My lovely kitty cat...
- Thread starter Daniel
- Start date
Griff
Feeding the foxes
Our little cat, Kat bites me quite a bit. She lived outside for three years when she was kicked out of the house by the previous owner, so she was pretty wild when we got her.
It's usually when I stroke her, but somethimes she just lunges at the top of my arm, biting, clinging and growling for no apparent reason.
I have so shout "Kat! Stop being wild!" and she stops.
It's usually when I stroke her, but somethimes she just lunges at the top of my arm, biting, clinging and growling for no apparent reason.
I have so shout "Kat! Stop being wild!" and she stops.
Daniel
DelusionalDancer Since1991
Ill guess I will be complimented when she bites me from now on, tis a shame she is alone now, on the upside she gets to come in the house pretty much all the time, the hairs and pooping on carpets didn't impress my dad, but we had her groomed and what not, so I guess gona domesticise(is that a real word?) Her more now.
The groomer did a good job, you used to stroke her once and have a hand covered in hairs, now you can stroke and scruff her neck without fear of choking on hair balls
The groomer did a good job, you used to stroke her once and have a hand covered in hairs, now you can stroke and scruff her neck without fear of choking on hair balls
T & P
|-o-| (-o-) |-o-|
I'm not the world's foremost authority on cats, but I've had several over the years and judging by your kitty's contented face in the biting pic, I'd say the biting is certainly of an affectionate nature and not aggresive.
Don't know if that'll be of any consolation as you nurse yet another bitten finger though
Don't know if that'll be of any consolation as you nurse yet another bitten finger though
Epona
Radar 2006-2020, Sonic 2006-2022, Jakey 2007-2024
It's a behavioural thing called "overstimulation biting" and is very common. The worst offenders tend to be ex-ferals because they lack socialisation in early development and learned at an early age to be more on-guard and less trusting of humans, but any cat can do it.
What happens is this. When you stroke your cat, the cat likes it, it gives it a sense of security akin to being nursed and licked by its mother. Stroking them regresses them (psychologically I suppose!) to helpless kitten. But as an adult this causes behavioural conflict with the instinct to stay alert. When the adult cat suddenly realises that it is not as alert as it ought to be, it suddenly jerks to an alert state and nips whatever is touching it.
The best analogy is if you are sitting in a work meeting in a warm room after lunch and you know you should be paying attention because at any moment you could be asked a question, but you've drifted off to a half-awake half-asleep state, then suddenly spring back awake saying "eh, what" out loud, and everyone points and laughs. You know you shouldn't be that relaxed, and upon coming back to full consciousness you unwittingly blurt out something or make a noise. The cat nipping you is the feline version of that. The best advice is to stop stroking her before it happens. She's not being mean, it's caused by a conflict between adult instinct and kitten-style relaxation.
Pip I hope your cat is OK.
What happens is this. When you stroke your cat, the cat likes it, it gives it a sense of security akin to being nursed and licked by its mother. Stroking them regresses them (psychologically I suppose!) to helpless kitten. But as an adult this causes behavioural conflict with the instinct to stay alert. When the adult cat suddenly realises that it is not as alert as it ought to be, it suddenly jerks to an alert state and nips whatever is touching it.
The best analogy is if you are sitting in a work meeting in a warm room after lunch and you know you should be paying attention because at any moment you could be asked a question, but you've drifted off to a half-awake half-asleep state, then suddenly spring back awake saying "eh, what" out loud, and everyone points and laughs. You know you shouldn't be that relaxed, and upon coming back to full consciousness you unwittingly blurt out something or make a noise. The cat nipping you is the feline version of that. The best advice is to stop stroking her before it happens. She's not being mean, it's caused by a conflict between adult instinct and kitten-style relaxation.
Pip I hope your cat is OK.
Thanks. She's acting her usual self, weeing and pooing fine, and the vet didn't seem concerned. I've been told to wait a few days and see it it rights itself (her tail looks like the top of a walking stick, rather than sticking straight up).
spanglechick
High Empress of Dressing Up
epona, i love reading your advice about cats. you are fab. how did you learn it all?
Schmetterling
I saw something nasty in the woodshed!
I still don't understand why my one lunges at the top of my arm, grips on and bites, making a growling noise.
Because it's a lion?
Griff
Feeding the foxes
The scratches on my arms/hands I've had for the year and half we've had her, you'd think she was.
