My seven-year-old cat Mira has been biting me a lot lately. Not hard bites, but still a bite! I'm not playing rough with her, just patting her and she goes for me. Any ideas?
What to do with a biting cat?
Could she have pain somewhere and not want to be touched?
It's worth getting a sudden 'character change' checked out.
It's worth getting a sudden 'character change' checked out.
Unfortunately it is not a sudden character change, she's been biting for a few years now. Thanks for pointing that out though.
Does she ever go for you unprovoked?, or is it always when you try to stroke her?.
Was she allowed to bite, as part of play, when a kitten?.
Was she allowed to bite, as part of play, when a kitten?.
If my cats bite and it isnt just a playful bite...like when they get carried away playing...I tap them gently on the end of the nose. Im not sure if its just that they know that this means they shouldnt bite or whether all cats react to it but its worth a try. Just a light tap with the end of your finger.
Originally Posted by Douglascat:
“My seven-year-old cat Mira has been biting me a lot lately. Not hard bites, but still a bite! I'm not playing rough with her, just patting her and she goes for me. Any ideas?”
“My seven-year-old cat Mira has been biting me a lot lately. Not hard bites, but still a bite! I'm not playing rough with her, just patting her and she goes for me. Any ideas?”
Time of the month?
My 6 month old tom cat does this. One minute he is all docile the next he pounces at you and starts biting your wrists and hands not enough to draw blood but it still hurts! Still no idea how to stop it but he is being 'done ' next week so might calm down then.
Pinch her ears...just enough to make her jump.....you've only got to do it once or twice....to the cat it feels like the equivalent of them biting you!
If your cat is biting you when you've been playing or stroking her it is usually because the act of touching a cat is a means of transferring scent from you to your cat & vice versa & if this goes on too long, it is not natural from the cat's point of view. Many cats put up with petting for a short time but after a while they "suddenly turn & bite without warning"! If you watch your cat carefully there are warning signs ~ you'll see the signs in her body language that she's had enough ~ tail twitches, muscles tense, ears back etc. Stop the petting at the first sign of any discomfort from the cat.
If the biting occurs when you've been playing (which is really just practising predatory behaviours), it is usually because the cat is in "hunting mode" & has reached the stage of killing it's prey or trying to subdue the prey. In this scenario try using fishing rod type toys so that you can put some distance between the cat & your body parts!
If the biting occurs when you've been playing (which is really just practising predatory behaviours), it is usually because the cat is in "hunting mode" & has reached the stage of killing it's prey or trying to subdue the prey. In this scenario try using fishing rod type toys so that you can put some distance between the cat & your body parts!
Unless she's scratching as well as biting it's not aggression.
She's just doing what she'd do while playing with another cat.
She's just doing what she'd do while playing with another cat.
Originally Posted by wilhemina:
“If your cat is biting you when you've been playing or stroking her it is usually because the act of touching a cat is a means of transferring scent from you to your cat & vice versa & if this goes on too long, it is not natural from the cat's point of view. Many cats put up with petting for a short time but after a while they "suddenly turn & bite without warning"! If you watch your cat carefully there are warning signs ~ you'll see the signs in her body language that she's had enough ~ tail twitches, muscles tense, ears back etc. Stop the petting at the first sign of any discomfort from the cat.
If the biting occurs when you've been playing (which is really just practising predatory behaviours), it is usually because the cat is in "hunting mode" & has reached the stage of killing it's prey or trying to subdue the prey. In this scenario try using fishing rod type toys so that you can put some distance between the cat & your body parts!”
“If your cat is biting you when you've been playing or stroking her it is usually because the act of touching a cat is a means of transferring scent from you to your cat & vice versa & if this goes on too long, it is not natural from the cat's point of view. Many cats put up with petting for a short time but after a while they "suddenly turn & bite without warning"! If you watch your cat carefully there are warning signs ~ you'll see the signs in her body language that she's had enough ~ tail twitches, muscles tense, ears back etc. Stop the petting at the first sign of any discomfort from the cat.
If the biting occurs when you've been playing (which is really just practising predatory behaviours), it is usually because the cat is in "hunting mode" & has reached the stage of killing it's prey or trying to subdue the prey. In this scenario try using fishing rod type toys so that you can put some distance between the cat & your body parts!”
One of our cats is that to a tee... you see the ears start to go back and it's time to remove yourself, pronto
The other will let you stroke them for a good hour, and everytime you stop demand more attention - which makes her pretty wierd then!
I feel quite lucky - I've never ever been bitten by either of my cats except in the affectionate/suckling way, they're a couple of softies. My parents' cat is another matter, she can suddenly bite for no apparent reason but we think she was mis-treated when she was young (she adopted my mum & dad).
