Our 5 year old cat keeps scatching and biting ME when I try to stroke him or tounch him in any way. He purs when his doing this, he's fine with anyone else, any ideas?
(this is not a new thing).
(this is not a new thing).
IS our cat playing, or does he hate me?
My cat does this to my mum, he'll do it to other people but only if they are playing with him. I just think he doesn't like her, probably because she keeps treading on him by accident and is the one who flea treats him and takes him to the vets.
Cats are hard to figure out so he might be showing you affection in a strange way
Cats are hard to figure out so he might be showing you affection in a strange way
It is not natural for a cat to play for long and the genes kick in and the wild beast comes out as it is not safe for a cat to be relaxed for long.
Who does he show his bottom to?
Who does he show his bottom to?
Purring does not necessarily indicate a happy cat. Cats also purr to comfort themselves when stressed, which would fit in with the behaviour you are describing.
Our cats only fight with me, and if cats can actually like people, they certainly like me, I'm the one who feeds them! I think in a weird way it's a form of compliment, as they play with each other like that - only problem is that I've not got a nice thick coat of fur to protect me and my teeth are smaller! One shouldn't encourage rough behaviour though.
This is a very common behaviour in cats & lots of people say that their cat is fine being stroked for a few seconds & then turns & swipes at them or bites them with no warning.
Actually they do warn you first but you have to be very observant of their body language to anticipate when it is about to happen & stop touching them before they react.
Whilst most cats love being stroked & petted, it is really a form of exchanging scent. Cats have scent glands on their face, cheeks, between ears & eyes & on their flanks. By rubbing up against us or when we stroke them, we are putting our scent on them & collecting their scent on us ~ sort of making a communal scent "pot pourri". It gives the cats a sense of security & marks us all as part of their social group.
BUT this scent marking usually only goes on for a few seconds & some cats think it is very odd when we persist in prolonging this scent exchange behaviour. Their reaction is "stop, enough! We 've done that, now you're just invading my personal space!" Hence the swipe or bite & hence the purring as it is quite nice & normal at first.
The best thing to do is only stroke your cat for a few seconds & stop well before you get any sort of reaction. Don't use your hands or feet to play with your cat ~ use fishing rod type toys instead. If you want to prolong the petting you will need to do it gradually, build up by a few seconds every few days.
It doesn't mean your cat doesn't like you, it's just a way to tell you to stop.
Actually they do warn you first but you have to be very observant of their body language to anticipate when it is about to happen & stop touching them before they react.
Whilst most cats love being stroked & petted, it is really a form of exchanging scent. Cats have scent glands on their face, cheeks, between ears & eyes & on their flanks. By rubbing up against us or when we stroke them, we are putting our scent on them & collecting their scent on us ~ sort of making a communal scent "pot pourri". It gives the cats a sense of security & marks us all as part of their social group.
BUT this scent marking usually only goes on for a few seconds & some cats think it is very odd when we persist in prolonging this scent exchange behaviour. Their reaction is "stop, enough! We 've done that, now you're just invading my personal space!" Hence the swipe or bite & hence the purring as it is quite nice & normal at first.
The best thing to do is only stroke your cat for a few seconds & stop well before you get any sort of reaction. Don't use your hands or feet to play with your cat ~ use fishing rod type toys instead. If you want to prolong the petting you will need to do it gradually, build up by a few seconds every few days.
It doesn't mean your cat doesn't like you, it's just a way to tell you to stop.
It might not like him/her though ... sorry - just kidding!! My guinea pig ignores me when I give him new stuff I think he'll love. He just lies there with his nose on his paws and looks at me like I'm demented. He could be right though - I could be demented ...
I have a cat who's lived with me for 20 years. She does occasionally go into attack mode if she thinks I have given her enough attention - I suspect what wilhemina said is right, and explains this.
