Why Do Cats Bite
Although they’ve lived with us for millennia, cats are still mysterious creatures, even to their owners! That’s because cats are quieter and more solitary than dogs, who are much easier to read.
There are lots of strange cat behaviors we can’t fully understand. But one of the most perplexing is undoubtedly the “surprise bite” – you know what we’re talking about! All it takes is one wrong move and suddenly your cat will nip at your hand or finger, surprising you when you thought you were having a good time.
What’s the deal? In fact, your cat biting your hand could mean several things, and it’s not nearly as surprising as you might think once you learn to recognize the signs of annoyance or aggression in your kitty.
Let’s take a closer look at the reasons why cats bite and what you can do to make sure your cat learns to bite properly during play.
Biting and Cat Communication
All cat owners know this “hilarious” scenario:
- You’re playing with your cat and having a great time, rubbing their belly and petting their head
- All of a sudden, your cat’s ears go down and they snap at your hand
- They might also use their claws or scramble away. Ouch!
What happened? You might not have done anything wrong. But you have to remember that your cat communicates differently with you than you might think.
Cats are nonverbal creatures in most cases. While they do sometimes meow, hiss, or make other noises, they primarily communicate through body language and smell: two things that other cats can translate pretty easily. But it can certainly be confusing for us humans!
When your cat bites you, they’re either playing with you or sending you a message. Responsible cat owners should pay attention to these signals so they know when to back off and give their cat space or when their furry friend wants to ramp up the play with a toy.
Why Do Cats Suddenly Bite You?
Cats only seem to bite you “suddenly.” In fact, most cat owners who are unexpectedly bitten by their pets just missed a few nonverbal and subtle signs their kitties gave off in the moments leading up to the “attack.”
For cats, the line between pleasurable petting and overstimulation is very thin. That’s why it might seem like your cat goes from enjoying a relaxing pet to biting your hand and flattening their ears in two seconds flat.
Cats can bite your hand or anywhere else for several reasons:
- They might just be physically overstimulated. In this case, you pet them for too long or too hard and they want you to back off. They do this by giving you a firm but harmless bite.
- They might just be physically overstimulated. In this case, you pet them for too long or too hard and they want you to back off. They do this by giving you a firm but harmless bite.
- They might just be physically overstimulated. In this case, you pet them for too long or too hard and they want you to back off. They do this by giving you a firm but harmless bite.
Why Do Cats Bite When Playing?
But plenty of cat owners also find that their kitties like to bite their hands when they play. Is this the same thing?
Sometimes, but not always. Plenty of cats can get a little overstimulated when playing, especially if you play a bit rough. Then they might bite to get you back off, ending the play session suddenly.
In other cases, and especially with kittens, a bite on the hand means that they want to keep playing and are just getting into the roughhousing. However, little kitties aren’t always the best at moderating their bite strength, so you might need to invest in a glove or a toy for them to chew on instead. This is doubly true if they start to use their claws!
Aggressive vs Tender or Play Biting
You can usually tell if your cat is biting aggressively or playfully by looking for other body language signs, including:
- Flattened ears. These usually mean that the cat isn’t having a good time and is feeling a little overwhelmed or defensive.
- Slow blinking or wide eyes. This is a positive sign and means your cat is engaged and wants to continue play.
- Hissing. All cat owners know this is never a good sign. Back off if they hiss at you!
- Biting repeatedly but gently. If your kitty is gently gnawing on your hand, it’s not likely a sign to get away. Instead, they’re probably still interested in playing and are just engaging with their hunter’s instinct.
- Biting hard and retreating. A single, hard bite is a warning sign that playtime is over and they want to retreat into their own space.
It can be tough to differentiate some of these signals from one another if you’re a first-time cat owner and your kitty is still really young. However, you’ll get better at understanding your cat’s body language and desires over time, so don’t sweat it if you annoy your cat from time to time.
They forgive pretty quickly, especially if you give them a treat to smooth things over!
Do Kittens Bite More Often Than Adult Cats?
In general, yes. Many kittens have biting or pouncing phases as they get older. This is a normal part of development, and it’s important that they engage in this kind of play so they can learn to use their bodies and minds. Play fighting is very important for young cats, just like it is for young dogs.
If your kitten lives without any other animals, it’ll substitute by attacking your feet, hands, or other objects like shoes. You can and should get your kitten lots of toys for them to hunt and play with. It’s good for your hands and your kitty’s quality of life.
Again, you should be able to tell if your kitten is biting you playfully or aggressively based on how they do it. Regardless, it’s a good idea to discourage play biting on your fingers and hands when your kitten is still young, so they don’t keep the habit as they get older.
Stopping Your Cat from Biting
We seem to think of dogs as the only household pets that can be trained. But cats can be trained just as well – you just have to do things a little differently. You can also teach your cat to stop biting playfully or overly aggressively, although your cat will still nip your hand from time to time if you annoy them.
Here are some good training principles to keep in mind:
- Always keep your responses consistent, especially between different family members. If you give your cat mixed messages regarding biting in play, they’ll be much harder to train, and they may not listen to your efforts.
- Don’t let your kitten play with your bare hands or feet. If they try to engage in their play phase, disengage or give them a toy instead. Redirecting your cat’s attention is effective and allows them to enjoy their playful urges without leading to broken skin or other superficial injuries.
- Give your cat multiple toys, so they don’t get bored with a single stuffed animal.
- Cats understand verbal praise just as dogs do, although not to the same extent. Regardless, praise your cat when they play correctly (i.e. they play with their paws but not their claws). Give them treats to reinforce this behavior.
- If your cat does bite you, don’t pull away – this stimulates their biting instinct. Instead, push your hand into their mouth even farther to get them to let go and teach them that biting is very comfortable.
Additionally, make sure to never use physical reprimands or punishment when training your kitten. They don’t connect the two events (biting and punishment) and will only grow resentful or fearful. Instead, use positive reinforcement or shift their attention away from your hand or foot to a toy for better results.
Summary
Ultimately, your cat might bite you for all kinds of reasons. But it’s important to recognize that not every bite is aggressive, but some bites are signs that your cat wants you to change your behavior or that they’re uncomfortable. Paying close attention to your cat’s body language and other signs will help you grow closer to your furry friend and make them want to spend more time with you.
Best of all, learning to recognize these signs and training your cat not to bite your hand while they’re still young will let you pet and play with your cat without needing band-aids all the time!
Sources
Why Do Cats Bite & How To Stop Your Cat Biting You (purina.co.uk)
Reasons Why Cats Bite and How to Stop It (thesprucepets.com)
Cat Love Bites: What Do They Mean? (petmd.com)
Why does my cat bite me unprovoked? (vethel/direct.com)
