Our cat only bites me when I tease him. It’s really funny, because if you mess with him and get him riled up, the game isn’t over until he bites you; he’ll stalk you until you give him your hand, he bites you once, and then he’s ready for some petting.
My cats never bite or scratch intentionally. They are extremely easy-going and people-loving.
However I have known some cats that will react with aggressive play if they are overstimulated – like vigourous scratching of a particular itchy spot can set them off.
Another thing is that when cats roll over onto their back with their legs curled against their bodies, it is an “attack pose,” not a “submission pose” as in dogs. They are bringing their powerful back legs into play and may be indicating they have had enough.
This is distinguished from a stretched out, very relaxed “rub my tummy” pose… though many cats like stretching out but not tummy rubs.
never had any problems with cats except when i insist on holding them and they had to jump off. them jumping off can scratch as their claws will automatically extend when they jump.
congratulations Rooves, looks like you’re a convert. 
My cat has never, ever, bitten me. I can maul him to my hearts content (in a purely playful way), and he will struggle to escape sometimes, but he doesn’t ever scratch or bite.
The thing is, he’s not a big softy. He’s a vicious killing machine to anything small and furry, but he’s sensible enough to know that attacking things much larger than himself. That and he wuvs us.
My 18-yr old tabby has never scratched me,but she used to ahve a really bizzare habit that she seems to have ditched in her old age. Whenever I would get out of tthe shower, if she was around, she would bite my ankles. It. Drove. Me. Nuts. I finally asked the vet about it, and the vet said that the cat didn’t like the way I smelled after a shower, because I didn’t smell like me, I smelled like soap. I locked her out of the bathroom for a while, and she wouldn’t do it as often after I let her back in, then a few years ago, she quit doing it all together.
**Rooves,** if you get a cat, you have to do lots and lots of cat posts!!Eh, somehow I don’t think THAT’S going to happen…check out the Pit, as has been mentioned before. I don’t think I’ve ever come across someone with more disdain for cats.
I LOVE cats! My 10-year old Siamese gives “love bites”, they don’t hurt.
I can quite literally bury my face in my cat’s tummy - she will not bite or scratch me, and never has – as an adult.
Kittens will bite or scratch, playing. But not (in a well-socialized cat) seriously.
However, it all depends on personality - my sister in law has a cat that would claw your eyes out if you buried your face in her tummy - even her owners can’t take such liberties.
Mine just loves the attention.
In my experience this is partly about the cat being well socialized and partly about the humans knowing how to read a little cat body language. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten a “real” bite as opposed to a love nibble from a cat in about 25 years of association with cats. Scratches happen sometimes, though. Declawed cats may be more likely to bite.
A good shelter should be able to get you together with an adequately socialized cat. Sadly, there are so many abandoned cats that you should have plenty to choose from and can pick one with a good personality. Once you get the cat, watch for the tail swishing and other signs the cat is getting overexcited. This is kind of like a little kid who gets overexcited and starts to hit or yell or just have a total meltdown. You need to be the grownup and stop playing or petting and give the cat a chance to rest and regroup.
Also, have the vet show you the right way to hold, pick up, administer medicine, etc. When you have to pick up an unwilling cat, it’s important to keep the cat comfortably but firmly under control with the pointy parts away from your face.