Why does a cat bite when you pet it, and what should the owner do: scold the pet or figure out which of the 7 reasons caused the aggression

Mistakes in handling cats

If a cat shows aggression towards strangers for no reason, rushes at them, tries to bite them, the reason most likely lies in mistakes in upbringing. This problem is often faced by owners who tried to isolate the kitten in the first months of its life. When guests or strangers arrived, the baby was locked in the room and was not allowed to meet strangers. It happens that a pet is isolated from the loud sounds of a vacuum cleaner or washing machine.

But for proper socialization, the kitten needs to thoroughly study the environment within 2-3 weeks and make sure that it does not pose a danger. Otherwise, when any unfamiliar factors appear, the kitten will become frightened, and aggression is a means of defense.

There are several other reasons for this behavior:

assertion of your priorities;
ingrained fears, anger;
revenge for an insult.

Sometimes the desire of the owners to assign the “title of king” to the pet has a negative impact on the formation of the cat’s character. The pet begins to consider itself the main one in the house, with the help of bites and aggressive attacks it proves its dominance. Not every cat will behave this way; most calmly experience their most important position in the house. But if the animal has a tendency to dominate, encouraging it will create many problems.

One of the common reasons is revenge for grievances caused. A cat that has previously been abused may defend itself by biting for old times’ sake. He does not understand that no one is going to harm him, he defends himself according to the established pattern of behavior. Even your own cat can take revenge and is severely punished for any offense.

Pain and illness

By instinct, a cat can protect itself from the source of pain, even if you just want to give it an injection. In addition, tailed animals have sensitive skin, you can cause discomfort even by slightly touching it. Also, some diseases (meningitis, ischemic syndrome, rabies, toxoplasmosis) can cause aggression.

How to behave

If aggression suddenly appears, visit the veterinarian and get tested - the cat may need treatment.

Physiological reasons

A cat does not always bite due to improper handling or the need to defend itself from a threat. There are also physiological factors that cause this behavior. A pet may bite if:

there are pain sensations;
feels irritated;
protects offspring;
is in euphoria;
teeth are cutting through;
there is a hormonal imbalance;
have a serious illness.

Under the thick fur, the wound may not be noticed. But when a cat is petted, it feels pain. In this case, by biting, she tries to show the sensations she is experiencing and explains that she is unpleasant. Not all pets like prolonged stroking and touching. Even caressing them can cause irritation. A cat may bite to stop excessive pestering and excessive stroking.

The aggressive behavior of a cat when she has small kittens is understandable. Protecting offspring is a duty dictated by nature. There is no need to disturb the animal during this period if it is too jealous of its babies.

Bites are sometimes an expression of a surging feeling of great love for the owner. This behavior can be observed during stroking, affectionate words spoken to the pet. Don't be surprised if your cat bites while playing. These pets are gambling, they forget about the rules during active fun.

Little kittens often bite because their gums become itchy while teething. Cats can behave aggressively, cats after castration, sterilization, during sexual arousal. During these periods, there is a hormonal imbalance, which leads to a change in character.

Bites and attacks may be the result of infection with a serious infectious disease. The greatest danger is rabies.

It is necessary to take into account that each pet has an individual character. Aggression may be one of the personal traits. Such representatives are found both among people and among animals.

Weasel

The reason for this reaction to affection is not fully understood. But it happens that the animal first lies on its back, exposing its belly to you for stroking, you stroke it, and the cat purrs contentedly. But after a few minutes, the behavior changes - the cat begins to nervously twitch its tail, bite and scratch you. She may simply be overstimulated from you petting her for too long.

How to behave

Learn to understand your pet and do not push her to the limits of patience. Stroke until she feels good.

Educational fight against aggressive behavior

There are several proven techniques to wean your cat off the habit of biting. You can get rid of the problem using educational methods or certain training. You need to choose a method taking into account the cause of aggression and the individual character of the animal. Educational methods include:

competent socialization;
limiting affection;
temporary ignoring;
taking into account the pet’s personal preferences.

A kitten will not grow up to be aggressive or fearful if from an early age it has the opportunity to move around the house. It is necessary to allow visiting guests to pick him up and gently caress him, if they know how to treat animals with care. The cat will get used to it and will not consider strangers as a potential danger.

