When they are naughty on my bed, I expel them. If necessary I close the door. So they can understand they must choose between their behavior or my presence. If you do that immediately they can associate their behavior with the expulsion. Usually they want to be with you and learn not to behave in such a manner you expel them. But you must be quick and constant. They won't learn if sometimes is allowed and other times not.

Sorry if I thought you where abusing your cat. I've advised putting the fingers on the forehead to other people, and sometimes it works

Nicky's Mom

Your cat is bored and seeking attention. Wants to play. Wants you to spend some time with him/her. (You were decorating and busy, right?).  So the cat communicates in cat-language (nip) it wants to play and is bored. Now, if you flick (something I was doing, but stopped!), the cat actually thinks you are playing with it, only rough! So, it flattens out its ears and prepares for the "rough" play. (My cat did this too and I thought, "Well, she knows its wrong! She's prepared for a flick or a swat. "  Nope-she just thinks I am playing rough. I learned to stop that as it was not the solution.)

If the cat starts to play hard and nip or bite too hard, do as others suggested and immediately allow your hand to go limp. Remain still...-- like a dead mouse, dead bird, dead something. Go "dead." Cats will not play with an object or animal that will not move. Slowly remove your hand and do not give the cat any other attention when it engages in biting.  It will learn that biting does not work...as the playing stops. Also, be sure and shout or say a loud OUCH when she/he bites. My cat has learned that OUCH and NO-no mean to stop. She quickly stops now on verbal command.

The nipping, as aggravating as it can be, is simply their way to communicate. I keep "human-talking" to my cat about using "meow" or a "lick" instead - -but she is determined to communicate with a "nip."

I also learned a great behavioral procedure on the internet. It says that mama-cats teach their young to stop nipping and biting by biting them in the back of the necks and pushing the neck to the floor and holding for a few seconds, as a sign of disgrace or control or humiliation over them. Then, mama-cat walks away after rendering the humiliation sign to them. The cats soon learn to stop nipping. Well, you can emulate this and it does work when your cat nips or bites. Grab the tuff of the back of the neck (don't hurt him) and push down and hold about 2-3 seconds to the floor or whatever. It's a humbling experience to a cat of control by another, so the behavioral experts write. Then, move away. Do not engage in anything else to do with him. Well, I tried it and it works. Painless and it works.

Also, I learned that "some" cats are hypersensitive to petting. (Never knew this. Always had cats who loved to be petted. Not this cat.) The behavioralists state that some cats have whiskers that are hypersensitive and after about 5 rubs and pulls against their whiskers (Unbeknownst to you), they nip to tell you, "Enough."  As it turns out, my cat does indeed have super long whiskers. I have learned to only pet or rub away from the whisker area and to only pet for a minute or two. She's had enough.

And then, there are the times my cat comes up out of nowhere and just nips for the pure heck of it, it seems. Well, she is bored and wants attention or wants to play or for me to actually rub her. It's her way of communicating.  I've learned now she wants attention. Unfortunately, she has learned that she gets it.... ;- ) . .... but I blame that on myself. She doesn't have anyone else around and she is bored. 

Your cat is not naughty. Just wanting attention and to play.. or to communicate. OR- -to tell you to cease rubbing too much. Communication.  Like I said, I sure wish my cat would learn to meow, lick or something a little less painful. But do not flick. Try playing with your cat for a good 15 minutes periodically with a string or something that is active play.  Also, don't forget the "I am annoyed with you" routine on the back of the neck that mama-cats use to teach their young to "cease and desist."  Just push down the scuff of the back of the neck, hold neck flat without hurting or force - - and then have nothing else to do with the cat.

 I have not solved all my cat's issues, but she understands most of the time. I immediately state "ouch" and she freezes, almost looks like she is thinking about it with a "Ooops, I goofed up again." . ;- )  My cat is almost feral. Adopted her from Humane Shelter. She seems to have some genetic habits I've never noticed in my ownership of lots and lots of cats. I've just resolved myself to the fact I have a slightly neurotic cat who wants a more interesting life and interaction with me.  Sometimes, she comes up and nips me on the shin and "scampers away" - -almost like a football tackle who just "tagged and ran."  She wants to play. Cat communication again. She's not being naughty. I have got to start using the spray bottle on that little habit, however. At times, I do show my teeth and hiss at her --and she seems to understand, "This is not going down so good. She's angry. Better refrain." 

Good luck. 

About the nail clipping. Relax. It's no big deal whatsoever to a cat if you start when the cat is young. Let the cat see you clipping your nails with a nail clipper. Cats are soooo curious about things. They will see that you are doing it to YOUR nails, so when you clip theirs, they figure it's "all in the family." 

Everyone I speak to is afraid they will clip too short. Well, this can happen, but there is absolutely no reason to do so. Just clip a little bit each time. Even the least little bit dulls those needle claws a bit. You'll get the hang of it, plus your cat will soon learn that you are not going to hurt it. My cats have always "Adjusted" to nail clipping after about 2-3 times. No sweat. I am very gentle, talk through the clipping in a very normal voice as if nothing going on unusual, and am finished in about 2 minutes without so much as the least resistance. I usually clip my nails just before I clip their nails (in the beginning, training months.).  After that, they never protest. Just push one toe out at the time, gently, and clip. NEVER clip where the blue or red area is. That hurts and will bleed. Just clip the clear tips. ..little at the time.

PS - -don't forget to give your cat a scratching post. Cats love to scratch and "hone" those claws back up into sharp little needles again. On top of that, it "feels" goot to a cat to stretch its claws on the post.