We’ve all been there. You are lovingly stroking your cat, admiring its infinite beauty, when suddenly its claws come out and it responds with razor-sharp fangs. But have you ever wondered why your cat bites you when you pet it? Below are the main causes.
It’s all on their terms, of course!
Your cat dictates its preferences, and we simply must do the same. Our cats can’t speak to us in a language we can understand. So when your cat bites you when you pet it, it’s its way of saying that it’s fed up with what you’re doing. Your cat is easily stimulated because their sense of touch is much higher than ours. If you’ve ever noticed that your cat bites you when you stroke the base of its tail, it’s because the nerve endings are particularly sensitive there. Has your cat ever bitten you when you stroked its belly? Well, that’s because cats don’t like you doing that! Almost all cats agree: don’t pet my belly…unless you want your cat to bite you when you pet it!
Observe your cat as you pet her to make sure you aren’t overstimulating her. Cats are very sensitive beings and remain alert at all times. When petting your cat, you should do something that relaxes him and does not stress him out.
Love bites, literally
If we don’t bite our loved ones to show them that we love them, we must remember that cats are not humans. Your cat may bite you gently, without breaking the skin, to show you that it loves you.
Biting owners during petting is one of the most common behavioral problems in cats.
But it’s important to remember one thing: never encourage your cat to bite you! Do not provoke rough play, and especially do not punish your cat if it reacts. If your cat bites you, simply stop engaging with it. Move your hand away and you’ll signal that the game is over for now. One reason it’s important not to encourage biting play with your cat is that she will expect it to be part of her petting routine…which might not work well if a guest or another family member pets the cat and gets attacked as a result.
Have you ever heard of pet-induced aggression in cats?
Have you never heard this term before? Well, now yes! Pet-induced aggression is a problem that develops when your cat associates touch with a negative experience. Cats are special creatures with a sensitive nature, regardless of their breed. This excessively aggressive form of biting is associated with fear, aggression, and their desire to be overly territorial, and it can happen to any cat, at any stage of their life.
Here are the warning signs of pet-induced aggression you need to know:
- My body suddenly tense.
- Dilated pupils.
- Flattened ears.
- Two waves.
- Muscle twitches.
For a cat owner, sometimes the most difficult part of understanding and managing animal-induced aggression is learning your cat’s limits when it comes to physical contact. Respect your cat, even if it means you can’t put it as often as you’d like. Learning to interpret your cat’s body language can save you a lot of cuts and bites, and make your cat much happier in the long run.
Ouch, the cat bites hard!
Play aggression is the most common type of aggressive behavior of cats towards their owners. As we mentioned above petting should only be done on their terms, a cat that has been removed from its siblings early in life is at a disadvantage, as it has no one to teach him the limits with his little sharp teeth. Play behavior is essential to a cat’s development, and without it, kittens become cats who don’t know their limits.
But that’s not the only factor that comes into play, literally speaking, in terms of play aggression. For a cat that goes several hours unsupervised and unstimulated, play aggression can be a direct result of boredom. Suddenly your cat chases you, lunges, stalks you, and attacks you. “ This is what you get for being gone all day and leaving me all alone, human! ”
If you can afford it, perhaps consider adopting a cat friend to keep him company if you have a job that requires long hours. Although society tries to condition our minds into believing that cats are solitary beings, this is completely false. Cats actually get very lonely when left alone for long periods and much prefer to spend their time with other people, humans, and cats included.
A cat that bites? There may be an underlying health reason…
Be alert when your cat tries to bite you when you pet it. Your cat can’t tell you when it’s in pain, and it’s well known that cats are masters at hiding their pain. Just like humans, when we are in pain, we don’t want to be touched. If your cat once loved being petted and now reacts by biting, this is a clear indication that something is wrong with its health. Take him to the vet immediately so they can evaluate him.
I’m wild at heart, don’t forget that!
Of course, your cat knows exactly where its next meal is coming from. But just because he doesn’t have to hunt for his meal doesn’t mean he isn’t wild at heart. If you notice that your cat turns around and attacks you when you pet him, it’s a bit like when he gets dizzy and runs across the room. Cats are still cats, and just because your cat is domesticated doesn’t mean she isn’t capable of calling on her inner wildcat on occasion.