Cat Behaviour - How To Avoid A Cat Bite

While many individuals fear cats because they possess claws that may strike at any moment, there are some felines that appear scary because they bite. This rather undesirable behaviour may strike at any time with any cat when they feel threatened or unable to express their discontent with their current circumstances. Many times an unexpected intolerance to the amount of petting or stroking that a cat may allow is the cause for a quick nip. Below you will find a few suggestions as to what kind of signs surface when a cat has had enough.

Have you ever settled into bed or nestled into the couch and who should appear but your precious cat? She situates herself within hand’s reach and you start to stroke her addictingly soft fur. She is appreciative, emitting a rhythmic purr. All of sudden, after a stretch of time has passed; your cat suddenly bites your hand. You are puzzled as to why she would react in such a way. For some cats, this is their means of communicating that they have had enough petting. This is not always the case - other felines remove themselves from the action or slowly wander away.

Some owners are appalled the first time their cat has bitten them and want to make sure the act doesn’t occur again. In most cases, there are signs that a cat gives to warn of an impending nip or bite, but often an owner is unaware of what each signal means. For instance, when the tail of a cat begins to twitch with a rolling flick motion, a bite may soon follow.

The ears of the cat are also quite telling. When they begin to turn towards the back or become flattened against the head, she is letting out a warning. If your cat appears restless, stiffens her body, or begins to stare at your hand, these are also signs that a sharp attack may occur.

When any of the above signs presents themselves during a session of stroking, it is suggested to stop the petting and allow your cat to remain positioned beside you or on your lap, jump down, or walk away when they feel ready. Whatever they decide to do, biting doesn’t have to become one of the options.

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If your cat bites you, it never pays to punish your pet for the action. Not only does it not work, but also many cats start to equate punishment with your presence and don’t even consider biting as a bad behaviour. As hard as it may seem, but if you have missed the cue that a bite is coming, the proper way to handle the situation is to not pull the hand away or push the cat aside. Freezing is the best solution because often, a cat will not puncture the skin if they feel their message was received in full. Their aim is to stop you from petting them, not to cause intentional harm.

Some cats revert to aggression for a many number of reasons. They may have inherited the behaviour through genetics or learned the conduct as a kitten. Owners who allow their kittens to chew on their hand during play have learned that it is OK to respond in this manner when they have “had enough” of the stroking and warning signals have been ignored.

Some owners have found ways to make petting a more enjoyable activity for their cat by using treats as incentives to encourage a lengthening of their tolerance. Overall, avoiding a cat bite means paying attention to the signs and signals associated with your feline.

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