Thread: Bites always, is this normal?

I adopted a 2 year old MC in October. He was front declawed and badly matted when he was found hiding in a barn. The rescue group had him only a couple of days when I came to pick him up. I took him home, had to shave down his back half it was so matted with twigs and small stones, then gave him a bath. He was very gentle during the bath and the shaving. I think he was relieved to be able to move his back legs again.

After he was cleaned up he began biting me anytime I tried to touch him. I can not pick him up without a ton of hissing and growling. I can't brush him without fear of being attacked. He will sometimes come to me (very rare) and ask for attention, but if I give to much he bites me. I am safe to scratch the side of the face, under the ear, but if my hand moves to the top of his head, back or tail he turns and bites, growls and hisses.

I don't want to give up on him as I am certain he had a hard life being left outside with no front claws to defend himself, but I don't know what to do? He never breaks the skin when he bites but it does hurt.

I always saw that MC where gentle giants but he is anything but gentle. Any advice?

Jessica