But she also does this odd hard bite/lick thing when she is feeling especially relaxed, where she'll look for a bit of bare skin, usually my arm, and sink her teeth into me - it hurts! She seems to follow the bite up with a very wet lick. At other times, she'll look for a finger to chew on - and again, it's a pretty hard bite. She doesn't mean any harm, I am sure, but I wish she'd be a bit more gentle with me.
Cats are a bit odd.
But she also does this odd hard bite/lick thing when she is feeling especially relaxed, where she'll look for a bit of bare skin, usually my arm, and sink her teeth into me - it hurts! She seems to follow the bite up with a very wet lick. At other times, she'll look for a finger to chew on - and again, it's a pretty hard bite. She doesn't mean any harm, I am sure, but I wish she'd be a bit more gentle with me.
Cats are a bit odd.
He hates you 
"The owner doesn't own the cat; the cat owns the owner"
You would do well to learn that phrase
"The owner doesn't own the cat; the cat owns the owner"You would do well to learn that phrase
If it is only you that he does it to, then you need to back off for a bit & do other things with him that do not involve touching him. Who feeds the cat? Can you take over everything in the cat's life that does not involve touching? Just talk quietly to him, sit near him, engage him with fishing rod type toys so that you have some distance between you when he's playing.
After a week or so of this, try just a gentle touch, or try touching him when someone else is stroking him. Build up slowly & gradually but don't force the issue. If he's happy to accept others stroking him, then you need to get his trust first.
After a week or so of this, try just a gentle touch, or try touching him when someone else is stroking him. Build up slowly & gradually but don't force the issue. If he's happy to accept others stroking him, then you need to get his trust first.
Originally Posted by LQS:
“Purring does not necessarily indicate a happy cat. Cats also purr to comfort themselves when stressed, which would fit in with the behaviour you are describing.”
“Purring does not necessarily indicate a happy cat. Cats also purr to comfort themselves when stressed, which would fit in with the behaviour you are describing.”
What?! I have NEVER witnessed this?
EDIT: Oh okay, when they're severely stressed they can purr. But as a main rule-of-thumb, if the cat is purring he's happy. Just depends on context I suppose.
My kitty does this all the time. We got a Persian from the rescue centre last year aged about 1. Well he is not a pure breed thatīs for sure. I have never met such a wild Persian. He hates being brushed as was found in a mess wandering into a restaurant so he seems to have not been pampered as he should have being long haired. He doesnīt seem to be socialised with humans either. After a few minutes love his head does a funny jolt and he is in "mad mode!" Grabbing your hands and arms with his paws and lurching his teeth at any bit of flesh like it is prime steak! Hanging off your jumpers. The best one is as he is a fluffy thing he lies on his back with that cute tummy on show and as soon as you go in for an ickle tickle, BAM teeth and claws everywhere, I call him my venus fly trap or little snap dragon. He loves to lie on his back on our legs and still batting and biting so he loves us to bits but mauls us? Snapping his teeth as you walk past.
The cat clearly adores us.
I read on here someone was saying that the cat is seeing us as itīs pray and treating us as such. We should not enter into any play to encourage this behaviour and walk away if they do. i struggle with this as sometimes I do play with him in "mad mode" and would need to never do this again. When my Ziggy comes running in then throws himself on the floor at my feet on his back, paws flailing, purring, what do I do? Canīt exactly send him back as he is not the lap cat Persian who I wanted to brush and cuddle who we have had 4 of previously. Just gutted as he is so soft and cute that I canīt touch him for long.
The cat clearly adores us.
I read on here someone was saying that the cat is seeing us as itīs pray and treating us as such. We should not enter into any play to encourage this behaviour and walk away if they do. i struggle with this as sometimes I do play with him in "mad mode" and would need to never do this again. When my Ziggy comes running in then throws himself on the floor at my feet on his back, paws flailing, purring, what do I do? Canīt exactly send him back as he is not the lap cat Persian who I wanted to brush and cuddle who we have had 4 of previously. Just gutted as he is so soft and cute that I canīt touch him for long.
