www.chewy.com/petstages-twinkle-ball-cat-toy/dp/49669?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=hg&utm_content=Petstages&utm_term=&gclid=CMDiiNun0c8CFQx-fgod0scKOw&gclsrc=aw.ds ) and those are a big hit (and won't get shredded to pieces!)
My cat LOVES these two toys. One is a soft toy perfect for getting high on catnip and kicking, the other will keep him entertained for hours pushing the balls around.
https://www.catnipstore.com/ - I've gotten the cigars, carrots, and bananas for both my cat and my parents cats. They are all great but my cat is partial to the carrot.
https://www.amazon.com/Petstages-Tower-Tracks-Cat-Toy/dp/B00DT2WL26/ref=sr_1_5?crid=333CCPKCLAZD&keywords=cat%2Bball%2Btoy&qid=1655471559&sprefix=cat%2Bball%2Btoy%2Caps%2C121&sr=8-5&th=1 I see this one all the time in the background of other kitties homes here on reddit. It seems pretty popular. You can find this in most pet stores but I got mine from Amazon.
I bought this for my cat but she wasn't interested
Eh, hit reply prematurely. I was going to add that I have loads of the toys, keep some stowed away, and try to put others where dog can’t reach (high on the cat shelf, in small openings in cat scratcher, etc.) But in the end, as you said, the cat eventually drags them out to where she can get them.
Over time I have learned some kinds of toys that the cat likes more than she does. These have survived quite a long time:
Petstages Cat Tracks Cat Toy https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DT2WL26/
Cat Toy Orca Wiggle Worm https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J6D5K5M/
Ethical A-Door-Able Bouncing Mouse Cat Toy https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002DJ6XW/
Here my big boy!Leroy 1year
And this is Misty! 4 months
This isn't exactly the same one, but it basically is this: https://www.amazon.com/Petstages-Tower-Tracks-Cat-Toy/dp/B00DT2WL26/ref=pd\_lpo\_1?pd\_rd\_i=B00DT2WL26&th=1
| Item | Current | Lowest | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petstages Cat Tracks Cat Toy - Fun Levels of Inte… | - | - | 4.5/5.0 |
| Catit Senses 2.0 Circuit, Interactive Cat Toys | - | - | 4.1/5.0 |
^Item Info | Bot Info | Trigger
My cat loves the 'ball tracks' which are basically stacked rings that have a track where balls go to bat at. It's this one:
I'm going to buy some catsit tracks (you can buy as few or as many sets, if she likes it, to make it bigger & different shapes. Same idea as the balltower, but different set-up & I think you can take the top part that they have to put their paws into, off of it, if she doesn't learn or like it that way.
She also would likely enjoy any kind of small toys that she can bat around. I replace the track toys with ping pong balls & my cat has pulled them & jingle balls out to bat around & she can pick them up with her mouth. She also likes to carry a lot of her smaller toys in her mouth when she plays fetch. There may be someone here, or videos on how to possibly train your cat to play fetch. My cat goes crazy for small crinkled up balls of any paper as well.
You can shop around to find these at the best prices. I've found things at Big Lots, Burlington Coat Factory, Chewy, Amazon, etc.
You're a good pet parent & she's so lucky you chose her.
The toys where there's a ball to bat around are pretty great if he's inquisitive! Izzy loved this one as a kitten, although apparently as an adult she got it stuck on her head and was wandering around with it like a goob. Mr. Image didn't take a photo though and I will never forgive him.
And then something like this one, which Amazon doesn't appear to have at a reasonable price, cause they're like $10 at the store usually.
Honestly, its like just a young thing over being a bored thing. You have two so they have each other.
