Why does a cat bite its owner’s legs: when you stroke it and for no reason

Norm or pathology

Sometimes some cats develop mental disorders, but this cannot be detected on their own. For this purpose, it is worth visiting a veterinarian and telling your concerns about changes in the animal’s behavior and the appearance of unmotivated aggression. Only a specialist will be able to determine whether this is related to pathology or is a character trait.

But most often bites are caused by other reasons. Cats are one of the most independent pets and this needs to be taken into account. And everyone's character is different. While some are very affectionate and love attention from their owner, others don’t like it.

Some animals, even living for a long time in a family, try to keep a distance from people and cannot stand a familiar attitude towards their person. These are already individual character traits and it will not be possible to change temperament.

Reasons for unexpected aggression

Cats can bite in different ways. There are two options for this behavior:

• The rarest one is when the pet gently bites its fingers, while the claws are removed and its actions are more pleasant than not. This is what they do most often when communicating with their offspring. When a cat behaves like this with its owner, it means it trusts him and loves him very much.
• More common is a sudden change in behavior. A second ago, the pet took the stroking absolutely calmly, showing no signs of aggression, but now it turned over and began to painfully bite and scratch the hand.

It is important to understand the reasons that motivate cats to bite and scratch their owner's hands. Among the most common are:

Aggression

Often a sign of problems with the pet's socialization. Breeders try to accustom a kitten to stroking in early childhood - up to 7 weeks of age. If this is not done, then in adulthood such an animal will shy away from affection from its owners and bite.

Pain

It is important to remember that cats, like people, are not always healthy; they have stomach, back, head, joint pain, and may have skin problems. Therefore, when showing affection, when something is not right with their health, they can bite. By this they are trying to tell the owner to leave them alone.

If behavior that is not typical appears, you should contact a veterinary clinic for examination, as this may be an indirect sign of illness.

Static electricity

Often, if the animal's fur is too dry and the air humidity is high, microdischarges may form when stroking. A person may not notice this, but it is extremely unpleasant for a pet, so he may bite.

Pet gender

This factor also needs to be taken into account. Many cats are more affectionate, but can be aggressive once they become mothers. Cats are often independent and do not like excessive affection, with the exception of castrated individuals; they begin to show more attention to the owner and demand the same from him.

Increased attention from a person

It must be remembered that these are independent animals that do not like being forced on them. The exception is Oriental cat breeds. Such pets are extremely sociable and loving. But they can also be in a bad mood when affection does not bring pleasure.

Dream

Some cats fall asleep during stroking and, if the rhythm or pressure changes, they may wake up and bite. This behavior is common among poorly socialized pets who always expect trickery from people. Or another situation - the animal is sleeping so soundly that stroking came as a surprise and frightened it. In this case, it is simply a defensive reaction against fear.

Dominant behavior

The cat thus tries to establish himself and show that he is the boss in the house. He tries to control the process of affection on the part of the owner.

Negative experiences in the past

Often people pet their pets before unpleasant procedures, such as nail trimming or bathing. But for them the model is fixed: if they stroked it, something unpleasant happened. And subsequent displays of affection on the part of the owner will provoke biting and scratching.

Early weaning

Cats teach their offspring that a person is a friend, he feeds, caresses and does not cause pain. If you take the kittens away from her too early, they won't recognize it and may perceive people negatively. Pets raised on the street also display a similar pattern of behavior. Cats do not know that their owners are trying to show their love and care in this way, but consider affection a threat to themselves.

Feeding kittens and pregnancy

During this period, some cats may experience a change in character, and in this way they try to protect their offspring and protect them.

Doesn't bite, but caresses!

Cats bite not only out of pain or anger, but also out of love! In the wild, cats bite each other during courtship, as well as during friendly communication.

A cat “kiss,” as a rule, is not painful, because cats have learned to balance their efforts in childhood, and is accompanied by licking with the tongue. It looks something like this: licked, bitten, licked again.

Cat behavior patterns

Experts have identified several behavioral patterns in cats when they can bite people:

A game

It's always aggression, but like studying or training. The objects are models (rubber ball, artificial mouse, rattle on a string, etc.). For kittens, this is training, learning to hunt, which is certainly accompanied by bites. Therefore, you should not play with your hands or feet with your pets, as they begin to be perceived as a “victim” that needs to be caught and neutralized. When playing with children, at first this behavior is amusing, but this pattern of play will become ingrained in him and in adulthood it will be difficult to wean him off this pattern.

You need to entertain your pets only with the help of special devices for cats.

Host - food

People are a source of food for their pets, so you shouldn’t tease them with food or treats, much less leave it all in a visible place. By biting and scratching, cats try to get their owners to give them another portion of goodies.

