Why Does My Cat Bite Me?

Cats are cute little pets. You love spending your time with them. They find pleasure in your company and feels on top of the moon once. The next moment you might have noticed your cat biting you.

This may lead you to confusion and let you wonder why your cat bites you? You should be aware of the cat’s body language and the way it expresses different feelings.

This article provides you with the necessary information and helps you build a strong bond with your cat.

When your cat licks you and bites you, there may be different reasons every time. This is the body language of the cats to express their feelings. You can find below some of the reasons for this behaviour:

1. Affection

Cats love you a lot. The little kittens are being licked and gently nibbled from their mom. Now the little ones shower their love on you. So your cat starts licking and nibbling you.
What to do then?

Do not get irritated by the behavior and yell at your pet. If you are not comfortable with this, just walk out. You can also distract the cat by providing a treat or toy.

2. Play

Was your cat left when it was little? Does your cat know boundaries?

Biting and licking are part of play. Kittens that leave their littermates too young may not know the boundaries and play rough with adults also. The mother cat and other littermates squeal in to play, if your kitten is not alone.
If a kitten gets too rough while playing, then the family stops playing. You can walk away if your adult cat is playing rough and starts biting. This helps it to learn that if it needs your company it should behave gently.

3. Over-Stimulation

When cats get over-stimulated?

Cats get over-stimulated if petting or playing continues for longer duration. You can see the tail being twitched and the face looking annoyed. Get ready to experience your cat’s bite now, just before you realize what is happening, your cat would have done away with its job.
Can you prevent this? Can you train your cat not to become over-stimulated?

It is difficult to avoid a cat’s bite when it is over stimulated. You can deal with over stimulated cat by learning and understanding what your pet is telling you. It is impossible to train your cat not to become over-stimulated.

If the tail is wagging, body is stiffened and ears are back then it is time to remove your hand. Cuddling and purring also may over stimulate the cat. It is important to read its signals.

4. Stress

When does the cats feel stress? How to deal with kittens suckling of your skin?

Cat experiencing stress or feeling insecure starts suckling. Kittens which are left by the mother and other littermates tend to suckle. It suckles your skin or clothes. If you are comfortable with this kind of behavior allow your kitten to do this. If suckling makes you feel uncomfortable then distract the cat using treat or toy. You may also just walk away.

5. Aggression

Is your cat aggressive or just excited?

Rarely felines behave aggressively towards people. Aggression is experienced by cats, if they are easily frightened. Such cats when encounter scent, sound or sight of other cat outdoors, they face aggression. If your pet is below the age of one year and it tends to play roughly with you. This is because it is excited with the playmate and not because it is aggressive. However, it is difficult to analyze the difference between real aggression and play.
What are signs that indicate your cat is aggressive?

While playing, cats have “play face” and hold their mouths half open. Cats will have their back arched and the sideways pounce or hop. They also play quietly. These are two ways you can find out if your cat is playing. Remember, they also tend to play during aggressive encounters. But when it is aggressive it spits, hisses and growls.

6. Love Bite

Is this usual cat bite or love cat bite?

It is a love bite. Your pet is telling “I Love You” in this way. Often, when you are petting or playing with the cat, you experience love bites. Cat may once start licking people and eventually may start biting. All love bites are not hard.

Cats are too sensitive on their lower back that is right before their tail. When you rub your cat, it gets overwhelmed. This leads your cat to gently nip that is it almost touches your skin with its teeth gently. It seems like it is telling you it is enough and it is been receiving a lot from you. You can stop your action then.

Be careful before the love bite becomes too hard. Cats do this when they are over stimulated. When they are playing for a long and with more than one person at a time, it makes them over stimulated. Too much noise also over stimulates the cat. Play with it with one hand, as using both the hands may also over stimulate. Hard bite draws your blood and it is painful.

Signs to know that Your Cat Bites Hard Now

Cat body signs? How to prevent bites?

Here are few warning signs about your cat’s behavior. Watch out its behavior cautiously and prevent yourself from getting bitten. Cat’s body signs are more evident in its eyes, tail position and body.

Eyes:

Cat’s eyes are enlarged when it is playful. As you witness the wide eyes, if it starts moving its head and eyes towards you and away from you. You should understand from this gesture that it has played enough and cannot take anymore. Excess of playing may result in hard bite.

Tail position:

When you notice your cat wagging its tail back and forth, and puff the hair out on the tail then it is trying to tell you something. It needs break from the play.

Body:

You may find their skin suddenly started twitching and it is getting tense and squirm. These signs warn you that they are facing over stimulation. Stop playing at this stage otherwise, it may harm you.

Now you know what are signs that cat will bite you. Also you learned what types of bite are. And, as you’ll see in just a second if you follow tips you can prevent this behaviour.

14 Tips to Prevent Cat Bite

Now let us see how to prevent the cat from biting hard. Here are few simple tips that help your pet to come out of aggressive behavior.

1. Train your Cat Not to Bite

Is strike a good solution?

This is easy if you have a kitten. However, you can train an adult also. Teach the cat that this kind of behavior is unacceptable. Do not yell or strike.
What can you do?

When your cat bites you, just express your displeasure and tell “no” or “ouch” and walk away. Before walking away, stare at the cat fiercely for some time. Your cat may feel it is threat for dominance. Ignore your cat for some time. This affects it, as it loves to play.