This is a real favorite at my home: https://smile.amazon.com/Petstages-Tower-Tracks-Cat-Toy/dp/B00DT2WL26/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?crid=3U97NHS3GFV04&dchild=1&keywords=cat+circle+toy&qid=1632915401&sprefix=cat+circ&sr=8-5
This is also beloved but it gets messy.
https://smile.amazon.com/Bergan-Turbo-Scratcher-Colors-vary/dp/B000IYSAIW?ref_=ast_sto_dp
https://www.amazon.com/Petstages-Tower-Tracks-Cat-Toy/dp/B00DT2WL26/ref=sr_1_2
This is by far the favorite toy of both of my cats and it sounds like it would solve the problem of your kitty not being able to find the ball after giving it a whack
Petstages Cat Tracks Cat Toy - Fun Levels of Interactive Play - Circle Track with Moving Balls Satisfies Kitty’s Hunting, Chasing and Exercising Needs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DT2WL26/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_svy2Fb0J7H2TH
I got it on Amazon: Petstages Tower of Tracks Ball and Track Interactive Toy for Cats, Fun Cat Game https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DT2WL26/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ehEqCbN53K59B
It's not entirely always normal.
http://www.cat-health-guide.org/cat-panting.html
I've heard it can be a sign of heart problems. If it were my kitty, I'd get a full checkup at the vet and mention the panting.
I also have a few "no interaction from me needed" toys out for my cat, such as these ones:
https://www.amazon.com/Petstages-317-Tower-Tracks-Chase/dp/B00DT2WL26 http://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/petmate-crazy-circle-cat-toy
I can leave them out for my cat and she plays with them when she feels like it, which is good. Your little guy might enjoy having one around so he can play when you're not there.
I'm going to be all over the place a bit here, with little things I've learned here and there.
Canned/wet food. No kibble/dry food. None. Ever. Kibble is horrible and causes health problems in cats - chronic dehydration that can lead to kidney failure (as it did in my own cat) and many urinary tract issues, especially in males. And kibble has no benefits - it does not "clean" teeth (that is a myth) and it can harbor bacteria and toxins. If I could give every cat owner advice, it would be to never, ever feed kibble. I regret feeding my cat a lifetime of kibble so much.
Go for grain-free canned foods if you can, with water/meat as the first ingredient, and avoid fish flavors as a diet high in fish is harmful to cats (weird, I know!) Plus they have small bodies, so mercury from fish such as tuna and salmon can build up in their bodies.
Feed it very often while it is still a kitten. Kittens need basically tons of food as they are little growing machines. Literally just keep offering food until the little guy falls asleep... then offer more once it wakes up!
Spring for stainless steel or ceramic bowls and dishes, as plastic can get scratched up and harbor bacteria, and many cats have "allergic" reactions to it and develop cat acne. Cats seem to prefer shallower, flatter dishes to eat out of, since their whiskers might hit the sides of a deeper bowl and they dislike this.
Be sure to get regular checkups at the vet. Yearly checkups at first are great. Check teeth, claws, all the bells and whistles :} Keeping a cat's teeth healthy through regular cleanings will help prevent the misery that most cats go through later in life - extractions, abscesses, difficulty eating, and so on. My cat is 18 and still has all her teeth with zero problems - but I read about people with cats who have had to have all their teeth extracted. :{ Also, once your kitten is grown, be sure to ask the vet what its "ideal weight range" should be. Many owners don't know this and thus let their cats get too thin or too fat before they realize how much the cat has lost/gained. For example, my cat's "ideal weight" is 8.5-9 lbs. If she goes down to 8 or up to 9.5, I get worried - that's the equivalent of a 140 lb human dropping or gaining around 9 lbs, so it's a large portion of body weight. Obviously you won't be worrying about this for a while with the little tyke, but it's a good thing to keep in mind.
Provide a scratching post (or two!) and some "no interaction needed" toys such as these:
https://www.amazon.com/Petstages-317-Tower-Tracks-Chase/dp/B00DT2WL26
http://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/petmate-crazy-circle-cat-toy
I can leave them out for my cat and she plays with them when she feels like it, which is good. I don't leave out any other toys such as catnip mice, feathers, or anything that can be pulled/chewed off - if a cat CAN tear a toy to bits and ingest it, they WILL! You'll definitely want wand/"fishing" toys and teaser toys for playtime, but I don't leave them out because of the risk. Kittens, especially, will tear apart toys and eat the bits.
