Have you ever been casually petting your cat, only to be surprised by some unexpected teeth digging into your skin? If so, you would not be the first cat owner to have their hand bitten when you pet them. Biting is a very common behavior among cats. Along with scent and sound, biting is one of the most common ways that cats communicate with each other and with other animals.
Why do cats bite your hand when you pet them?
Below are the main reasons why cats bite your hand when you pet them.:
They are uncomfortable:
A lot of times cats will bite your hand when you pet them because them because they are uncomfortable. It could be the way that their body is laying down. It is also a possibility that you accidently touched a sensitive area of the cat that caused them pain or surprised them. If this is the case, you should stop petting them for a little while. If they run away let them go. If they stay, you can continue petting them.
They want attention:
Sometimes a cat will bite your hand when you pet them because they want attention. This is usually the case if you are petting them with one hand while doing something else with the other or looking in the opposite direction. The cat is biting your hand to remind you that they are still there and should be the center of your attention. These bites are usually very lite and do not cause a lot of pain.
Anxious:
Sometimes a cat will bite your hand while being pet because they are anxious. It could be that there is something nearby that they feel threatened by. They could also feel anxious because they have attachment issues with either your or another cat.
Sign of passion:
The final reason a cat bites your hand while you pet them (and the best reason) is because they are just showing their love for you. It is common for cats to similarly lightly bite or chew at their mother when they are being nursed by them. These bites are rarely intense, and it is just the cat’s way of showing you that they love you.
How to stop your cat from biting your hand when you pet them?
The best way to stop your cat from biting your hand when you pet them is to give your cat all your attention. You should limit other distractions and keep both your eyes on your cat. This will let them know that you care about them, and it will also keep you form accidently touching a sensitive area of your cat. Whenever your cat bites you, you should immediately stop petting them. This will help teach them that biting your hand is not an acceptable behavior. Another great option is to buy more toys for your cat so they can bite into those and not your hand.
