Why does a cat bite when you pet it?

Cats are inherently famous for their strong will and independence. There is no way to pet your pet if he does not like it. Usually a whiskered friend throws himself into his arms, bites his claws and starts biting at the same time. The situation is not pleasant, there is no desire to pet and give care to a furry pet. Many hosts wonder why this is happening. Let's figure it out together, at the same time we’ll find out how to stop the attack and wean the cat from an established habit.

Reasons for Unfriendly Behavior

1. If you are the owner of an aggressive pet, it may have difficulties with socialization. By ideal standards, cats from early childhood are taught to sit on their hands when they are still with the breeders. Also, kids are introduced to other pets in order to get rid of aggression in the future. Trust relationships with a person should be built before the onset of one and a half months. If the animal is not trained in manners, it will not be able to adequately respond to tenderness and affection in particular.
2. Some animals, when stroked, do not feel pleasure, they are hurt. Usually this is due to joint pain, injuries or skin sensitivity, discomfort in the abdominal cavity. If you have already ruled out all the reasons, but the cat is still scratching and biting, maybe she needs the help of a veterinarian.
3. The reasons for the negative reaction of the pet include increased attention from the human side. If you or your children constantly squeeze a cat, do not give it rest and stay in silence, the animal will snap. This is normal, because even the most patient pet will not be able to stay with a person 24/7 and not step away from him.
4. If a cat is dominant by nature, he will show leadership in every way. This is accompanied by aggression towards people, because the pet controls when they can communicate with him, and when it is better to stay away. The position is understandable, but not suitable for all owners.
5. We will not exclude static electricity from the underlying causes. If your clothes are electrified, and at the same time your hand strokes a cat, for a pet the discharge will be like an electric shock. The sensations are not pleasant, so the pet kicks.
6. Some cats fall asleep with their eyes open or start to doze during stroking. If a person makes inadvertent movements at this moment or something appears to the cat, he will jump up and grab hold of your hand. Again, a normal reaction common to all, even well-socialized, pets.
7. All of the above reasons can be understood. But some animals cross borders, for example, throw themselves on their feet, being under a sofa. An unpleasant feeling, constant scratches and enmity encourage many owners to transfer the pet “in good hands”. Usually, the psychological aspects (stressful situations, hormonal disruptions, resentment against the owner, etc.), which need to be addressed with a specialist, are the causes of this behavior.

Parenting recommendations

1. Give your cat the opportunity to be alone with himself. Do not bother her, ask the children to be more careful with the four-legged pet. It should be understood that baleen friends are much more independent than dogs. They need freedom of choice and action accordingly. For this purpose, the pet is allocated a place away from human eyes. Do not try to get the cat out of its shelter to caress.
2. Do not behave selfishly, following your own whims. Consider the cat’s desire or unwillingness to make contact. If it is scratched, it means it needs to be left alone.If you know for sure that your pet does not like stroking your stomach, do not touch this area. Comb the back, neck, ears, etc.
3. In the process of communicating with a whiskered friend, track changes in his mood. If you are an attentive owner, then realize in time that the cat is going to attack. At such moments, you need to step back or push the animal to the bed, showing that you are a leader.

Fighting a habit

To stop the attack, use one or more methods.

1. Ignore. However painful you may be, ignore the animal in the first five seconds of the attack. Cats lose interest in everything that does not move. The animal will soon release its hand, because no one supported or denied the negative behavior. Ignore in this case is the best way out.
2. Cotton. Cats are afraid of sharp sounds, therefore, when they occur, they immediately try to escape. If the animal bites you, you can scream sharply or portray a cry. Alternatively, hit your hip with your free hand or any object in the vicinity. You can bite the cat at the withers and hold, showing how painful you are.
3. Water. The presented method is considered quite radical. Only resort to this measure if the animal bites quite strongly and often. It is not recommended to sip a cat with water if he lives with you relatively recently. This is especially true for those individuals who have not previously lived with people. The pet could have a negative experience with a person. Hence the aggressive behavior. If necessary, you should always have a spray bottle with water at hand. As soon as the pet bites you, lightly spray it. Keep in mind that the animal may be offended because of this.
4. Click on the nose. With this method, it is important not to cause the pet severe discomfort. When the cat starts to bite you, lightly click it on the nose. The animal may be slightly scared and distracted. Such a gesture can be perceived by the cat as humiliation.
5. Finger in the jaws. As soon as the pet tries to bite you by the finger, try to push it as far as possible into the mouth. Do not get involved, control the action. The cat should feel great discomfort. After some time, the animal will understand that you should not bite. Keep in mind that with this method it is important not to damage the oral mucosa of the pet.

What to do if kittens bite

1. If you find out the reason why your pet bites, you should deal with the elimination of the focus of aggression or the complete re-education of the animal. If you do not want to constantly walk with traces on the skin after bites, you need to take appropriate measures.
2. It happens that the animal shows aggression in this form due to ailments. The only way out in this situation is a thorough treatment of the disease. If the pet bites due to a surge in hormones, you should find a couple or try to calm yourself.
3. Often cats can be nasty from an early age. Therefore, the education of the animal must be dealt with from an early age. At a more conscious age, re-educating the cat will be difficult.
4. If the animal begins to bite immediately, as soon as you start stroking it, say in a clear voice, “You can’t!” At this point, try to distract the aggressive pet. It is strictly forbidden to resort to treats. The cat might think that you praise him for his bad behavior.
5. The kitten should be made aware that such behavior is not acceptable. Take it off your hands and hiss like a cat. Over time, the pet will understand that you can not bite. It is forbidden to give the kitten excessive tenderness. A small animal does not yet fully trust you. Therefore, caress must be dosed.
6. If you do not want to face even greater problems in the future, you should carefully study the behavior of the cat. Thus, you can easily understand what is wrong. Every time you pet your pet, it is in a relaxed state.
7. If the tip of the tail of the cat begins to twitch, the pupils begin to expand, and the ears are pressed, it is recommended to immediately stop stroking the animal. Otherwise, you will feel a bite and scratches from your claws.
8. It should be borne in mind that often at the age of 3 to 8 months a kitten can bite only because its teeth are being cut. Such a need is considered quite normal. Therefore, for the cat it is worth purchasing special toys.

If you are faced with the fact that a domestic cat often bites you while you pet it, you should find out the reason. After that, try to re-educate the animal. You must make clear that such behavior on the part of the pet is unacceptable.

Video: why does the cat scratch and bite?