Note: After teaching the cat not to bite strictly, do not start to cuddle or pet it suddenly. This may confuse the cat by giving mixed signals. Next time, your cat may bite you to get itself cuddled.

You can always recognize warning signals and take necessary preventive measures. If your cat swipes at you after five minutes of petting, then reduce the time to three minutes.

Always praise your cat for good behavior. Treat it after petting. Help it realize petting is positive.

2. Provide Outlet to its Energy

How you should play with your cat? How long you should play?

Scratching and biting form cat’s predatory instincts. You can help your cat release its energy by making it play at least two times a day. Let your play sessions be short and last for 5 to 10 minutes.

Playing should be simple one, like a piece of string being dragged for cat. You can allow the cat to chase it. This helps cat to reduce biting as cat spends lot of energy in playing and is worn out.

Always, a tired cat is less likely to attack than a bored cat which has lot of misdirected energy.

3. Give your Cat a Way out

When will cat perceive you as a threat?

Your movement from one room to another may misguide the cat, as if you are blocking its way. Then your cat may perceive it as threat. Carefully observe when your cat starts hissing and snarling. Let your cat go its way and you move aside to make some space. Cat will go its way and you may take your path.

Note: Following biting or scratching incident, do not feed your cat for the next 20 minutes. There are chances your cat may think it is a reward and it may repeat the offensive behavior.

4. Train your Cat from Early Stage

When is the best time for training your pet?

Training kittens is easier than training cats. Little kittens have little claws and teeth that cause less harm. You should train your kitten to know that human hands are not toys and they are not for the purpose of biting.

As kittens have sensitive claws and teeth, they cannot harm you much. It is important you train your kitten early. If it continues with the same habit after growing into cat, then it becomes difficult for you to overcome the pain.

5. Hand Clapping Method

When will clapping method work?

Try this method when your cat bites you or scratches. Clap your hands and say firmly “No”. Do not clap directly on your cat’s face. It can make the cat nervous and scary. Repeat this method until your cat learns to stop biting.

Note: This method is not recommended for nervous and timid cats. You can use this method for aggressive and dominant cats.

6. Understand the Cat’s Behavior

How will reward affect on your cat? When you should reward it?

Cats respond quickly for positive rewards. Praising and rewarding the appropriate behavior always yield best results. It helps cats to withdrawing from inappropriate behavior. You can give a catnip toy to the cat for biting, instead of biting your hand. Reward the behavior of the cat when it bites the toy.

7. Ignore the Cat

How reliable is this method?

When you witness the cat bite, ignore the cat for 5 to 10 minutes. Leave the cat alone without human interaction. Repeat this, gradually your cat leaves the bad habit and gets through it.

Note: This method is not helpful for all cats. However, cats that are very affectionate and seek your attention, all the time, will give up biting, if this method is implemented.

8. Give your Cat Toys

Which size should toys be?

Cats like small toys especially those which move like its prey. Balls, fake mice that are feathered and move along are preferred. You can also give toys that dangle.

Felines often tend to become aggressive and bite in the mid of the play. Keep yourself safe from the bite. Provide catnip mouse, fishing toys and laser-light pointer. Cats tend to scratch or bite during playing for fun. It is safe for you to play with the cat using some toys, so that you do not get any bites.

9. Neutering your Cat

Will this make your cat a home-loving pet?

You can also consider neutering your cat. Neutering is to sterilize the animal. It has calming effects on the cat. Neutering makes cat more home-loving and sociable.

10. Keep your Cat Busy

Keep your cat occupied. Give your cat cardboard boxes or paper boxes and allow it to investigate. This helps cat to keep itself busy and drain its energy.

11. Adopt a Playmate

Adopt another cat as playmate for your current cat. Choose young and playful cat. As cat spends lot of time in playing with its mate, there are less chances of biting.

12. Playing Outdoors

You can build an outdoor enclosure with lot of perches, boxes, branches and shelves. Making a lot of space for your cat to track leaves and hunt insects. This is more interesting for your cat than playing with you.

13. Visit a Veterinarian

What to do if your cat suddenly become aggressive?

Visit vet just to ensure that everything is fine with your pet. You are not sure of the reason for sudden aggression. If you pet the cat in some part of the body, cat feels pain and this may lead to aggression.
What are little problems which result with cat sudden aggression?

Your vet can find out if there are any injuries occurred. Cat may face tooth problem, arthritis or abscess. Desired treatment from the vet helps your pet to cope up.

14. Depends on the Mood

How important is it to know cat mood?

If your pet is in a playing mood and you mistook the pet’s intention and start showing lot of physical affection, then there are chances your pet might bite you. Remember, your pet tolerates your strokes to some extent. Once this crosses the limit, it may stimulate the cat.

My final words

I hope, I have answered your questions why do cats bite and why do kittens bite, clearly. If you have found it useful and wish to express your response, please drop it in our comments section. Let the world know about your lovely bonding with your cat.

Mirko Nuli

I’m a dog food judge. I specialize in examining dog food nutrition so that I can recommend you food that will preserve your dog’s health and extend his life.

Good food will help you prevent dog health problems like obesity, diabetes, pancreatitis, gastroenteritis, nutritional imbalance, and many others.

Also, by preventing serious illnesses you won’t have to pay huge veterinarian bill later.