If you have one or more cats, you have surely experienced this situation: your cat is calmly licking you… And suddenly he bites you! What has happened? Could it be that he doesn't like the massage you were offering him? Why do you engage in this behavior?
In this article on our site we will delve into the feline world, explaining why your cat licks you and then bites you based on the behaviors of the species and their meaning. In addition, we will also show you the guidelines to follow to prevent your cat from biting you. Keep reading!
Cat communication
Even if we are experienced owners, it is not always easy to understand what our cat is trying to tell us, so it is essential to delve into the feline universe and learn more about cat body language. Regularly reviewing articles related to and based on ethology (the science that studies animal behavior) can help us learn more about our beloved cats and interpret certain behaviors appropriately.
As you know, cats use their body to communicate with us and to express their emotions, so when your best friend licks you and then nibbles you must be very pay attention to his body, in this way you will better understand why he is manifesting this behavior.
Take a good look: Maybe you scared her while she was grooming you and because of that she bit you? Did your cat lick you while purring and continue to purr while making gentle bites? The way your cat carries out certain practices expresses much more than you imagine!
Licks and bites, what do they really mean?
There is no single way to interpret the licking of cats, nor about the bites, much less if we talk of licking and biting together, therefore, we will try to explain in detail the purpose of these behaviors, both characteristic of this species:
Why do cats lick?
The tongue of cats is undoubtedly unique: it is made up of small keratin spines, which are especially useful when cleaning themselves, untangling their hair, removing dirt from their coat and drinking water.
Therefore, when a cat licks us, even more so if our cat licks our hair, it is carrying out a grooming behavior, as if we were just another cat. It is a very positive social behavior, which shows a good relationship with the owner and the desire to make us feel more comfortable.
Even so, cats also lick like show of affection, since it has learned through associations that it is something that we like and that It also generates endless caresses and affection. On the other hand, excessive and incessant licking (even compulsive) can mean that something is wrong and that the well-being of our best friend is compromised, it is therefore an indication of stress and anxiety, in which case we recommend reviewing the 5 most frequent symptoms of stress in cats.
Why do cats bite?
As with licks, a bite can also have several meanings, however, who has been bitten by a cat very angry or very scaredknows that it has nothing to do with the bites that a playful cat can make, even if they are somewhat painful. Truly angry or frightened cats display highly expressive body language, contracted, stiff, and bristling, accompanied by snorts, alert meows, and a curved back.
This type of biting (also accompanied by painful scratches) has absolutely nothing to do with the game bites, which are generally they carry out when they get out of control, the bites of warning, so that we stop bothering them or caressing them, of the bites as sample of affection, which tend to be more controlled and repetitive.
So why do cats lick and bite?
Some cats may bite after licking us as a warning signal to stop petting them, others may do it as asample of affection more and a third group could perform it as one more sequence that involves the grooming , that is, the grooming
Cats when they clean each other lick and nibble each other, to carry out an exhaustive hygiene and brushing, so it would be completely normal for our companion to bite us during a "beauty" session. It is something totally normal and typical of its species, it is not a negative behavior
When the bite hurts…
It may happen that our cat, by biting us, hurts us. What should we do then? The first thing will be to highlight that Under no circumstances should we scold him, since our feline is carrying out a social behavior, even if it is not entirely pleasant for us.
How should we act when a cat bites us? Ideally, after the bite we stop caressing it or paying attention to itIf we are constant and always follow the same pattern, over time, our cat will associate the bite with the end of the game or the petting session.
At the same time, it will be essential to use positive reinforcement and reinforce behaviors that we like, such as being calm, licking without biting or purring placidly. For this we can use a simple "very good" or bet on tasty prizes, such as a piece of cooked chicken.