Our cat bites me sometimes.. but in a playful way
but she did bite me once out of agression... all i did was pick her up to move her to another room
but she did bite me once out of agression... all i did was pick her up to move her to another room
Originally Posted by lozza73:
“I feel quite lucky - I've never ever been bitten by either of my cats except in the affectionate/suckling way, they're a couple of softies. My parents' cat is another matter, she can suddenly bite for no apparent reason but we think she was mis-treated when she was young (she adopted my mum & dad).”
“I feel quite lucky - I've never ever been bitten by either of my cats except in the affectionate/suckling way, they're a couple of softies. My parents' cat is another matter, she can suddenly bite for no apparent reason but we think she was mis-treated when she was young (she adopted my mum & dad).”
Your parents got adopted by a cat?
Originally Posted by InMyArms:
“Your parents got adopted by a cat?”
“Your parents got adopted by a cat?
”
Yes, she came and found them. She hung around and whenever my mum hung the washing out, she would approach. After a couple of days of this Mum gave her some milk and food as she was a rake. The day after she appeared from the same place. For two weeks this went on whilst Mum phoned all the sanctuaries, police and vets but it was clear she had been abandoned. So 6 years on and she's still there. If either Mum or Dad goes down the garden, she trots along by their side and if they go out for a walk she trots along behind them. If they're gone for the day she waits by the gate all day! She's frightened of being abandoned still I think. She's a sweet little think but with a jeckle & hyde personality - her swipes and bites are instinctive (it's almost as if she's forgotten where she is or with whom) and this makes us think she was poorly treated when very young.
When cats give gentle bites, it's said to be a sign of affection - a "love bite". My cat does it all the time. As long as she doesn't start biting hard and drawing blood, or scratching, I wouldn't worry about it.
starting to get a complex here... my mums cat is very aggressive towards me when i go in the house she hisses and spits and scratches and bites me! all the time. she will also somethimes follow me around and attack me randomly and stare at me watching my every move! any tips on how to stop this???
Originally Posted by lozza73:
“Yes, she came and found them. She hung around and whenever my mum hung the washing out, she would approach. After a couple of days of this Mum gave her some milk and food as she was a rake. The day after she appeared from the same place. For two weeks this went on whilst Mum phoned all the sanctuaries, police and vets but it was clear she had been abandoned. So 6 years on and she's still there. If either Mum or Dad goes down the garden, she trots along by their side and if they go out for a walk she trots along behind them. If they're gone for the day she waits by the gate all day! She's frightened of being abandoned still I think. She's a sweet little think but with a jeckle & hyde personality - her swipes and bites are instinctive (it's almost as if she's forgotten where she is or with whom) and this makes us think she was poorly treated when very young.”
“Yes, she came and found them. She hung around and whenever my mum hung the washing out, she would approach. After a couple of days of this Mum gave her some milk and food as she was a rake. The day after she appeared from the same place. For two weeks this went on whilst Mum phoned all the sanctuaries, police and vets but it was clear she had been abandoned. So 6 years on and she's still there. If either Mum or Dad goes down the garden, she trots along by their side and if they go out for a walk she trots along behind them. If they're gone for the day she waits by the gate all day! She's frightened of being abandoned still I think. She's a sweet little think but with a jeckle & hyde personality - her swipes and bites are instinctive (it's almost as if she's forgotten where she is or with whom) and this makes us think she was poorly treated when very young.”
Mine was changeable too and didn't like feet. Some people are plain mean
Our Custard, who's a Tom Cat. can't help himself but bite when he's being fussed and stroked, he's got sharp nails too! Treacle bites (our She) but then licks and washes you to death afterwards!
With Custard we say 'NO' in a firm way and stroke him from head to back and then if he gets too much of the clawing and biting, we say 'Goodbye' and ease him gently away (we keep telling him in our conversation that if he wasn't so viscious, then we would stroke him more often!) Don't get me wrong, he has loads of 'pick ups and kisses' still, cos we love him to bits!
With Custard we say 'NO' in a firm way and stroke him from head to back and then if he gets too much of the clawing and biting, we say 'Goodbye' and ease him gently away (we keep telling him in our conversation that if he wasn't so viscious, then we would stroke him more often!) Don't get me wrong, he has loads of 'pick ups and kisses' still, cos we love him to bits!
My cat, Zackie is a big bully and he's always beating me and my two dogs up ! He picks on the the little dog, Alfie, all the time - he'll hide and pounce on his bum and bite him. I often here a yelp in the house and the garden!
He can be so loving....then the next second he's sinking his teeth in my arms or scratching me.
I told the vet and she said to put him outside when he does it because he is a bully.
He can be so loving....then the next second he's sinking his teeth in my arms or scratching me.
I told the vet and she said to put him outside when he does it because he is a bully.
mine is fine except when he's just woken up and realises i'm about to go to bed. he seems to think i won't fill his bowl before i turn in. he jumps on the back of the sofa, which i have to walk past to get into the kitchen. When i try to get past he bites and scratches me, then jumps down and does the same to my feet until i get his food for him. if he's awake when i go to bed he's fine. he just wakes up so grumpy.
