So, your miniature ferocious predator is biting you?

Well, there should be a reasonable explanation. Let’s have a look…

Curiosity Killed the Cat

Kittens use their mouths to explore the world we live in.

A kitten needs to stay with their mother and litter for up to 8 weeks. Their feline family are the ones who will teach them the limits of hunting and playtime using their teeth and claws. This is called ‘bite inhibition’ this is to know when it is appropriate to bite in play or to bite properly in protection or hunting.

When a kitten is taken from its family earlier than the recommended 8 weeks, the kitten won’t have had enough time to learn boundaries or how to handle their emotions, and so aggressive play behavior may show up.

Improper Social Skills

If a kitten hasn’t been properly socialized with humans during the weaning period (8 weeks with their mother and litter) you might find that your cat is biting out of fear or insecurity.

It is particularly important to socialize a kitten to build their confidence. if your cat hasn’t been socialized properly you might find that they begin to show strange behaviors. For example, If you have visitors and your cat is seen to be shy or skittish there is a good chance, they are insecure due to poor socialization.

It is never too late to teach your cat to mingle and I would begin working on this as soon as possible. Treats and a gentle tone are a great starting point for your furry friend.

Another reason your cat could be biting could be down to how you’re interacting with them.

As a kitten if you allow your cat to bite you and you don’t correct them because it’s cute this will reinforce to the kitten that this behavior is ok. This will be much harder to break when your kitten is a cat if the biting continues.

Redirecting the biting of your hand to some sort of toy will reinforce that this type of behavior is not okay for a human but is okay for toys.

Stress

Kittens are sensitive creatures by nature.

Physically they are sensitive on the belly and tail, petting the belly or tail for too long can upset your little buddy.

Cuddling and kissing your fury friend could also make them stressed due to being overstimulated.

If they have issued warning signs and you choose to ignore them this could explain the behavior.

Warning signs could be Ears flat/ back, Hissing, Low cry, Tail batting, Arched back or lashing out with their paws.

A Bite Out of the Blue

If your kitten or cat starts to bite you randomly out of the blue, this could be a sign that they could be ill in some way.

A trip to the Vets to rule out any potential illness would be advised. If they are otherwise healthy it could be some past trauma that could be triggered in your pet.

If you feel your cat might be ill in some way or is demonstrating strange behavior always speak to your Vet.

Many cats respond to overstimulation with aggression. This is because your cat has many hair follicle receptors all over its body and there is a fine line between pleasure and pain, and this is different for each cat.

If your cat has been stroked for too long or too long in one area, they might start to feel pain and the quickest way for this to stop would be to bite you or become aggressive towards you.

The safest place to touch a cat if you don’t want to overstimulate them is around the face, back of the head, ears and neck. They love it.

Other tips to avoid overstimulation are:

1) Know your cat – Different cats will overstimulate at different speeds during a petting session. Different behavior toward your cat can set them off too. If you feel like your cat doesn’t like something you’re doing just stop doing it.

Mindfully give affection. You want to know where you can pet them effectively to add to the bond you already have not to create or damage your rapport with them.

2) Look out for their warnings – Cats will usually warn you before they attack. Tail batting, Ears pinned back, pupils growing massive, low meow, and tensing up are all expressions that your cat isn’t happy. Back off before they lash out and they will thank you for it.

3) Leave your cat wanting more – Stroke your cat a little and then stop, if they want more fuss and attention, they will nudge you or nuzzle you for more if they want more. Let them initiate contact and both of you will benefit.

4) Play with your cat - A big cat will catch, kill, and eat their prey. Look at your cat like a balloon, the more air you put in the more likely it is to pop.

If your cat stores all it’s energy up all day, by the time you come to pet them they will want to pop. This will look like biting and swiping. When you play with your cat they will burn their energy and they will be more even-tempered.

Conclusion

Cats are sensitive creatures and there are a few reasons as to why they might bite you. There are some things that we can try at home which should help any aggressive behavior. Being mindful of your cat and how you interact with them is the first step to a happier cat.

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