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Have you ever believed that vampires are real? I think yes! The cats are… vampires. It’s surprising, isn’t it? Just kidding, but I’m talking about cat-biting behavior. I guess you must have been bitten while petting your cat at least one time. In consequence, I would like to share this article to respond to your question:” Why does my cat bite me when I pet her?”
As I have shared in previous articles, there are many reasons why cats suddenly bite you. And this time, we’ll take a closer look.
Let’s find out 5 main reasons for this problem with me!
Unstable mood
Just like we have some days when we are extremely tired and mentally uncomfortable. Cats feel the same way, and that could be the cause of your cat biting you while you’re petting her.
More specifically, perhaps your cat has just had a fight with another cat, or she is unsatisfied with the food, or simply not feeling happy. All cats are more sensitive than we think. So imagine this problem as having someone touch you when you’re feeling upset. Yes! Cats too.
Cat’s sensitive area
This is one of the most common occasions. You are petting your cat and are suddenly startled by her tiny teeth biting into your hand. That means you’re touching some areas that she doesn’t like such as belly, tail, head, etc. The truth is that sometimes your cat will let you touch those parts, but sometimes it will be sensitive and it’s best if you don’t touch them.
This problem will be related to causing number 1. Your cat is probably not comfortable, so it also affects her mentality, causing you to be bitten while petting her. In addition, cats that you have just adopted will tend to be wary and not fully trust humans to touch them.
Stress and illness
Notice if your cat behaves strangely. This can be the cause of fatigue and stress in her, leading to biting behavior when she is touched. Ordinarily, cats often have manifestations such as lethargy, anorexia, vomiting, ruffled fur, irritability, etc. Therefore, mental and physical health are negative impacts on this behavior. Cats will be less stressed and exhausted when biting. You should know that your little friend is not trying to hurt you, but because she is in real trouble.
“Have fun with me, meow”
After we go through the quite negative reasons that cause this behavior in cats. There is another reason called “just have fun!”. Maybe your cat just wants to play with you. When you pet your cat with lots of affection, she feels it too and wants to increase her happiness by biting you (Love bites, of course).
Sometimes we combine petting and teasing these lovely friends, when we move, cats will be instinctively stimulated to pounce and bite us. This action has no bad intentions, your cat just wants you to have fun with her.
The fragrance of foodstuffs
“Why does my cat bite me when I pet her?”- My friend, did you cook or just finished your meal? This reason happens by accident. Cats have a very sensitive sense of smell, they can detect a smell of something on your hand extremely easily. Therefore, if you do not wash your hands thoroughly, your cat will think you are a piece of salmon or a piece of yummy meat.
Furthermore, your hands may already have an odor that cats find unpleasant, such as oil, perfume, etc. Be careful!
How to stop your cat from biting you when you pet her?
After reading through the reasons above, I believe you have also envisioned some ways to prevent your cat from biting, haven’t you? Take a look at the following ideas to see if they are similar to yours.
Allow your cat has her own space
Besides playing and feeding your cat, give her some spaces to rest. As same as humans, we still need our own time to calm down. Cats also need it when mood swings. Rest assured, once your cat is back delighted, she will let you touch her.
Stop touching areas cat dislike
Stop touching certain places when your cat reacts by biting you. According to some experts, when cats trust you, they will let you touch their belly (and other sensitive areas). So give you and your adorable cat some time to get to know each other better. That’s a fantastic way to prevent you from wondering:” Why does my cat bite me when I pet her?”.
Ask the veterinarians
In case your cat is experiencing health problems, take her to the veterinarian for timely treatment. It seems to be nothing serious, but the behavior of biting you when you are petting your cat needs to be identified. Moreover, when cats have periodic health examinations, they will limit negative behaviors and have no dangerously affected mental and physical health.
Discriminate between teasing and petting
It seems normal, but when you accidentally make your cat think petting is a joke, she will get used to biting you more and more. This problem can be solved by training your cat to clearly distinguish between petting and teasing. That way, your cat will limit the behavior of biting you when you are petting her.
Wash your hand first!
To avoid the cat biting you for an unnecessary reason. Remember to wash your hands thoroughly when they smell like food or have strong odors.
Cats’ noses are very vulnerable, they can also be allergic to strong scents such as perfumes, oils, chemicals. Hence, make sure you use hand sanitizer to remove scents that your cat hates or that make her think your hand is a delicious treat.
Thus, there are quite a few points that lead to the behavior of biting you when your cat is being petted. Understanding these reasons will help you choose suitable options to limit this problem. I hope you found this article advantageous with your relationship with your fur baby!
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