Licking the owner's hand - biting

Often people who keep a cat at home are surprised by this pattern: the pet was just purring and licking its fingers and suddenly bit. There may be several reasons for this behavior. For example, unrealized maternal instinct. When licking their offspring, cats may bite. Or it could be a sudden change in the animal's mood. Thus, the pet wants to say that he is tired of affection and needs to be left alone. To prevent such incidents, it is important to pay attention to the cat’s body language and notice changes in his mood. Thus, twitching of the tail and skin on the back, billowing fur indicate an imminent attack on the owner’s hand.

Resentment

For the most part, cats are not vindictive and do not hold grudges for long. But when the owner does not allow them to play with some object or does not allow them into a certain room, they can get angry and show their dissatisfaction with this by biting. With this behavior, you need to try to switch the pet’s attention to another thing, try to distract it with a game.

Secondary aggression

Cats are very addicting creatures and often after an interesting game with an artificial mouse, the owner, wanting to pet the pet, gets hit on the hand with a clawed paw. This happens because the animal has not calmed down and is still in the process of playing for a little while.

The recipe for this behavior is simple - let the cat calm down a little, and after time has passed, pet it.

Primary aggression

Often, in response to physical punishment, the pet begins to show hostility towards the owner. This is due to the fact that he adopts a human behavior model and enters into a kind of fight. It is important to remember that physical punishment is not the best way to raise cats and should not be used. You should scare him with a loud sound or sprinkle water to stop the attack. Sometimes primary aggression indicates an illness in the pet, so if all other reasons for this behavior are excluded, but if the cat continues to rush at people, you need to take him to a veterinarian for examination.

What should an owner do in response to cat aggression?

If the owner is tired of constant attacks from the pet, then it is necessary to start raising him. The owner must do everything possible to prevent the cat from having the desire to rush at the child or strangers.

scold

The cat is drooling: the main causes and treatment options

You should not scold a cat when it tries to attack its owner. The cat's disposition is such that these animals can remember insults inflicted on them.

The best way is not to scold, but simply to ignore. This means not responding completely to the behavior, even with words. Only then will the cat understand the reason for such an attitude of the owner.

Re-educate

When retraining your pet, the following recommendations should be followed:

• do not play with the cat with your hands and feet;
• buy only those toys that allow you to play at a distance with the owner (fishing rods, candy wrappers on a string);
• If a cat grabs your hand, do not suddenly pull it out. In such a situation, she will become even more angry and will only intensify her aggression. You should freeze for a while, wait until the pet releases your hand, and then stop playing. In this way, the cat will understand that aggressive behavior is a reason to end the game and communicate with the owner;
• in order for the kitten to grow up calm, you should devote more time, love and affection to it;
• During the training process, you should be patient with the animal and not beat it. Education must be accompanied by patience on the part of the owner. The animal should be helped to recognize the bad behavior.

Important! A pet should be trained and raised from the first days of its arrival in the home. Only in this case will the process be effective.

You should raise your pet properly

Showing you care

Showing care, affection and love is an important rule in the fight against a cat’s desire to attack its owner. Among the manifestations of concern are:

• you should pet your pet;
• speak kind words to him more often;
• pet the animal;
• pamper with treats;
• play.

Other methods and recommendations

General recommendations on how to stop a cat from rushing at its owner include:

• Suitable toys should be provided for the cat that allow it to exercise its hunter instinct and pounce on its “prey”;
• a special board or pillow should be offered for scratching and “beating”;
• You should spray your cat with water every time he bites or does something unacceptable;
• if possible, take another animal so that it doesn’t get boring;
• in some cases, the cat is castrated, which sharply reduces its aggression;
• You should explain to your child how to play with your pet correctly so that it does not get angry or attack.

Why does a cat bite just like that?

For the most part, cats never bite for no reason, but there are situations when people feel as if they are being attacked for no reason. However, this is not the case and there are several factors influencing this behavior, in addition to those described above. These include:

• Changing teeth. Animals, like humans, first grow baby teeth, which are subsequently replaced by permanent teeth. In cats, this period begins at 3-4 months of age. In this case, there may be pain and discomfort in the oral cavity, and they begin to actively bite the owner’s hands. It is important to prevent the pattern of such behavior from becoming established at this point. Otherwise, even an adult animal will continue to gnaw people’s fingers. You need to buy special rubber toys that your pet will scratch his teeth on.
• Sexual desire. During this period, many cats become aggressive. This is easy to notice: they leave marks on the territory of the apartment, scream heart-rendingly and ask to go outside. There are two options for solving the problem: castration and selection of a partner.
• Declaw removal. Currently, this inhumane operation is common in veterinary practice. If after it the pet begins to bite, this indicates either revenge, or that his teeth are the only weapon with which he can stand up for himself and this is what the cat uses.
• Lack of attention from people. If the pet is not played with and petted a lot, a bite is its way to interest the owner. You should devote at least 10 minutes a day to communicate with your pet, and the problem will disappear.
• Lack of care. If the tray is not cleaned or there is a lack of food, the cat tries to let the owner know that it is time to clean up his toilet or feed him.

