There you are giving all of your love and attention to your cat when, all of a sudden, you are rewarded by a sudden pounce.
Next thing you know your "loving" cat has just sunk its teeth and claws into your hand. But why would your cat bite you? Does your cat hate you?
The answer is no, your cat does not hate you. It can be quite the opposite! The biting that your feline friend is partaking in is commonly called “love biting".
Your cat is attempting to communicate with you, they are trying to tell you something with a cat bite. But what?
The answer is not straightforward.
Why Does My Cat Bite?
Your cat may be trying to tell you several things:
- Love biting can be playful, particularly with kittens. If your cat doesn’t have another feline playmate, they may play aggressively with you. This can result in playful "love bites".
- Your cat may use biting to assert dominance and respond to threats. In the home, your cat may be biting you because they are showing you who is in charge.
- Cats love affection, but not too much. Try not to smother your cat. At times your cat may feel irritated by being petted.
- In this situation, the cat may nip or lightly bite the person petting him. They will then jump up and runoff.
- Although this type of aggression isn’t well understood, behaviorists think that physical contact, like stroking, can quickly become unpleasant if it’s repeated over and over.
- If your cat is aggressively agitated (by an animal or person he can’t get at), they will re-direct their aggression.
- If they cannot get to the trigger of their agitation, they will lash out at someone (person, dog, or cat) who is nearby, that will often be you!
- Biting may be due to health issues. If your cat isn't normally aggressive, then an attack may be a sign that they’re in pain
Products To Prevent Your Cat From Biting
Tips To Prevent Your Cat Biting:
- Avoid eye contact with your cat if they are in an 'aggressive' mode. Staring at your cat increases feelings of aggression and can provoke an attack.
- Alternatively, looking away from your cat calms them and prevents potential biting.
- Slowly blink at your cat, especially if your cat is nervous. This relaxes your gaze and tells your cat that you are non-confrontational.
- Do not punish your cat.
- Play with your cat - play stimulates a cat's brain, makes them feel good and it relaxes them. Some great toys to use to play with your cat are laser lights, feathers, and toy mice.
- Spend time with your cat - let them sit on your lap, pet them and spend time playing with them.
- If your cat demonstrates signs of aggression whilst you are together, you must end the playtime. Over time, you should be able to end your sessions before your cat becomes aggressive.
- For example, if you pet your cat for five minutes before she starts nipping, stop petting her after four minutes the next time. Cat behaviourists recommend leaving your cat 'wanting more.
- Stop petting your cat while they are still enjoying it, it breaks the cycle of your cat negatively ending a patting session.
- Use Feliway to relax your cat. Feliway is a synthetic feline pheromone that helps your cat feel safe and secure.
- It can greatly help cats who are anxious or nervous. It is available as a plug-in diffuser or room spray.