Why Do Cats Sometimes Bite When You Pet Them

If left untreated or not given proper first aid care cat bites can lead to infection cat scratch fever or in rare cases rabies.

Why do cats sometimes bite when you pet them. Restless movement of the tail which they present elevated. When cats bite in this context it s not a sign of affection but rather a signal that the cat is done with the interaction. Another theory is that some cats might actually experience prolonged petting negatively and the biting is a reaction to that. Petting induced aggression and it s a poorly understood topic.

For felines there is a very fine line between enjoyable handling and irritating petting so while an owner may think a bite has come from nowhere for a cat the action is entirely justified. Many pet owners call this common behavior love biting but feline behaviorists have given it a more formal name. Because cats mouth and paw objects to explore their world it s natural for them to bite. These may include the following.

If your cat bites you when you pet them they may be doing this as a way to remind you that they are the boss in these parts not you. Ears folded back so they lay closer to their head and they twitch with our contact. Most often when cats bite they are trying to tell you that they aren t enjoying the contact that they are currently receiving. A cat is a territorial being by nature and the same can be said even when their domain is strictly the inside of your humble abode.

If the petting continues despite the cat s efforts to signal that he or she is done with being petted the cat may escalate to a bite says dr. It is also possible if not likely that your cat bites or claws you when you pet them because you haven t accurately read their signs. But kitties can learn to inhibit the force of their bites and to use soft paws without claws. Boy they sure do have us trained well don t they.

Cats have sharp teeth that are able to make deep punctures and cats mouths harbor a lot of bacteria that can potentially cause infection. So maybe it literally just rubs the cat the wrong way. Commonly i see static electricity as a reason for cats to bite during petting. Typically a friendly cat seeks out human attention only to turn on his lavisher of attention once the affection seems to have gone on for too long.