Author: Destiny
24 September 2020 15:12
Community: Life is not the same without a cat
Tags: cat cat bites bites wean pet why reasons
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Cute cats are sometimes not cute at all. Cat teeth are sharper than dogs, and pet bites are painful and take a long time to heal. What is the reason for this behavior? Animal psychologists explained why cats bite.
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Cat lovers know that a cat can bite until it hurts and bleeds, but not everyone understands the sources of aggression.
Why do cats act strange?
Does anyone really know why cats act so strangely towards you? Not really, but veterinarians like to at least make educated guesses. And one of the most pressing questions about cat behavior is this: Why does your cat sometimes turn into a soft and furry version of the Incredible Hulk when you're in the middle of what you thought was a bonding moment with your pet?
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According to VetStreet, cats that bite the hand that's petting them probably don't do it without reason, even if it appears your pet bit you out of anger. Cat owners call it "love bites," but veterinarians have a much more sociopathic name for the behavior: "petting aggression." Signs of petting aggression include biting while petting and leering at sleeping people from dark corners of the room.
Aggression through sleep
photo from website: student.cnnindonesia.com
If the cat falls asleep in your arms, try not to make sudden movements. Otherwise, the pet will not understand what happened and may bite you painfully, frightened by your touch and instinctively protecting itself.
Also, such behavior of a pet can be explained by an attempt to control the situation - this is how your pet is trying to tell you: “I decide when I can be petted and when not.” At the same time, the position he occupies is dominant. That is why it is important to accustom your cat to a different state of affairs, because you should be the master of the house, not a capricious animal.
Aggression caused by affection
Petting aggression is different from petting behavior - some cats simply don't like to be petted and can seriously hurt you if you try to pet them. On the other hand, a cat that exhibits petting-induced aggression will seek affection, submission, and then inexplicably and without warning turn into the Hulk.
There are several theories about why some cats may do this. In fact, the cat may be trying to control the situation. The ancestor of the modern domestic cat was probably a solitary animal, so the whole social hierarchy is still fairly new to it. Your cat may reach a boiling point in that moment of shared affection where she thinks, "I can't let this person think I'm actually domesticated or something, I'd rather just bite him."
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This may not explain all the aggression caused by affection, but still. Another theory is that some cats may actually perceive prolonged petting negatively, and biting is a reaction to this. It may be that petting the fur actually begins to irritate your cat physically. So maybe you're literally just petting the cat wrong.
The cat jumps on your face and bites!
Why does a cat bite your face?
We want to reassure you: a cat jumps on your face and bites not because it doesn’t love you or wants to offend you, but because that’s how it… plays.
Cats have lived side by side with humans for centuries, and we have already learned to understand them. However, some features of their behavior will forever remain a mystery to us. For example, we will never know why a cat lying peacefully nearby suddenly gets the idea to attack our face. But you don’t have to know – you have to wean her off!
How to stop a cat from jumping on your face and biting?
If a cat bites the face, even the most patient owner may not be able to stand it and slap her in the face. However, this measure will not bring the expected result, but will only spoil the relationship.
Brute physical force as punishment does not teach a cat, but turns it against its owner. In addition, your pet can be seriously injured. Everyone knows that children should not be hit on the head. But what about cats? Their heads are no less sensitive. The same applies to the back. A cat has a huge number of nerve endings in this area, and with a strong slap, it will feel the same thing as a person with a blow to the solar plexus.
Therefore, we categorically do not introduce brute physical force into the educational process. We replace it with symbolic force: a click on the nose or a slap with a kitchen towel. You will be surprised to learn how sensitive cats are to such measures.
The situation is similar with the voice. Screaming is a serious irritant for a cat. He scares, but again, he doesn’t teach. A clear and strict “don’t” will be much more beneficial.
So, your actions
when a cat bites your face:
- Clearly and strictly command “No!”
- Threaten with your finger or unleash heavy artillery: click on the nose, slap with a towel or spray with water from a spray bottle. One option to choose from!
Read more about the last point. Water is perhaps the worst punishment for most cats. Arm yourself with a spray bottle and spray water into your cat's face whenever she performs unwanted actions. A few “tortures” with water will be enough for the cat to behave in an exemplary manner at the sight of a spray bottle (even if it’s standing peacefully nearby).