An animal that does not tolerate affection well does not need to be petted for a long time. One or two strokes and affectionate words are enough to prove your love. If a cat wants to be stroked or caressed, she will approach the owner herself.

A cat that likes to bite should be temporarily ignored if this behavior occurs. For half an hour after the aggression, you need to ignore her requests for treats or calls to play. The animal will definitely understand that it is being punished for a bad deed.

Some cats don't like having their tail, paws or tummy stroked. It is necessary to take into account and respect the individual preferences of the pet, and not to irritate him with such stroking.

Owners of small kittens need to buy toys for their pets. They will help babies avoid using their owner's fingers to scratch their gums when teething.

Do not forget that the cause of aggression can be a disease. If such a tendency appears suddenly and is not associated with castration, sterilization, or sexual heat, the cat must be shown to a veterinarian. A timely visit to the veterinary clinic will allow the disorder to be diagnosed and effective treatment to be carried out.

What cat love bites are and aren't

Don't confuse cat love bites, also called petting aggression, with a type of overly aggressive biting associated with fear, defense, or territorial behavior.

Cat love bites usually do not damage the skin. It all starts with licking your hand, then the cat grabs your hand with its paws and you can feel small teeth on you.

Another sign that your cat likes to bite is that other signs of aggression, such as hissing, growling, and scratching, are generally absent.

Territory protection and redirection

The apartment that you consider yours is also recognized by the cat as its home. And if you have a desire to drive her out of her favorite bed, then indignation will not be long in coming. She takes the appearance of a foreign animal on her territory with hostility.

If your pet cannot take out all her anger on the source of her aggression, then she can do it on you - if you tuck under her paw. For example, seeing a bird outside the window, a cat may begin to worry, and then you come up, suspecting nothing, and decide to pet it. So, instead of gratitude, you get a bite.

How to behave

In this case, sterilization can help.

A few more recommendations

Weaning and training a cat to bite, scratch and lunge is a fascinating activity. But here it is important to remember constant repetition and some patience on the part of the person. Some recommendations will help with this:

If your pet has an unbridled, wild and hunting character, pay more attention to her, play with her and use different rattles and toys. Such tools instantly distract attention from the hands and feet;
If the cat already has a persistent habit of rushing and biting, then when his teeth touch your skin, you must immediately stop the game;
A scratching post can solve the problem, especially if it is equipped with special fishing rods and toys;
If the cat does not want to learn, use anti-scratch pads - special silicone pads that stick to the paws and prevent harm to others;
In rare, most advanced cases, you can resort to a special operation to completely remove the cat's claws. But this can be very traumatic for the cat;
If your pet crosses the line and cannot stop playing, use sounds or try to scare the animal away by throwing a towel over it. Then the cat will remember that bites are fraught with unpleasant consequences.

When raising a cat, it is very important to be patient, not to retreat and not to follow your pet’s lead. The earlier you start training and the more often you repeat the techniques listed above, the less likely it is that your cat will develop bad habits of scratching, biting and lunging. Veterinarians can also help in correcting behavior, but without efforts on the part of the owner, you should not expect results.

All furry pets are small children who need attention, care and education. Therefore, try to be attentive to the requests and needs of cats, but never use aggression or physical punishment. This will only make your relationship with your cat worse; it will become more aggressive and vicious. This will be reflected in relationships with other animals and people around you.

My cat lashes out and bites every chance she gets. What to do?

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This question becomes relevant, thank God, relatively rarely. Cats are normally friendly and affectionate creatures. But let's be honest - there are also natural imps who will catch you, attack on the sly, and even bite. It is quite obvious that there is no talk of calm “hugs”. You wouldn't get any extra scratches here! Let's figure out under what circumstances cats acquire “increased biting.”

Defensive aggression. The very first and logical thought: my cat has become aggressive. There are many types of aggression in cats; we refer our inquisitive readers to a separate article on the topic (follow the link). Now let's talk about a special aggression called defensive. It usually develops due to a bad or incorrect attitude towards the animal. It is not at all necessary to beat or punish the animal. For example, you might have received an initially timid or fearful pet, which everyone annoyed with hugs, caresses and other demands. That is, initially they did not behave as they should. Here is the result: the pet bristled and became embittered, and generally stopped letting anyone approach him. His aggression is a kind of defensive reaction. Solution: urgently reconsider your attitude and approaches to your tailed friend.

