I got my cat Grendel about 8 months ago from the Humane Society. I have a small studio apt with no outdoor access, so I've been really worried about him getting bored. He's REALLY needy, and I can't tell if I'm not stimulating him enough or spoiling him rotten.
First, he needs me to stand over him while he eats. The vet said to feed him for 40 mins twice a day & take it away, so I could monitor how much he's eating. He almost never eats all his food, but just enough not to worry. Every time I walk away he comes back & either starts doing something else or meowing at me. I walk back to his dish & he follows me & with a little encouragement he starts eating again. The only way to avoid either him starving or having to get up a dozen times is to stand there over him talking to him while he eats. If I do this......he eats about 2/3 of his food (1/4 cup twice a day) & then stops for good. The vet says this is strange, but he appears to be in great health.
Second, he bits........and not just occasionally or in certain moods. He bites when I pet him, when we're playing, or if he just happens to notice a part of me is within reach. I was bending over checking my email the other day & he bit my butt...........numerous times. It may be that a certain part of him doesn't like to be touched.......but he also bites me when I've been petting him in general & he's been purring. I don't know how to explain this or what to do about it.
He's very playful but refuses to play by himself unless he's been meowing for hours on end & I won't give in. My tiny apt is littered with toys. He loves knocking things off my tables, but won't play with them after that. I leave bottle caps everywhere, on top of my kitchen table, on my end table, on my chairs, everywhere he likes & he knocks them down w/in seconds. I leave paper & plastic bags for him & balls everywhere. Aside from knocking things off tables he won't play by himself. Whenever he's awake (he sleeps most of the day like many cats) he wants my full attention snuggling him, playing, or chasing him around. I do so for a couple of mins & then want to do my own thing.
I've been trying to think of anything I can to stimulate him since we have such a small place. The neighbors love cats & suggested I let him wander around the hall. They all think he's adorable & don't mind. Good news: he loves it. Bad news: He wants & expects to do this constantly & meows for hours when I deny him. What do I do? Is there a way to let him know this is just a treat? Is it cruel to keep a cat in a tiny studio all the time? Am I expected to play with him all the time when he's awake, or should he be able to play by himself?
Today, I let him out for a little while in the afternoon & at nt when he was demanding it I refused. He meowed for 2 1/2 hours. I stopped every few mins to pet him or play for a min like normal, thinking I'm cruel & he's bored. However I know all he does out there is lie around. It's not like there's much of interest out there. He runs inside whenever any neighbors come out, though I think he enjoys spying on them. Is there a way to teach a cat what's normal & what's a treat? Please help. I feel like whatever I do is wrong & I don't know what to do.

Thanks,
Cordellia & Grendel

P.S. He's really freakishly cute & soft. He's so funny in the little things he goes crazy over. When he's quiet, I could watch him all the time. Oh, and I used to be gone long hours, but now I'm home most of the time.