An aggressive and uncontrollable cat is a big problem for all family members. For adults this is an inconvenience, for children it is a serious danger. You should not turn a blind eye to the aggressive behavior of an animal, since weaning a cat from biting is an important step in raising an obedient and affectionate pet.
Why does the kitten constantly bite
If a kitten constantly bites and scratches, the owners will sooner or later think about why this is happening. Cats are originally predatory animals that retain the instincts of wild animals. They appear especially often in kittens and street cats, while domesticated adults behave more civilized.
There are other explanations for why a domestic kitten bites.
Teething or growth spurt
Teething, both in children and kittens, occurs at an early age and causes a lot of discomfort to the baby. During this period, itching and inflammation of the gums are observed, which is why kittens can gnaw on everything that gets in their way, including the hands and feet of the owner. This helps them reduce itching and slightly soothe the pain in the gums.
The solution is to buy special toys that the cat will chew instead of hands, shoes and pieces of furniture.
Training and instinct
Kittens at an early age do not fully understand that at home they are safe, provided by people. The hunter's instinct signals them to practice their hunting and defensive skills during play.
The owner also becomes the target of an attack, since age, a small amount of experience and education allow kittens to see a “danger” or “prey” in a person during play.
Desire to play
In kittens at an early age, all activity comes down to games. There may not be enough space or toys in the apartment, and the kids direct all their energy to playing with the owner - a living creature who acts as a play partner.
In any case, at an early age, pets bite not out of malice, but out of boredom or overwhelming energy. It is necessary to choose the right weaning methods and diversify their leisure time.
To attract attention
There are times in a person’s life when he doesn’t have enough time for a small pet - there are serious matters, problems, fatigue. And kittens are active almost around the clock, and they cannot understand the reasons why a person ignores them.
They will attract attention by any means, including through biting and attempts to scratch. Here it is necessary to take into account that this is not aggression, but, on the contrary, a lack of love and attention.
Why might an adult cat bite?
Adult cats may also have enough reasons to bite a person. If you are wondering why a cat bites for no apparent reason, you should consider the following options.
Protection
Why a cat bites can be explained by the need to protect itself and its offspring. In case of self-defense, it is worth paying attention to the animal’s past. If a cat had experience of living on the street or cases of abuse, she could remember these moments and expect not affection from her owner’s hand, but a spanking.
In the case of protecting offspring, everything is simple - it is a natural instinct. Few people inspire trust in cats during this period, even their beloved owners. When you try to pet a cat or pick up a kitten, you risk encountering aggression in the form of bites.
Burst of energy, thirst for play
Adults and even older cats also want to play, and this happens quite often. You can observe how the cat runs around the apartment, climbs onto sets, cabinets and other tall objects, as if fleeing from being chased, or hides in a hunter’s pose and is about to attack a rustling bag or the owner’s leg. At these moments, you can understand why the cat bites or scratches - he is just playing. And invites the owner to join the game.
Revenge, resentment, jealousy
Owners may shout or physically influence the cat for being naughty or damaging something. Some cats are very touchy and even vindictive by nature. Punishment, even a light one, can offend the pet, after which it begins to show aggression - it does not allow itself to be petted, it bites and scratches.
Another type of resentment is jealousy. Cats may be jealous of their beloved owners towards new family members or other pets. To avoid this situation, try to give equal attention to everyone.
Method of communication
With the help of bites, the cat tries to convey certain information to the owner. She may be bothered by too much attention, extraneous irritating smells and other details. Cats do not know how to show their displeasure in any other way, so they use their teeth to communicate with humans. Another way is to place marks in different parts of the house.
Stress, fear
Cats are susceptible to stress and experience it very hard. Stress factors include moving, changing the environment, buying new furniture or renovations, the appearance of unfamiliar smells, and the most acute factor is the appearance of a new animal or child on their territory.
Cats often use their teeth and claws as self-defense measures. If the animal suddenly begins to bite, the owner needs to check for the presence of a stress factor and, if possible, eliminate it - or help the pet get used to the new environment.
Sexual desire
Sexual desire and hormonal fluctuations can cause aggressive behavior in cats. These are real outbreaks of tyranny and unpredictable behavior. They begin to bite and scratch the owner due to unsatisfied sexual desire. Most often, such consequences are caused by hormonal imbalance during periods of increased sexual activity in males.
Disease
During illness, animals, like people, experience discomfort. Among baleen animals there are diseases that occur for no apparent reason to humans. The owner can show affection and care for the cat as before, without noticing that the pet has problems.
At this moment, the cat is capable of biting the owner to show him that she does not like being touched. It is worth carefully examining your pet and, at the slightest suspicion of illness, taking it to the veterinarian.
Health
Before taking educational measures, you need to make sure that the pet is healthy. If stress is caused by illness, it will not be possible to stop the cat from biting and scratching until the general condition improves. During treatment, the veterinarian will prescribe a sedative: RelaxPlus, Feliway, StopStress, Fitex. Cannot be used without consultation.
