As widespread as the idea is that cats are independent animals, we always imagine the cat purring in our lap and willingly accepting our caresses. However, the reality can be very different, so it is not difficult to find cats that escape and/or reject our displays of affection.
Sometimes they can even bite, even if they are the ones who come to us to ask for caresses. In this article by Animal Expert we will explain why my cat bites when I caress him.
- As we know.
- Cats hunt animals and develop behaviors from an early age that aim to make them a perfect predator.
- These activities include the cat bite as part of the development of its usual hunting behavior.
- The chicks play each other in a prey and predator simulation.
- Making it difficult to understand whether a cat is attacking or not.
The first few weeks of life are fundamental to socialization, so it is so important to spend them with your mother and siblings, at least during the first two months of life. The games between them and the cat’s mother corrections will help the puppy learn how far he can go and how strong he can impress in his bites.
When the kitten starts to live with humans, it is normal to want to repeat these games and this may explain why the cat bites when it is affectionate, because, for him, it is a way to activate the “hunting game” mode. If this happens, you should know what to do when a cat bites you: divert your attention and always use toys to interact with it, thus avoiding taking our hands, fingers, feet or even our legs as potential prey.
Watch our video about biting cat cubs as well
Other times, our four-legged friend greets us and approaches us, rubbing his head against our body and we can see the cat purring. Our normal reaction will be to return the caresses, so it is normal to feel surprised and ask us the question: why does the cat bite me when I caress them?
It should be noted that if it is true that the feline asks for caresses, it can tire of it immediately and his way of communicating will be interrupted by a warning bite, usually small. Other times, he stops us with his paw, blocking our hand or giving us a slight scratch. Although this is disconcerting behavior, it is very likely that our cat has warned that it will not stop stroking, however, we have not identified its signs.
Some may be
If you observe any of these behaviors you should stop stroking them because, if they persist, they will give a warning bite or a blow. This is the best way to know how to keep my cat from biting.
See also Why my cat bites me for more information on the subject.
First of all, whether it’s a cat or any other animal, you should never force contact. We must always let the animals come to us. Forcing them may explain why the cat bites when we caress it.
If we look at the cats, it’s easy to see them show us their affection by rubbing, especially the sides of the head. In this way, they release “calming” hormones that provide a pleasant feeling. This will be your favorite place for caresses.
Understand the rest of the cat’s body, how it behaves in each area and how to caress the cat:
If these indications are respected, especially if it is an unknown cat or newcomer, both the caregiver and the animal, you have to get used to it little by little and, of course, stop touching it at the first sign of discomfort, avoiding some of the doubts as “. Why did my cat attack me out of nowhere? “.
Sometimes some cats use the bite as a form of “loving” communication. Thus, the answer to the question of why our cat bites us when he receives affection may simply be his affection. In these cases, the amorous bite is done “toothless”, that is, the feline “takes” our hand, our fingers or even the nose with his mouth, softly and gently, without causing any harm. Your attitude will be relaxed and friendly.
On the other hand, if you’re wondering why my cat bites me too much, this article can help you understand how to deal with this situation: My cat bites me and scratches me, what to do?
You may have often wondered why cats bite guardians, but the answer is relatively simple. In some cases, we can explain why my cat bites me when it is affectionate because some cats simply cannot tolerate pets and react with a cat bite, especially if they are in circumstances where they cannot escape and hide, as this would be the first. Choice.
This situation is usually a reflection of the cat’s great fear of humans, due to poor socialization or poor experience. That’s why we explain the importance of respecting the distances imposed by the cat and never force it to make contact or scold it if it bites us in response. In these cases, if you want to touch the cat, you must start very calmly. Follow these steps as a guide:
If an attack is triggered, we must follow these steps
If you would like to read articles similar to, we recommend that you visit our Behavioral Problems section.