When to contact a veterinarian

Sometimes the owner is not able to accurately determine the reason why the cat behaves aggressively.

Be sure to read:

Cat habits: what they are, their meaning, what they are, how they affect behavior, features

It’s time to go to the veterinarian in cases where the pet behaves strangely, constantly sits in one place and attacks if you approach it. Feeling unwell may be a sign of a serious illness.

Below is a table of the main diseases in cats:

Cats also become aggressive during periods of sexual activity and increased levels of thiamine in the blood. In this case, the veterinarian will recommend medications and diet to eliminate the pet’s aggression.

How to recognize readiness for an attack

Cats do not bite without warning; it is important to pay attention to the signs before attacking. These include:

• the animal's posture changes;
• the pet’s body tenses, which can be felt when touched;
• the purring suddenly stops;
• ears flatten;
• anger in the gaze, pupils dilate;
• the nature of the sounds produced becomes threatening, for example, rumbling, purring;
• the expression of the muzzle changes from peaceful to angry;
• the tail begins to twitch.

One or a combination of signs indicate that the pet is aggressive, that it has begun to get angry and that it will soon attack a person. You should not ignore them, but it is better to leave the cat alone for a while so that he calms down.

How to respond to a growl

It is important to follow a list of rules that will allow you to pacify your pet and eliminate conflict:

1. The cat's character is designed in such a way that you are unlikely to be able to pacify your pet right away. Wait a few minutes for the animal to calm down.
2. When a certain amount of time has passed and the pet has completely calmed down, try to establish contact with him. Pet him, talk to him, give him a treat.
3. If the reason is that the animal is in pain, take him to the vet immediately, as pain may indicate the severity of the disease.

It happens that a cat simply has an aggressive character, and nothing can be done about it. In this case, do not try to change your pet, but adapt to it. He loves you, he just can’t show it with affection and purring. Understand him and accept him for who he is.

How to stop a cat from biting

There are several techniques that can be used to rid your pet of a bad habit and prevent it from developing. These include:

• Proper communication with guests. A kitten should not perceive people as aggressors, so it is worth accustoming it to them from a young age. But it is also important that those who come behave with respect for the pet: do not pick him up if he does not like it, do not throw him up (he may get scared) and do not bother him too much. If an animal has huddled in a corner in front of guests, there is no need to drag it out of its shelter to show off to your friends.
• Your pet should have toys with which he can have fun, but should not play with his hands.
• If a cat bites, you should make a sharp sound and he will let go, as it is unpleasant for him. For example, clap your hands or shout sharply.
• If episodes of aggression have become frequent, and all familiar causes of such behavior have been ruled out, it is worth visiting a veterinarian; the problem may be a pet illness.
• After the bite, show the cat that it is unpleasant. You can ignore requests for a treat or to continue playing.
• It is important for the owner to determine the approximate time during which the pet allows stroking and not to neglect this knowledge.
• In case of frequent bites, you can prepare a container with a spray bottle and spray it on the cat in case of aggression. He will get scared and run away. This will wean him from such behavior.
• Get vaccinated against rabies regularly. Your pet can become infected with this incurable disease and become dangerous to others. Therefore, you should not neglect regular visits to the veterinary clinic.

What should the owner of an aggressive cat do?

So what should a cat owner do with an animal suffering from aggression caused by affection? Well, no one is saying it's a lost cause - it's really just a matter of learning how to tune into the animal's mood so you can predict when a petting session might turn into bloodshed. This might mean simply noting how long your cat will tolerate petting before she bites or scratches you, and then making sure you always stop before that moment comes.

Does your cat often scratch or bite you?

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What to do if kittens bite: parenting recommendations

Kittens, like children, need to be raised, only this is done differently. It is important to remember that the sooner you start this process, the more effective it will be.

It is more difficult to retrain an adult animal than a baby. If he bites hard, you need to stop playing and clearly, loudly say “No” and stop interacting with him, ignore him for a while. You can hiss at him after a bite. Another option is possible - to switch attention to something else, for example, a toy, but you cannot give a treat. Otherwise, he will take this as praise and will continue to behave aggressively towards people.

It is important for the owner to pay attention to the pet’s character and favorite places for petting. So, some cats like to be stroked on their bellies, while others categorically cannot stand it and allow themselves to be touched only on their backs.

In any case, it is necessary to find out the cause of aggressive behavior and eliminate the factors leading to it. If you can’t cope on your own, you can seek help from specialists.

Weaning the kitten

Small cats usually bite hands to play with their owner. You cannot train an animal to play with a person's fingers. While the kitten is small, it will not hurt. But if this habit continues, the bites will become more noticeable.

It is recommended to purchase special toys for kittens. If the kitten, having played out, begins to grab the fingers with its teeth, remove your hand and gently press the animal’s head to the floor. After a few times, the kitten will understand why the owner does this.

kitten weaning