Physical pain and/or long-term illness. Cats usually mask their pain and illness until the last moment. Owners often do not notice any catch, especially when the animal is injured and is in pain. Outwardly nothing is noticeable, but the pet withdraws and withdraws into itself. With the best of intentions, you approach, try to stroke it and inadvertently touch a sensitive spot. The reaction is aggression and bite. Advice: if your previously affectionate and calm pet begins to react sharply to touch, visit the veterinarian as soon as possible.

Overstimulation. Another situation is when you decide to play a very active game with your pet. For example, in a “chase” or “hunt”. As you know, cats are natural predators, but their strength does not last long. A chase, a quick dash into which the mustachioed friend puts all his strength - and, perhaps, everything. But not all cats are able to leave the game in time, especially when their owners provoke them. It’s not for nothing that experts have established the duration of safe gaming sessions at 10-15 minutes. Everything else is overstimulation, when the animal becomes overly excited and generates aggression. Tip: Always end noisy games on time. Or choose quieter games.

Game behavior patterns. And yet cats rarely pounce and bite “just because.” As a rule, owners complain of outbreaks of “biting.” For example, they calmly walk around the room, the cat pounces and bites their ankles. Or they sit at the table, and a lurking beast attacks their legs. What can I say about this? If you now see yourself and your pet, we hasten to console you - you are not alone. Although this is little consolation. This behavior comes from early childhood, when the kitten was allowed everything. Some loving owners even deliberately provoke play aggression, holding out their hands, allowing them to bite. The job is done: the kitten has learned that biting is good. Moreover, it is encouraged. The habit was taken into adulthood. Moreover, the “games” have improved and become more sophisticated. Solution: there was no need to encourage play aggression in childhood. But, since you are faced with a problem, do not punish, and especially do not hit your pet. Make it clear that “biting” is unpleasant for you. Try to redirect your cat's energy to something more useful. At the same time, we warn you: it is extremely difficult to get rid of “childish” habits.

Warning signal. The cat may absolutely not like what you do to it. For example, you hug him tightly and caress him. Or comb it out, as an option. Cats rarely attack without warning; they usually give a warning signal. Each animal has its own signals. But the "warning bite" certainly belongs on this list.

Redirected aggression. This can also happen: for example, an absolutely “domestic” cat sees a street cat or dog outside the window. You can often observe how your pet arches its back, its fur stands up, and a displeased rumbling is heard (not to be confused with purring). The animal understands that it is not able to cope with a street counterpart, but it takes out its anger and irritation on someone from the family.

Another point: cats, in the face of a perceived threat, almost completely disconnect from the outside world. They focus entirely on their enemy and stop seeing and hearing what is happening around them. Nerves are tense to the limit. Now imagine: the owner came up to console and reassure. I intervened and immediately received the full program! Solution: gently, calmly solve the problem with the “external irritant”. If you are talking about an outdoor animal, simply close the curtains or lower the blinds. Five minutes, and the situation will return to normal.

Material used: Dealing With A Cat That Bites Or Lashes Out. Source and photo: pets4homes.co.uk

How to stop a kitten from biting?

You can raise a kitten if you build a method on a calm, good-natured, but timely reaction to inappropriate behavior. It will take patience and time. Hitting a kitten, throwing objects at it, or shouting at a kitten is absolutely forbidden. This will only make a difficult situation worse.

If you notice an attempt to scratch or bite arms or legs, it is recommended to take the kitten by the scruff of the neck and pull it to the side. Always, if a kitten bites, behaves as it pleases, or suddenly begins to rush, the owner is encouraged to use this effective method. If the first option does not help, you can immobilize the “biter” by lightly pressing it to the floor. Animals really don’t like dependent positions, as they feel helpless.

It is recommended to lightly pat the scruff of the neck, repeating the method of punishment used by the mother cat for the kittens. At the same time, each time you need to pronounce a prohibiting word in a calm voice - for example, “you can’t.” It is worth setting aside time for games so that the kitten spends energy without injuring family members; it is worth buying a slide with shelves and a variety of toys. When a kitten behaves well, it is necessary to reward it with a treat or play, especially after it has stopped biting.