Petting Your Cat Wrong? Here's Why They Suddenly Bite You

Ever wondered why your cat suddenly bites when you’re petting them? Let’s find out!

Cats bite to tell you something — it could be a warning or just playfulness!

[{"selector":"#anim-a7ab34ee-6bd4-458d-abaf-dbc590147bbe [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-21bf452e-f6f3-4153-93fb-8a4519397cb8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a8f89e13-21e5-48bc-ae76-6e8ae5ab4445","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 200.16226%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Sometimes pets can feel too much! When a cat’s had enough, it might bite.

[{"selector":"#anim-370ca0fd-aae0-4b5a-a6ca-3a5f2aa4b995 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-17.11538488341167%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4aa4b131-e454-423f-a344-4549153d669a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f0c37b7b-8c2c-43be-b72a-05c8b372bddb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 200.16226%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Cats love to play bite! It’s their way of having fun and practicing hunting skills.

[{"selector":"#anim-2f6785ed-1f15-4db1-be7c-aa9e69b30113 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(8.846153984684687%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-28cb1ebc-e882-4890-bbf3-8f66837631a5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2c771ebd-1f03-4e9c-b950-abb61a82b164","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 200.16226%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

If your cat’s ears go back or it twitches, it might be ready to bite.

[{"selector":"#anim-bf6ddc10-3394-4e1c-b6f7-b54527d28050 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b938dca0-3ac2-4a79-b858-21ab3c2b7b9f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0e09ca55-4b22-4a90-b986-1d1f45ee104d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 261.16405%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Stop petting if your cat seems irritated. Respect helps build trust.

[{"selector":"#anim-53151e59-506d-4a1b-84b0-f93b4a5a9873 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(3.552713678800501e-15%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4ed6e7b8-35ae-4871-b019-c7eed81c38d0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6c21dda7-fe04-416d-aefd-ad0b4c8460e2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 200.16226%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Some cats like gentle bites as a way to show affection.

[{"selector":"#anim-fbb86d47-519d-4176-bc69-6a3abf3e4830 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-47f9f9e8-9551-459b-a1b4-ba86afd66678","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b8ec3e93-3e10-4eb5-8c48-ff476ce11310","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 261.16405%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Stay calm, don’t punish. Distract with a toy instead of your hand.

[{"selector":"#anim-b04a0ccc-0e22-49e7-8c63-f152b3ba2f86 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-59b3fa5e-af10-4041-920e-93c1ccbfa75c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ab79c1da-5694-4cdb-9297-5fbba5fc6430","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 200.16226%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

If biting is frequent or aggressive, ask your vet for advice.

[{"selector":"#anim-c49def97-5ea5-45aa-bdb6-a8cae00829c2 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-4.807692382980807%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5b213fd8-951c-4da4-b732-f4281f17dde4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ad33c5b4-8ec4-41c4-9200-3dd322ab656e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 261.16405%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Knowing why cats bite helps you love them even more!

[{"selector":"#anim-75552f41-84b8-49ce-a366-bf535e897658 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, -0.0000017398452492045635%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c5c59294-ea8e-4b62-9cae-9dd43d861875","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a5f7f8c2-d222-4ce1-a115-876b257261aa","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 261.16405%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more