Feline aggression is a problem that concerns many caregivers. Therefore, it is common for those who experience this situation to ask themselves why my cat bites me and most importantly, what can they do to solve it effectively and achieve a calmer behavior in your felines.
Behavior modification is a slow process that requires a lot of patience on the part of the caregiver, good management and the application of adequate guidelines. In the most serious cases, the use of medication may be necessary, especially when the levels of stress and aggressiveness are so high that they put the well-being of the individual and all the members of the household at risk, for example when there are small children at home and the situation involves serious risks.
In this article on our site we will talk in detail about why cats bite their caregivers, explaining the causes that can cause the appearance of aggressiveness in the feline, what to do when it happens and most importantly, how this problem behavior should be treated effectively.
Aggressiveness in cats
To answer your question about why does my cat bite me? A review of the cat's character building and the development of aggressiveness or related behaviors is essential.
We must know that felines are not aggressive animals per se. In fact, this behavior may be caused by genetic predisposition, by learning. That is, negative experiences and traumas or we can also talk about errors in the process of puppy socialization
To prevent your cat from biting you, you must identify the motivation for the aggression. Correctly differentiating behaviors related to the game of fear, intolerance to manipulation, redirected aggression or pain. It is also important to identify the exciting stimuli that trigger aggressive behaviors, such as loud, high-pitched noises, the appearance of people in the home, unusual odours, presence of dogs and other unexpected situations.
Next we will review the most common causes that can cause a cat to bite:
Why does my cat bite me when I pet him?
This is a very common problem, especially when the body language of cats and the meaning of certain postures are unknown. It manifests itself in the following way: we caress our cat, who is apparently relaxed and calm, until suddenly he turns around and bites our hands, with more or less force, grabbing them with his front paws. Although it may surprise more than one clueless person, the truth is that most cats have previously warned, with snaking tail movements and ears to the sides or back
But, Why does my cat bite me when I pet him?While we found some cats that love endless petting on the ears or on the back, others will hate them. Thus, this behavior is usually a warning to stop touching thethat area, usually the belly, although it is not the only one. Some cats experience such a pleasant sense of relaxation and well-being that they feel vulnerable. Therefore they decide to attack defensively. They usually groom themselves or perform other calming signals afterwards to relax and return to normality.
The ideal is to prevent the cat from attacking. In this way, we recommend carrying out short caressing sessions, also reinforcing at the end of the session with the voice or with some tasty treat so that he associates manipulation with predictability and pleasant experiences. In any case, we will avoid yelling or scolding him, as this may cause him to associate manipulation in a negative way.
Why does my cat playfully bite me?
Especially in those cats that have been prematurely adopted, we observe aggressive behaviors related to play. If you wonder why my cat bites me while playing, you should know that kittens learn appropriate social behaviors from their siblings and their mother, who teaches them the limits of play or biting. In the absence of it, the cat does not learn to manage it correctly and unintentionally overdoes it
It can also occur when people play very actively, and even roughly, with their cats, using hands or feet when the ideal is always use a toyas an intermediary to prevent it from harming us. One of the most recommended accessories in this regard is the fishing rod for cats
In other cases, cats become overexcited, which is common in puppies and young cats, and even attack legs and feet when we pass by the hall. At first, caregivers find this behavior very amusing when the kitten is a puppy and subconsciously reinforce it with kind words and positive situations. Later, when the cat is an adult, they are frightened by serious and painful bites.
The ideal in these situations would be to completely ignore his behavior, since the cat expects attention, which is an indirect reinforcement. Another important aspect to work on in this type of active aggression will be the environmental enrichment, since this behavior may be due to the frustration of a home without stimulation or the prolonged absence of the owners. We can offer him a variety of toys that we will rotate, climbing structures or have daily play sessions with the feline.
Why is my cat biting my nose?
If you've come this far wondering why my cat bites my nose, you should know you're out of affectionCats can sometimes nip lightly, without causing pain, as a consequence of an affective emotion that they want to express.
In principle there is no reason to reject this type of behavior if it is not causing us pain or discomfort. However, if we don't like it, we can avoid this situation by moving away every time our cat does it. If we are constant, he will stop doing it
Why does my cat bite and scratch me?
Some cats can bite really hard when they feel scared, threatened or in danger However, before attacking, the feline will show various signs such as low meows, hair standing on end, ears back, snorting, hissing, and even a retracted body posture.
A cat that constantly hides reflects that it feels threatened in its environment and, when it hides, it does so because it considers that it exists a danger. However, by hiding he feels relieved and safe, so we will never force him out out of his hiding place. Therefore, we must provide a very predictable, safe and quiet environment, without visitors, noise or shocks, especially the first days at home or when he shows behaviors related to fear.
The ideal is to move moderately around the area where it hides, increasing the number of visits gradually, while providing a positive association of our presencewith treats or kind words. Let's not forget that you will need access to a bowl of water, food and your litter tray.
What to do if my cat bites me?
Especially when the feline's behavior does not improve, worsens or when the bites and wounds are serious or directed at a child, it is very important to consult a specialist, preferably aveterinary specialist in ethology.
The professional will rule out a possible hormonal or he alth problem through diagnostic tests, such as a blood test. In addition, through a questionnaire and home visits, it will provide us with a diagnosis, personalized guidelines and even a behavior modification plan. You may also be able to prescribe medication to improve the cat's well-being and ensure progressive improvement.
It is important to tackle the problem as soon as possible, because the longer we wait, the more likely it is to become chronic and more difficult to treat. In some cases, in addition, the problem may never be solved. In any case, it will be the veterinarian who offers us a prognosis Our job will be to follow the professional's guidelines and be very patient, as it is a job that takes time.
