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Cat Behavior How To Avoid A Cat Bite
While many individuals fear cats because
they possess claws that may strike at any moment, there are some
felines that appear scary because they bite. This rather undesirable
behavior may strike at any time with any cat when they feel threatened
or unable to express their discontent with their current circumstances.
Many times an unexpected intolerance to the amount of petting or
stroking that a cat may allow is the cause for a quick nip. Below you
will find a few suggestions as to what kind of signs surface when a cat
has had enough.
Have you ever settled into bed or nestled into the couch and who
should appear but your precious cat? She situates herself within hand's
reach and you start to stroke her addictingly soft fur. She is
appreciative, emitting a rhythmic purr. All of sudden, after a stretch
of time has passed; your cat suddenly bites your hand. You are puzzled
as to why she would react in such a way. For some cats, this is their
means of communicating that they have had enough petting. This is not
always the case – other felines remove themselves from the action or
slowly wander away.
Some owners are appalled the first time their cat has bitten them
and want to make sure the act doesn’t occur again. In most cases, there
are signs that a cat gives to warn of an impending nip or bite, but
often an owner is unaware of what each signal means. For instance, when
the tail of a cat begins to twitch with a rolling flick motion, a bite
may soon follow.
The ears of the cat are also quite telling. When they begin to turn
towards the back or become flattened against the head, she is letting
out a warning. If your cat appears restless, stiffens her body, or
begins to stare at your hand, these are also signs that a sharp attack
may occur.
When any of the above signs presents themselves during a session of
stroking, it is suggested to stop the petting and allow your cat to
remain positioned beside you or on your lap, jump down, or walk away
when they feel ready. Whatever they decide to do, biting doesn’t have
to become one of the options.
If your cat bites you, it never pays to punish your pet for the
action. Not only does it not work, but also many cats start to equate
punishment with your presence and don’t even consider biting as a bad
behavior. As hard as it may seem, but if you have missed the cue that a
bite is coming, the proper way to handle the situation is to not pull
the hand away or push the cat aside. Freezing is the best solution
because often, a cat will not puncture the skin if they feel their
message was received in full. Their aim is to stop you from petting
them, not to cause intentional harm.
Some cats revert to aggression for a many number of reasons. They
may have inherited the behavior through genetics or learned the conduct
as a kitten. Owners who allow their kittens to chew on their hand
during play have learned that it is OK to respond in this manner when
they have "had enough" of the stroking and warning signals have been
ignored.
Some owners have found ways to make petting a more enjoyable
activity for their cat by using treats as incentives to encourage a
lengthening of their tolerance. Overall, avoiding a cat bite means
paying attention to the signs and signals associated with your feline.
Tags: Cat Training and Behavior Cat Behavior Cat Behavior How To Avoid A Cat Bite cat bitten pet |
