Why Do Cats Bite Humans? Get The Answers Here!

Why do cats bite humans? Aren’t they our beloved pets? They are, after all, no longer living in the wild.

Cat bites can be alarming. You thought your sweet furry-friend loved you, and then their teeth nip your hand! What is going on here!?

Although it may seem that your cat is trying to cause you pain,  and that maybe they are even vengeful, this may not be the case. In fact, it usually isn’t.

If you find your cat is biting you, it’s time to take an adventure into your cat’s mind. There are actually many things that could be going on, and they may not be what you would expect. From asking you to stop, to asking you to show them more attention, (and many more things besides),  your cat is trying to tell you something.

Keep reading to find out more about what your cat is saying to you when they bite you and why.

Why Do Cats Bite Humans? Why Is My Cat Biting Me?

Cats are complicated and complex creatures. However, even though there are many reasons why your furry friend may nip at you, there are also some common causes for their bites. You could even say there are usual causes for why your pet cat who loves you will bite you.

If your cat is biting you, look first for these regular causes.

Pumpkin.Care lists two typical reasons why cats bite people. Firstly, cats aren’t as gregarious as dogs. They will groom and sleep with each other, but that is the limit of their connection. Petting is not an instinctive action for them; we have domesticated them to accept it. Cats’ bodies have sensitive nerve endings, which can cause them to become overstimulated.

So, firstly, if you are petting your cat too much, it’s reasonable if they find it irritating. They might bite at you to tell you to stop.

—>>For more on the correct way to pet a cat, to avoid bites and scratches, see our article on the correct way to pet a cat here. 

—>>To learn about how to pet your cat’s belly without him/her attacking your hand, see our article here. <<—

Secondly, cats frequently bite humans to indicate that they no longer wish to engage with us in some other way.  If you overlook other indicators that they want to quit engaging with you, they may bite you.

Two ideas appear to be at work in this situation. Cats’ personalities are slightly different than dogs, yet we sometimes think of them with a dog mindest. As well, cats commonly bite humans to tell them to, “stop.” If you think about it, if you are a creature that can’t speak, biting is an effective and quick form of getting your point across.

So, if your cat is biting you, first ask yourself if they are overstimulated or irritated, or if they are wanting you to stop.

Cats Like To Play! They ‘Play-Bite’

If there doesn’t seem to be any signs that your cat is overly stimulated, irritated, or telling you to stop, consider how cats play with humans. When cats play, they mimic the predatory behavior that they would exhibit in the wild.

For example, when my cat is playing with me, he will often bite my finger but with little pressure at all. I can pull my finger away easily and I know that he is saying, ‘just kidding!’

Purina makes this important note that cats are natural predators, and as such, seemingly violent behaviors such as biting, pouncing, and scratching are common in feline play. Condoning and encouraging this natural drive is essential for felines, but there is a narrow line between stimulating play and allowing violent behavior.

Try channelling this predatory instinct into playtime that doesn’t involve biting. Buy toys that mimic their prey, and move and jump. Also, play with your cat everyday! They need this, and this will keep them from biting you.

The key is to discern between play and unnecessary aggression. And most often, your cat may not be violent per se, just trying to tell you they have had enough. One of the only ways they may know how to do this is biting you- or by pretending you are a mouse they just caught!

Truly Aggressive Cat Bites Can Be Avoided

The best method to avoid aggressive cat bites is to learn to recognize these warning signals and cease doing whatever triggered the reaction, says the VetHelpDirect. They point out that avoiding circumstances that might provoke defensive terror, such as attempting to pull them off furniture or being surrounded with no way out, is a must.

Another thing to look for is hostile cat body language, which may include: an arched back, fluffed tail, hissing, spitting, and defensive postures. If your cat is biting and also showing other aggressive behaviours, then your cat could truly be on the defensive.

This really is the key. If your cat is biting you, there could be so many reasons for the bite. That’s why it is important to also look at accompanying behaviours. These extra behaviours are the key to showing you the range of emotions your cat is experiencing and showing you from playfulness to fear and to attempts to defend and protect themselves.

But if you experience a truly deep and injuring cat bite, please do take care of yourself! Cat bites can become easily infected and shouldn’t be ignored. Make sure you cleanse the wound thoroughly and consult your doctor if you need one, of course.

Do Not Reprimand Your Cat! Keep Showing Kindness!

Do not reprimand your cat; cats bite as an extreme form of communication when they have no other alternative, says VetHelpDirect. They will not comprehend any consequence, and it may even intensify some behaviours.

Professionals are there to help you. If you are stuck and cannot figure out why your attacks regularly or you are unsure why, consult with a trained feline behaviourist. You can also talk to your vet.

With true agressive behaviour, prevention is key. Make sure your cat gets lots of exercise, because they need it! Sometimes bored cats will become violent, because they are bored! Play with your cat regularly, and know what things will put them on the defensive. Avoid those.

On the topic of how to spot boredom in your cat,  see this article for further reading.

Again, do not punish your cat, as this will make the problem worse. Your cat will become even more aggressive and defensive in order to protect themselves against a percieved threat.

For tips on how to get your cat exercising, see our article here.

For tips on playing with your cat, and further reading on that subject, click this link.

Other Reasons For Cat Bites

If you have ruled out other causes for biting, here are a few more common ones. According to thesprucepets, a pet blog that is peer-reviewed by veterinarians, cats can commonly bite for a couple of other reasons, including:

1) A demonstration of dominance or in response to a threat. This might be the situation if a cat bites and then does not back down.

2) Some cats bite to halt unpleasant acts or behaviours by humans or other animals, particularly if this has previously worked. If they previously bit while getting their nails clipped and subsequently the nail trimming stopped, they may have learned that biting is an effective tool.

3) Some cats bite in order to communicate or to get attention. They bite instead of meowing. This may be the case if a cat nips you and then tries to lure you to an activity, such as playing with a toy.

Interpret Your Cat’s Behaviour

It is important to put your personal feelings aside. Getting a nip or a bite from your cat is unpleasant but isn’t usually done out of malice. Instead, your cat could be frightened and be responding to a threat.

Or, your cat could have learned that biting gets them what they want. In this case, they are simply thinking that biting is an effective tool. They are not trying to make you mad, though it may seem that way.

If a cat bites you and then tries to grab your attention or lure you into playing with them, their bite is a compliment! They are asking for your time and love in the only way that they know how.

Although it is understandable to be irritated or even angry at a cat bite, asking, “why is my cat biting me?”, is the way to go. Thinking this way will help you to walk in their shoes- or paws- and your anger or irritation will likely fade.

Conclusion

As you can see, a cat bite is a more complex thing than you may think. There are many reasons why your adult cat might bite you, including overstimulation, asking you to ‘stop’ some sort of behaviour, playfulness, fear, defensiveness, learned beahaviour, and requests for attention.

Asking yourself, “why do cats bite humans?,’ followod by, ‘why is my cat biting me now in this moment?,’ will yield great insights. Finding the answer will help you understand your cat and strenthen your bond. And who doesn’t want an even more wonderful relationship with their feline furr-kid?

Thoughts on why cats bite humans? We would love to hear from you. Let us know what you think in the comments below 🙂

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Works cited

https://www.pumpkin.care/blog/why-does-my-cat/

https://www.purina.co.uk/articles/cats/behaviour/training/stop-cats-biting

https://www.thesprucepets.com/stop-cat-bites-553893

https://vethelpdirect.com/vetblog/2020/07/09/why-does-my-cat-bite-me-unprovoked/