I have two litterboxes for my cat - I have often heard the advice given, "one litterbox per cat, plus one" - but it's not necessary. I put a litter mat under the litterbox to help "catch" the bits of litter that the cat kicks out or carries out on their feet. This seems like a small detail, but really saves a lot of the angries when you walk over to the litterbox and feel pieces of litter under your bare feet. Scoop the box(es) daily, and don't use a hood - this traps smells inside the box and a cat's nose is much better than ours, so going inside a hooded box is the kitty equivalent of using an enclosed public restroom. If you have the cat on a decent food, the box shouldn't smell much, if at all. My cat is on a fully raw diet and her poop doesn't stink. At all. No joke. It's awesome.
I also bought a bunch of rolls of doggie poop bags, and when I clean the litterbox, I drop the poop/pee into one of those bags and tie it off. So much easier that way.
Also, skip "scented litter" - they can be off-putting to cats since their noses are more sensitive. I've used plain old clumping clay litter - Dr. Elsey's Precious Cat Ultra - for the last 10+ years.
Skip special cat beds and stuff like that unless you're willing to potentially waste money - cats are, of course, famous for preferring boxes to expensive beds. I've literally only gotten my cat to use ONE cat bed in her entire 18 years - and now she refuses to leave it for a new, less scrofulous one.
Get the kitten used to claw trimming and grooming/brushing ASAP (and tooth-brushing if you can!) Start with just gently holding/touching the paws, and over the course of a couple of days/weeks, work up to forcing the claw out of the sheath with gentle presses. Some cats will start out pretty mellow towards claw clipping and brushing, but if they don't start out okay with it... make claw clipping and grooming a VERY rewarding experience for your cat. The key to this method is START SMALL and work your way up SLOWLY.
Basically, you will literally start by brushing/combing the kitten for just a few seconds. 10-20 seconds tops, maybe even do literally one stroke of the brush and then stop and immediately give them a small piece of a favorite treat/food. Make a fuss over them, tell them they're a good kitty, give them scritches, whatever pettings/attention type they prefer. And that's it for day one. Don't try the grooming again until the next day. Do very short brushing sessions for a few days. Every time you brush them, give them a reward afterwards. Slowly work your way up to longer and longer brushing sessions. Cats are smart enough (luckily) to work out that they get a reward after the grooming if they stay calm and pretty much "endure" it.
My 18-year-old hates being brushed, but we've worked out a deal where she'll sit there and tolerate a 10-minute combing session because she knows she gets a treat after it. I've actually gotten her to the point with claw clipping that she no longer "needs" the treat reward - I can clip all her claws without fuss and all she gets afterwards is a good scritching and a hug.
The only other thing I can think of now is to "cat proof" your home if you'll be keeping it indoors at least for a while. Pretend as if a two-year-old Spiderman baby is coming to your home. Hide exposed wires where you can, and tuck away drape/miniblind pull cords, etc. Hide or wrap anything dangling or exposed that you think the cat might pull, eat, chew on, or play with. Make sure nothing valuable or important is within knocking-over reach. Also check all your houseplants if you have any, as many plants are toxic to cats. Familiarize yourself with foods that are toxic to cats as well - there's nothing wrong with giving them a scrap of meat from your sandwich every once in a while, but onions and garlic (for example) are super deadly to cats.
I almost forgot the MOST IMPORTANT thing. Even if you plan on your cat being "indoors only forever", get it microchipped ASAP. Get a collar and ID. Even if you NEVER expect your cat to get out. I have two separate friends who have "indoors only" cats, so they didn't microchip or collar them - one friend didn't even spay her cat, and the other didn't get hers vaccinated. Of course, the cats got out - one friend's brother let them out accidentally through a screen, and the other got out because of an accidental window-breaking. Luckily both friends found their cats again (but the unspayed one had gotten pregnant.....) but the experience was super-traumatizing to my friends. I always advocate ALL cats being chipped, collared, and IDed, even if you never expect them to get out.