And the most important rule of education. The cat must be punished at the time of the offense or immediately after it. Even a minute's delay will bring the education to naught: the cat will not understand why it was punished, because... simply will not be able to correlate the punishment with his action.
Buy special toys for your cat! The more a pet is busy with an exciting game, the less time and energy it will have to play “cat and mouse” with its owner!
When weaning your cat off its habit, it is important to be consistent. If yesterday you punished a cat for its misdeed, and then ignored it, there will be no result.
Don't forget that the best teachers are demanding, strict, but always friendly. Whatever misunderstandings there are between the owner and the pet, do not let them ruin the relationship between you, it’s not worth it!
The cat may just be excited
Biting can also happen when the cat gets excited and decides that the petting session should turn into play time. After all, cats are predators, and they hone their hunting skills by beating up toys, ambushing your legs when you go to the bathroom late at night, and perhaps biting you while you're trying to show affection. So if your weasel leans a little on the aggressive side, your cat might just react to that in a completely natural way.
One of the latest theories is that the sudden switch between affection and bloodlust may not happen without warning. There may be subtle signs that a cat is no longer enjoying the interaction, but these can be so subtle that some owners simply don't notice them until it's too late.
Low sensitivity threshold: keep your distance
There is a limit to all patience - this truth also applies to pets. The best is the enemy of the good: if you decide to demonstrate your love, try to ensure that your hugs and stroking are not intrusive and end as soon as the cat shows displeasure.
photo from website: funnygoingsonofavn.blogspot.com
How does an animal react to excessive affection? As a rule, it starts with light bites, as if to say: “Now that’s enough.” Imagine yourself in the place of a purr: if you are stroked on your back or arm for a long time and persistently, in the end it will begin to cause discomfort rather than pleasure.
So what should you do if your cat bites when you pet him? The first rule is: release the animal and give it a break from your company.
You can also:
- distract your pet's attention with a toy;
- buy a special spray or catnip;
- ignore the animal if it tries to attack you again and again.
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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Painful discharges
This is interesting
Another theory is related to the opinion of veterinarians who believe that constant touching causes real pain and irritation in cats. It turns out that it's all about static electricity generated when a person's hand touches a pet's smooth fur.
Also, the cause of discomfort may be the presence of wounds or irritations in the place that you touch. If an animal is sick, it is better to leave it alone - not all animals tolerate contact with the owner and the persistent desire to caress the pet equally.
How to stop a cat from biting and scratching: trying to understand “body language”
The threat came from where it was not expected, and your mood immediately deteriorated? Don't be discouraged - next time you can prevent an attack by simply monitoring your pet's behavior.
- First you stroke the animal, and he likes everything: a purr is heard in response.
- Afterwards the cat's body becomes tense. Often the animal shows dissatisfaction by moving its ears.
- This behavior is perceived by most owners as a signal for more active actions: trying to calm the cat, they begin to stroke it even harder and more diligently. As soon as the touch of the owner’s hand becomes unbearable, the animal’s pupils dilate, the animal bites its “tormentor”’s fingers, breaks free and quickly runs away.
photo from the site: pets.webmd.com
Having scratched a person, a cat seeks shelter to protect itself from punishment. What can you do to ensure that this scenario does not happen again, and that your affection does not cause aggression in your pet?
The owner of the animal must remember: bad behavior of the four-legged friend can be easily avoided if you monitor the condition of the cat and do not do anything that he may not like. For example, when playing with a fluffy dog, you should not tease him by offering him your fingers as a familiar rubber mouse or ball. This way you will only provoke the animal and, gaping, you will become its prey.
After petting your pet, do not forget to stop in time. Do not force an animal to come into your arms if it does not want to - the result of such “coercion” will only be bites and a spoiled mood.
Pathological conditions
The exact reasons why a cat bites can only be determined by carefully observing your pet. Apathy, lethargy, bowel movements, permanent lack of appetite, combined with aggressive behavior, may be symptoms of a serious illness that requires immediate attention to a veterinary clinic.
If the cat has never bitten before and behaved peacefully, then a sudden change in behavior may indicate the development of certain pathologies, for example:
- infectious and inflammatory processes;
- periodontitis;
- cervical arthritis;
- renal pathologies.
Traumatic injuries, sometimes invisible to the naked eye, also cause severe pain to the animal, especially when touched.
