Biting the Hand that Pets You

If you have ever owned at cat, this has probably happened to you. You are lazily petting your furry friend. It is purring. Seeming to enjoy the attention. When suddenly it turns around and bites you. It may only be a love nibble or it could hard enough to break the skin. Is your cat psychotic or just mean? How can you protect yourself from getting munched on again?

A cat that bites the hand that pets it, may be a bit on skittish side. Don’t try to force your attention on the cat. This can make it feel trapped and strike out. Cats can also have an affection saturation point. Even though the cat may actually solicit your affection, if you pay close attention to its body language prior to the bite, you may notice some warning signs. The cat may suddenly stop purring, flatten its ears against its head or start swooshing its tail in an agitated manner. If you see any of these signs, stop what you are doing. Quickly get away. A bite may be imminent.

Cats can have an ‘affection saturation point.’

If your cat demonstrates this Jekyll and Hyde behavior, you can with patience and perseverance desensitize it to accept your touch. Try stroking your feline for only brief periods of time. Extend these encounters little by little. Wearing protective gloves is not the answer.

Your cat may delight in having its head and neck rubbed but when you get near its belly or lower back this might send it in to frenzy. Just like you may not like having your feet tickled, your cat is also allowed to areas that are off limits to your touch.

A cat may not enjoy being handled because of pain from osteoarthritis.

Another reason why your cat may not enjoy being handled is pain from osteoarthritis. Arthritis can occur at any age but is most common in our senior citizen felines. It may also be a sign of other serious problems such as internal organ disease or even cancer. If your cat has suddenly developed an aversion to being loved, see your veterinarian, because it is “Your Pet…Health Matters.”