I hope I haven't scared you with anything here! Good luck :D
You can try to discipline him out of the bad behavior. Most people will be against physically disciplining a cat, but it's a ridiculous notion to think a cat will be trained by human means/signals. They are animals, and mom cat hisses/swats her babies if they bite too hard or do something she doesn't like. She doesn't give them time-outs or takes away their Xboxes - she gives them a good spank.
I have an 18-year-old cat who was skittish and standoffish her whole life. She didn't want to be touched and would flee if I approached her. Then, in 2010 her best friend, my German Shepherd, had to be put to sleep. My cat was devastated and her entire personality changed - she wanted to be near me 24/7 and became a snuggly lap cat. However, she also developed a new habit of attacking/biting/clawing my boyfriend and I completely unprovoked - she hadn't been well socialized as a kitten and I'd had very little meaningful contact with her up til then - she was a full-outdoors cat and was often gone for days on end, so the bad behavior wasn't really surprising.
tl;dr I trained her out of the unprovoked attacking in less than a week. Every time she would start to bite or claw, I would immediately slap both of my hands onto the carpet/whatever surface was nearby, and I'd shout "NO" as loud as I could. Basically I created a sudden burst of tremendous noise that scared the crap (once, literally) out of my cat. Once or twice I smacked her VERY lightly on the top of the head or nose with one finger, just hard enough for her to know I wasn't happy (as I mentioned before, mother cats discipline their kittens physically - as long as you don't hit too hard, a cat understands light physical punishment - imagine as if you are tapping someone on the arm to get their attention to gauge how hard to tap).
It took maybe 5 days of this and she stopped the behavior entirely. She was not traumatized by the training, nor did I scar her emotionally for life. She does not "associate" me with fear/punishment and avoid me - she is now a super-affectionate consta-purring catloaf who will sleep on any body part I leave near her, will lick and nuzzle my hands, and hasn't shown a fang nor claw to me in the six years since I eliminated her negative behavior.
I think the same kind of fear/aversion training could work with your cat - when you hear him clawing at the door or meowing/yowling to be let in, get up, slap the door hard, stomp a foot, and yell "NO!" or "STOP!" - anything to give him a good scare and chase him off from the behavior. Yes, this will wake you up pretty much for good and your husband/other kitty as well, but you'd be awake with your cat's ruckus anyway! His behavior is unacceptable and he needs to be "shown" that it is. And, many people will advise ignoring him, but it sounds like you have tried that to no avail.
I would recommend shutting them both out for the night from now on. It could cause aggression if you only keep in the calmer kitty and lock the wilder one out, and it could be harder/more confusing to try to discipline the wilder one out of pounce/play-with-me in the mornings if you let them both come inside. It's difficult, and a bit unfair to Calm Bro, but unfortunately both of them have gotten spoiled to sleeping with you and your husband, and now Wild One is trying to take even more of an advantage. The schedule is YOURS, not theirs, end of story. (But yes, you could try the same fear/loud sound/light tap aversion training when he pounces to play rough early in the mornings if you want to let them both keep sleeping with you guys.)
I had a friend years ago who bred Toygers (think Bengals, but less fancy, and no wildcat genes bred in). She never disciplined any of her cats and lived in what I can only describe as a state of constant terror and harassment by the beasts living in her home. They'd pee anywhere they wanted, especially on the furniture (ruining many pieces I'd help her haul to the dump), destroy every object that wasn't nailed down, and would often attack my friend unprovoked. They would wake her up at all hours of the night demanding food (and she always gave in). When one of her females attacked me, I stopped going to her house. She was too afraid of hurting her kitties physically or emotionally to do anything about their negative behaviors, and they literally ruled in tyranny over her. Your little guy isn't nearly as bad as those terrors, and I think you can train him out of his bad habits.
I also have a few "no interaction from me needed" toys out for my cat, such as these ones:
https://www.amazon.com/Petstages-317-Tower-Tracks-Chase/dp/B00DT2WL26 http://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/petmate-crazy-circle-cat-toy
I can leave them out for my cat and she plays with them when she feels like it, which is good. It could also help with your kitty.