Rainingstairs
Well-Known Member
Our little cat, Kat bites me quite a bit. She lived outside for three years when she was kicked out of the house by the previous owner, so she was pretty wild when we got her.
It's usually when I stroke her, but somethimes she just lunges at the top of my arm, biting, clinging and growling for no apparent reason.
I have so shout "Kat! Stop being wild!" and she stops.
I just got a cat last week. A 2 year old rescue cat. (Previous owners abandoned him). Dunno why, he's the coolest cat! But...he puts his front paws on my shoulder when I'm sitting on the couch, leans in, and tries to eat my hair
I just got a cat last week. A 2 year old rescue cat. (Previous owners abandoned him). Dunno why, he's the coolest cat! But...he puts his front paws on my shoulder when I'm sitting on the couch, leans in, and tries to eat my hair
Do you get food in your hair?
He sounds lovely though
I just got a cat last week. A 2 year old rescue cat. (Previous owners abandoned him). Dunno why, he's the coolest cat! But...he puts his front paws on my shoulder when I'm sitting on the couch, leans in, and tries to eat my hair
He's grooming you! There is no higher feline statement of affection
Daniel
DelusionalDancer Since1991
Awww, ain't cats lovely
Since finding out the bites are a sign of affection, I've taken a real shining to my cat (yes, in the past 22 hours I've found a new love for my cat
) it used to be "FFS cat why bite me?" Now its "awww, your causing pain to show you love me <3 "
Since finding out the bites are a sign of affection, I've taken a real shining to my cat (yes, in the past 22 hours I've found a new love for my cat
) it used to be "FFS cat why bite me?" Now its "awww, your causing pain to show you love me <3 "
Rainingstairs
Well-Known Member
He's grooming you! There is no higher feline statement of affection
really?? But he wasn't licking so much as...gnawing.
Rainingstairs
Well-Known Member
My ex boyfriend's cat used to go crazy for earwax
could it be he just likes the taste of hair grime?
Agent Sparrow
AGENT TRAITOR; fools 8 year olds
hmmm, difficult to say - I think if licking is present it is grooming, if not then it's possibly 'torment'/'play with the dangly thing'.
5t3IIa
Registered User
Awww, ain't cats lovely
Since finding out the bites are a sign of affection, I've taken a real shining to my cat (yes, in the past 22 hours I've found a new love for my cat
Awww that's sweet
Schmetterling
I saw something nasty in the woodshed!
He's grooming you! There is no higher feline statement of affection
Yes, but isn't it also the dominant one that does the grooming?
Awww, ain't cats lovely
Since finding out the bites are a sign of affection, I've taken a real shining to my cat (yes, in the past 22 hours I've found a new love for my cat
It's an Irish Catholic marriage. Yay!
TitanSound
Mr Beardy Drummer
I was walking to work this morning and saw a lovely little black & white cat on the pavement. When it saw me it did the whole roll around on the floor look at me aint I so cute thing. 2 seconds after stroking her the little bugger did the whole back leg kick and bite. I persisted but she just got worse and now I have a cat attacked right hand
Rainingstairs
Well-Known Member
hmmm, difficult to say - I think if licking is present it is grooming, if not then it's possibly 'torment'/'play with the dangly thing'.
ha yeah i think it might be that--but he never employs his claws and he's gentle, hence the conclusion he liked to eat hair.
I have a sneaking suspicion that this kitty is trying to establish that he's the boss. I'm WAY bigger though so he's in for a surprise
I've been working on him everyday and now can grab his feet and get him to roll onto his back. Not bad for a couple weeks work!
Not at all! It's just a love thing. There is nothing submissive about accepting grooming from a loved cat
fogbat
The Talibum
I was walking to work this morning and saw a lovely little black & white cat on the pavement. When it saw me it did the whole roll around on the floor look at me aint I so cute thing. 2 seconds after stroking her the little bugger did the whole back leg kick and bite. I persisted but she just got worse and now I have a cat attacked right hand
My cat does this a lot.
I think it's because he's a bastard, and thinks it's funny
5t3IIa
Registered User
Why is this please
Mother cats like to check their kitten's health by inspecting their bums. So grown-up cats stick their bums in our faces, expecting us to give a shit. I mean - to offer us a look in the same way they did when they were with their parents.
Griff
Feeding the foxes
So does mine, as well as the lunging, biting and growling.
Don't know why I house and feed her really.
Well I do, I put up with it 'cos I love her dearly.
