Cats express themselves and communicate with their owners through body language cues and vocalizations. These may include a flickering tail, a crouched posture, purring, or meowing. Biting is another way that cats communicate.
There are a few reasons that a cat may bite, so let’s delve further into this behavior and learn ways to prevent it from happening as much as possible.
The 7 Reasons That Cats Bite
1. Playing
Cats and kittens may nip each other when playing. While this can be normal behavior to them, it can be undesirable and painful if they are nipping you!
2. Attention
As much as we love our cats, they sometimes do strange things. One of these is biting you for attention! They may stalk your feet around the house, then pounce and bite them. This behavior will surely get your attention, and cats know that! Bored cats tend to get themselves into trouble, which may result in scratched furniture, walls, and of course, ankle biting when they are seeking attention or entertainment.
3. Overstimulation
While cats may enjoy petting sessions, they can also become overreactive, overexcited or simply have had enough petting for the time being. If you do not pay attention to your cat’s body language telling you to stop and you continue, your cat may bite you as a final way to say, “Please stop. I’ve had enough for now.” Cats may also bite when petting is unwanted or you’re petting sensitive areas.
4. Fear
While cats are stealthy little hunters in their own right, they are at risk of being preyed upon by other animals, such as coyotes and dogs. A cat that feels cornered with no escape can resort to biting as an attempt to get away from the threat. This threat can be you or other people if you force your cat to do something, such as be restrained for nail trimming.
A common example is the trap-neuter-release programs for feral cats. When a cat is cornered in a cat trap, they will hiss, scratch, crouch, growl, flatten their ears, and nervously twitch their tail in an attempt to scare you, the predator, away. This may then resort to biting a gloved hand if you reach into the trap. Fearful cats may bite if they feel they cannot get out of a situation and have no room for escape.
5. Territorial Aggression
Some cats may bite unfamiliar people, such as a neighbor or friend entering your home for a visit. Your cat may think of your home as their territory and try to protect their turf from intruders. In some instances, cats may attack familiar people and even prevent them from accessing rooms in your home as a form of dominance. If your indoor cat sees a threatening stimulus outside your home, such as another cat through the window, it may provoke aggression, which is then redirected onto you or others inside the home. They may bite you because they can’t get to the real source of their frustration, and you are closer in proximity to them.
6. Motherhood
A mother cat may bite you or other people after having kittens as a way of protecting them. This behavior should subside as the kittens grow and become less dependent on their mother. On a similar note, a mother cat may bite her kittens as a way of disciplining them as well.
7. Pain
Cats that do not feel well or that are in pain or discomfort may bite. If biting is a new behavior that you have noticed from your cat, pay attention to any other signs, such as hiding, lack of appetite, increased vocalizations, hunched posture, or sensitivity to certain areas on their body, as these may indicate that your cat is in pain or uncomfortable.
If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your pet, seek veterinary advice for the best course of action.
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How to Stop Your Cat From Biting You
Biting is part of a cat’s natural instincts, and while you cannot completely stop your cat from biting you, there are a few ways that you can minimize or redirect this behavior. One of these is to offer a cat-friendly toy when your feline friend begins biting. Be sure to give them plenty of praise when your cat redirects this behavior onto an appropriate object or exhibits desirable behavior around you and others (i.e., has a quiet, calm demeanor).
If you do not have a toy to redirect behavior in the moment, remove your hand, stay calm, and ignore your cat’s attempts for attention through biting or scratching. Reward calm and quiet behavior.
It is always a wise idea to have different toys, ledges, cat trees, and scratching posts around your home for them to enjoy, thus preventing boredom. Schedule daily play sessions with your cat to provide them with much-needed exercise, especially indoor cats. Enrichment activities can also improve your bond and strengthen your relationship with your cat.
Never punish your cat, as it is ineffective and may lead to undesirable behaviors instigated by fear. Become familiar with your cat’s body language, and know when to give them space. Learn the undesirable petting areas on their body that may lead to a bite. Some cats might enjoy a scratch under the chin, but may swat or bite you if you get too close to their chest or belly.
Cats that have given birth should be provided with a calm, quiet, and distraction-free environment to raise their kittens. Keep human and other pet visits to a minimum if your cat has aggressive tendencies. If your cat begins biting you suddenly or reacting negatively to touch, this abnormal behavior should be evaluated by a veterinarian to determine the cause.
Cats may respond favorably to calming cat pheromone sprays. In other instances, they may need prescription medication(s) to help control anxiety, stress, and aggression.
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Conclusion
Cats may bite for various reasons to communicate with their owners. Biting may result during play or when seeking attention. Cats can bite if they are fearful, overstimulated, or just want to be left alone. Protecting their territory and kittens can also provoke a bite. Cats that do not feel well due to illness, pain, or injury may bite in an attempt to get you away from them.
Biting is an instinct for cats, but you can minimize injury to yourself and others by being aware of your cat’s body language and knowing when to redirect this behavior or back off before your cat is compelled to bite.
See Also:
- Why Does My Cat Bite My Ear? Possible Reasons
- Why Do Cats Bite Each Other’s Necks? The Interesting Reasons
- Why Does My Cat Bite Their Feet? Vet Reviewed Reasons
Featured Image Credit: SerPhoto, Shutterstock
The 7 Reasons That Cats Bite
4 Responses
Why does my 11 month old kitten bite me while I am sitting on the couch?
Hi Susan, At 11 months old, your kitten is in the "teenager" phase, where their energy levels are peaking, and their hunting instincts are fully dialed in. When you are sitting on the couch, you are a stationary target in their "territory," and those bites are usually a sign of play aggression or boredom. We recommend keeping a "distraction toy" (like a wand or a feather teaser) next to the couch so you can redirect that energy toward an appropriate object before the teeth hit your skin. Because unmanaged play aggression can lead to more serious biting habits as they become adults.
What makes a cute 2 year old cat lash out at your dogs that are 3 times bigger than his size. Could he be bored because he gets. no play time to even get zoomies. When poor Pheo lashes out I found out my daughter locks him in the room that his litter box is in and he gets soaked. This just really upsets me!!
Hey Anna. It is heartbreaking to hear that Pheo is being locked away and getting soaked, as this type of punishment will only increase his stress and make his aggression toward the dogs much worse. At two years old, he is in the prime of his life, and boredom is almost certainly a major factor; without playtime or an outlet for his "zoomies," that pent-up energy often turns into "redirected aggression" toward the biggest targets in the house. We strongly suggest advocating for Pheo by providing him with tall cat trees or shelving so he can move through the house "above" the dogs, and using wand toys for just 15 minutes a day to drain his energy safely.