When talking about illness, you can notice other changes - lethargy, loss of appetite, dull hair, disruptions in the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory manifestations. The cat does not allow you to touch the sore spot. Not all illnesses and injuries have pronounced symptoms, so sudden aggression is a reason to consult a doctor.
The cause of inappropriate behavior may be rabies. This is a fatal disease, there is no cure. If you suspect an infection, you must leave the room, close the door, and call the SES. You must not approach an animal with rabies, try to calm it down, or provide assistance.
How to stop a cat from biting
To understand how to effectively and quickly wean a cat from biting and scratching, it is important for the owner to find the cause of the aggression and eliminate it. After this, you can begin to educate and correct behavior.
Kitten
It is not difficult to wean a kitten from biting and scratching, since its aggression in most cases is playful, and the baby has no malicious intent.
In the case of a kitten, the rules are simple: either play with it until the kitten gets tired and stops playing, or redirect attention to another object. The ideal option would be to buy more toys or make them yourself. In case of attacks and bites, switch the animal’s attention to the toy - and it will stop associating human hands with imaginary prey.
It is best to do this during the game - without scolding or punishment. Otherwise, play aggression will turn into real aggression - the wayward cat will harbor a grudge and start biting out of spite.
Adult
First of all, it is necessary to establish the reason why the cat began to attack. If a cat bites for no apparent reason, you need to do something to help him. Because aggression is only a consequence of a problem that worries the animal.
The main thing is to be firm and consistent in upbringing, not to raise your voice and under no circumstances use physical force. There are several actions required:
- Do not push the cat away with your hands or feet, as this will only provoke the pet.
- Do not impose games and your attention on the cat when he himself is not in the mood to play or be affectionate.
A comfortable atmosphere in the house will help your pet to be calmer, relax and not be constantly “on edge”. Screams, noisy appliances or loud music cause anxiety in cats and a desire to constantly defend themselves.
In case of uncontrollable manifestations of aggression, when after a sharp “no” and stopping the game the cat continues to attack, hiss and rush, you can try spraying water on it from a spray bottle. But this method is not advisable to use on small and elderly cats.
During outbursts of aggression, you can simply cover the animal with a towel to disorient it. This will cause unpleasant emotions in the pet and a reluctance to bite.
A calm, friendly atmosphere at home and consistent upbringing will help the cat and its owner establish relationships and avoid aggression. Families with a peaceful lifestyle do not have evil pets - for obvious reasons.
If a peaceful and affectionate cat begins to show anger, you need to suspect illness or severe stress. It is advisable to take your pet to the veterinarian.
Reasons why cats bite and scratch
There are several main reasons why a domestic cat attacks and bites its owner. The belligerent attitude of an animal can be caused by malaise, stress, incorrect behavior of the owner, incorrect upbringing:
- The cat is in pain and stroking causes discomfort, so she tries to avoid it.
- Inappropriate areas for petting are the belly area and the base of the tail. The animal protects particularly sensitive areas, obeying the instinct of self-preservation.
Inappropriate areas for petting
- Your pet will constantly bite your hands if you played with your hands in childhood. The cat grew up, but human hands remained a toy for him. But for the owner, the fun has long ceased to be cute.
- The animal is bored. To keep itself busy, it comes up with games: it sits in ambush, attacks, jumps, grabs legs, arms.
- Not only inattention, but also too much attention from a person can also cause a negative reaction from a pet. You're tired of playing for too long, you need to make the owner understand this - that's why the cat bites for no apparent reason. In this case, preventing aggression is simple. A characteristic slight trembling throughout the body, twitching of the tip of the tail are clear signs that it is time to leave the animal alone.
- If a kitten is taken away from its mother too early, this may negatively affect its behavior in the future. A home-raised cat mom teaches kids not to be afraid of people. On the contrary, a person gives warmth and food. Kittens raised without a mother are deprived of such information. For them, a person is a big, terrible enemy who must be attacked in order to defend himself. It will take a lot of time for the kitten to reconsider his views and learn to trust people.
- During pregnancy and nursing the cubs, the character of cats changes noticeably. She is completely focused on protecting her offspring, so she reacts aggressively to the most insignificant events.
- Having a negative experience is another reason why a cat bites when you pet it. Perhaps, once upon a time, gentle stroking and scratching preceded unpleasant procedures, for example, injections, cutting out tangles, and washing. Having betrayed the cat’s trust two or three times, you can expect further hostility in response to affection.
- Animals also try to educate their owners. By attacking, the cat expresses its dissatisfaction, for example, if a person screams or is very nervous. First, the pet tries to attract attention by meowing, and if there is no response, then it begins to scratch and bite.
- A cat licks and then bites - the answer to the question of why it does this will please any owner. This is how a pet expresses its love. After all, this is how felines look after each other in the wild. The sign of sympathy is easy to distinguish: light bites are replaced by gentle licking.
If your pet begins to behave inappropriately, you should first show it to a doctor to rule out a change in behavior due to illness.
