Content
- Cat biting: it could be a game
- Cat biting: could be a warning
- where to pet the cat
- My cat bites me: love
- Cat bite: when is it dangerous?
However widespread the idea that cats are independent animals, we always imagine the cat purring in our lap and accepting our caresses willingly. However, the reality can be very different, so it is not difficult to find cats that flee and/or reject our displays of affection.
Sometimes, they can even bite, even if they were the ones who approached us asking for caresses. In this article by PeritoAnimal, we will explain because my cat bites when I pet.
Cat biting: it could be a game
As we know, cats are hunting animals and, from a very young age, they develop behaviors that aim to convert them into a perfect predator. Among these activities is the cat bite as part of the development of their usual hunting behavior. The kittens play with each other in a prey and predator simulation, making it difficult to understand whether it's a cat attacking or not.
The first weeks of life are essential for socialization, which is why it is so important to spend with your mother and siblings, at least for the first two months of life. The games between them and the mother cat fixes will help the puppy learn how far he can go and what force he can imprint on his bites.
When the kitten starts to live with humans, it is normal to want to repeat these games and this may explain why the cat bites when he receives affection, because, for him, it is a way to activate the mode "hunting game". If that happens, you need to know what to do when a cat bites you: divert attention and always use toys to interact with them, thus avoiding taking our hands, fingers, feet or even legs as potential prey.
Also check out our video about kittens that bite:
Cat biting: could be a warning
Other times our furry friend greets us and approaches, rubbing his head against our body and we can see the cat purring. Our normal reaction will be to return petting, so it's normal to feel surprised and ask the question: Why does the cat bite me when I pet?
You should know that while it's true that the cat is asking for petting, it can get tired of them right away and your way of communicating will be interrupting you with a bite, usually small, warning. Other times he will stop us with his paw, catching our hand or giving us a slight scratch. Although this is a disconcerting behavior, it is very likely that our cat has warned us to stop petting, however, it doesn't we identify your signs.
Some may be as follows:
- Ears folded back, accompanied by the rest of the head, moving away from our contact.
- Restless movement of the tail, which will be raised.
- Attempt to get out of our reach.
- General discomfort. The cat will not be relaxed, but in a state of alert.
If you observe any of these behaviors, you should stop stroking him for if you persist, he will give a warning bite or a blow. This is the best way to know how to stop my cat from biting.
Also check out the article Why my cat bites me to learn more about the topic.
where to pet the cat
First, whether it's a cat or any other animal, we must never force contact. We must always leave the animals come to us. Forcing them might explain why the cat bites when we pet.
If we look at cats, it's easy to see that they show us their affection by rubbing against us, especially the sides of their heads. In this way, they release "appeasing" hormones that provide a nice feeling. This will be your favorite place for cuddling.
Understand the rest of the cat's body, how it behaves in each region and how to pet the cat:
- Upper part of head and neck: this area, like the sides of the face, is very receptive to caressing. The cat will gladly accept the contact, however, you need to stop at the first symptom of discomfort.
- Loin: the caresses that run down the spine are also well received, especially if you gently scratch the area at the beginning of the tail.
- Paws: cats generally don't like to be touched on their paws. It's best to avoid doing this if we don't know the kitten.
- Belly - danger zone: even the cutest cat can get restless if you insist on petting this part, as it is especially vulnerable. Touching your belly is almost always synonymous with a bite, even if it's just a warning.
if we will respect these indications, especially if it's an unknown cat or a newcomer, the two, tutor and animal, have to get used to it, little by little and, of course, have to stop touching it at the first sign of discomfort, avoiding some doubts like "whymy cat attacked me out of nowhere?’.
My cat bites me: love
On occasion, some cats use biting as a form of "loving" communication. So the answer to why our cat bites us when petted may simply be show of affection from him. In these cases, the love bite is made "toothless", that is, the cat "takes" our hand, fingers or even the nose with its mouth, gently and gently, without causing any damage. your attitude will be relaxed and friendly.
On the other hand, if you're wondering why my cat bites me very hard, this article can help you understand and know how to act in this situation: My cat bites and scratches me, what to do?
Cat bite: when is it dangerous?
You may often have wondered why cats bite their keepers, but the answer is relatively simple. In some cases, we can explain why my cat bites me when I receive affection because some cats just do not tolerate caresses and they react with a cat bite, especially if they are in circumstances where they cannot escape and hide, as would be their first choice.
This situation is often a reflection of a great fear that the cat has in front of human beings, a consequence of a poor socialization or a bad experience. That's why we explain the importance of respecting the distances the cat imposes and never forcing him to make contact or scold him if he bites us in response. In these cases, if you want to touch the cat, you should start very calmly. Follow the following steps as a guide:
- Let the cat get close, for this it can be very helpful to use a prize such as a treat he particularly likes or a toy;
- Caress gently and slowly, no sudden movements, the sides or the top of the head, just a few times. If the cat is receptive, you can be checked if he remains calm, gradually increasing the time of caresses, day after day, without haste and without forcing;
- After the previous steps are well accepted, you can continue the caresses, sliding the palm of your hand over the spine, crossing the back;
- You must remember that a cat may want to sleep in our lap, however, not accept caresses. Respect that.
If, on the contrary, an attack is triggered, we must follow these steps:
- If the cat has caught your hand or arm, it should let go firmly, but not abruptly, as a violent tug can trigger another attack. We can say "no" at the same time with ease;
- We must never harm the cat, in addition to being an intolerable treatment, can be counterproductive and result in another attack. We will also be teaching that we are not trustworthy, which will make it difficult to solve the problem;
- In severe cases where the approach described above is not possible, we should seek professional help by consulting a specialized veterinarian or an ethologist, who is the expert on animal behavior. Before any attempt to modify the behavior, you should submit the cat to a veterinary review, as sometimes, a disease not detected can cause some pain that the feline manifests showing itself aggressive.