This kind of behavior is unacceptable from our pets, and often we find ourselves confused or unwilling to "speak" to the pet in the language it understands.
You can try to discipline him out of the bad behavior. Most people will be against physically disciplining a cat, but it's a ridiculous notion to think a cat will be trained by human means/signals. They are animals. Mom cat hisses/swats her babies if they bite too hard or do something she doesn't like. She doesn't give them time-outs or take away their Xboxes - she gives them a good physical spanking.
I have an 18-year-old cat who was skittish and standoffish her whole life. She didn't want to be touched and would flee if I approached her. Then, in 2010 her best friend, my German Shepherd, had to be put to sleep. My cat was devastated and her entire personality changed - she wanted to be near me 24/7 and became a snuggly lap cat. However, she also developed a new habit of attacking/biting/clawing my boyfriend and I completely unprovoked - she hadn't been well socialized as a kitten and I'd had very little meaningful contact with her up til then - she was a full-outdoors cat and was often gone for days on end, so the bad behavior wasn't really surprising. She would also attack after being petted, like your kitty, even when she was the one initiating the pettings/scritchings.
tl;dr I trained her out of the unprovoked attacking in less than a week. Every time she would start to bite or claw, I would immediately slap both of my hands onto the carpet/whatever surface was nearby, and I'd shout "NO" as loud as I could. Basically I created a sudden burst of tremendous noise that scared the crap (once, literally) out of my cat. Once or twice I smacked her VERY lightly on the top of the head or nose with one finger, just hard enough for her to know I wasn't happy (as I mentioned before, mother cats discipline their kittens physically - as long as you don't hit too hard, a cat understands light physical punishment - imagine as if you are tapping someone on the arm to get their attention to gauge how hard to tap).
It took maybe 5 days of this and she stopped the behavior entirely. She was not traumatized by the training, nor did I scar her emotionally for life. She does not "associate" me with fear/punishment and avoid me - she is now a super-affectionate consta-purring catloaf who will sleep on any body part I leave near her, will lick and nuzzle my hands, and hasn't shown a fang nor claw to me in the six years since I eliminated her negative behavior.
I think the same kind of fear/aversion training could work with your cat - when he bites, slap the ground hard (or bed/couch/whatever surface is nearest), stomp a foot, and yell "NO!" or "STOP!" - anything to give him a good scare and chase him off from the behavior. His behavior is unacceptable and he needs to be "shown" that it is unacceptable. And, many people will advise ignoring him, but he is approaching you - it's hard to "ignore". Plus, even if he is getting irritated, attacking is not an acceptable response from a pet animal.
Related - I had a friend years ago who bred Toygers (think Bengals, but less fancy, and no wildcat genes bred in). She never disciplined any of her cats and lived in what I can only describe as a state of constant terror and harassment by the beasts living in her home. They'd pee anywhere they wanted, especially on the furniture (ruining many pieces I'd help her haul to the dump), destroy every object that wasn't nailed down, and would often attack my friend unprovoked. They would wake her up at all hours of the night demanding food (and she always gave in). When one of her females attacked me, I stopped going to her house. She was too afraid of hurting her kitties physically or emotionally to do anything about their negative behaviors, and they literally ruled in tyranny over her. Your little guy isn't nearly as bad as those terrors, and I think you can train him out of his biting habit.
I also have a few "no interaction from me needed" toys out for my cat, such as these ones:
https://www.amazon.com/Petstages-317-Tower-Tracks-Chase/dp/B00DT2WL26 http://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/petmate-crazy-circle-cat-toy
I can leave them out for my cat and she plays with them when she feels like it, which is good. It gave my cat the "opportunity" to walk away from me/being petted whenever she wanted, and she had something else she could interact with. It could help with your cat too, perhaps.
I also use a synthetic pheromone product called Feliway ( http://www.feliway.com/ ) It mimics "mom cat" pheromones, so it calms stressed kitties. I use two diffusers in the garage where my cat stays. She no longer has any inappropriate behaviors, but she has several chronic old-kitty conditions that stress her sometimes, and the Feliway helps relax her.
Good luck!
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