Why do cats bite?

It can be confusing when a cat nips or bites and especially a worry if there is an older person or child who are likely to have thinner skin.

There can be many reasons a cat does this. I am going to outline some of the reasons below.

Differentials for biting behaviour

Reasons could include:

·      Medical/Pain related – such as an abscess

·      Frustration – i.e after a play session that from the cat’s perception is not complete (i.e the predatory sequence is not complete by finishing off with a little food).

·      Misdirected play – a leg my be seen as a fun prey that moves

·      Lack of habituation/ not liking being touched on an area of their body – the base of the tail and the stomach can be common areas.

·      A bad experience – being touched by a person could have been linked to pain in the past.

·      Petting for too long – as humans we tend to like long protracted drawn out touch whereas cats like shorter ones.

·      A cat who has long hair may have been groomed and now does not tolerate it as it could have been painful.

·      Redirected aggression – seeing something outside such as a fox and redirecting aggression to the closest thing to them – such as a leg

Reading a cat’s body language can help prevent bites

Ears

An ear that twitches and turns to the side or goes flat highlights they are feeling worried

Tail

A thumping or thrashing tail indicates a cat wants space.

Face

Look out for lip licking and dilated pupils

Preventing it in the case of play

If cat is displaying misdirected play then having toys that you can throw away from your direction may help. After. a play session finish off with a little of their daily allowance of food to reduce frustration so they feel the predatory sequence has been completed. Also providing a positive interruptor if you think that they may react in some cases could help. Here is how to do that (adapted from Dogs Trust)

Find a treat that your cat absolutely loves, something they don’t usually get—like chicken, tuna, or a special soft treat.

Pick an interrupter word. Choose something you don’t normally say and that naturally sounds cheerful, like “Pickles!” or “Noodles!”—not something you’d use in a negative tone.

With the treat hidden (in your pocket or behind your back), say your interrupter word in a light, happy voice. Then immediately reach for the treat and give your cat a small piece.
Repeat this about 5–8 times.

Say word
“Pickles!”

Reach for food

Reward your cat

Practice this in different rooms or areas of your home. Keep sessions short and do a few each day for about a week.

To test it, say the word when your cat is doing something else—like looking out the window—and see if they turn toward you. If they do, great! If not, go back to the earlier steps and reinforce it more.

Once your cat understands the word, you can use it to gently interrupt unwanted behaviours, like scratching furniture or getting onto surfaces you want to keep off-limits.

Always follow the word with a treat so your cat keeps a positive association with it.

Every now and then, use the word even when you don’t need to interrupt anything—this helps keep the response strong.

If you need support with your cats behaviour please reach out.