Why is my cat bitting and straching me?

Question

My cat will bitt and strach us hiss at my friend when they come over.Why??????

Answer 1

My male has his "list" of people. These are friends and relatives that he knows and that come over often enough so that he trusts and likes them. They are also confident, strong people that don't assume he's going to attack them. Some of my teen daughter's friends get a negative reaction from him. They are usually the ones that are scared of him to some degree. If they are used to cats, approach him with caution by holding their hands palm down to be sniffed by him, and don't push themselves on him, he will accept them to a certain degree -- but never like his "list" people. They have to be at the house often enough for him to get to know them.

It may just take time. Tell your friend to ignore him until he's comfortable with them. Also, don't approach the cat if he won't come to you. Squat down so you're smaller to the cat and call them to you. If they don't come, they don't want interaction.

Answer 2

Strange as it may sound - since you probably know how nice your friend is - the cat is probably afraid of people she doesn't know well. If, by any chance, your friend has done even some minor thing to scare the cat that will make it worse. I don't know how old your cat is, but many cats have to be a few years old before they get really comfortable with people coming and going.

Also, if anyone tries to cuddle the cat and that's not what wants, that will do it...

Answer 3

Sometimes cats try to initiate play and thats how they do it. Now if he is doing it in a mean way, than its a behavrial issue. He may be a nervous cat and feel the need to protect his house and stand his ground. This is accually a hard question to answer. Is the cat lunging, does he only do this in certain parts of the house, does the cat have to be approched to initiate this behavior, does it hiss than run away, does it hiss than lurch at you, is his tail fluffed and the hair standing up on his back, pupils dialated, ears flattened scary hiss. It would be easier to gain a better understanding if we knew those things.

Answer 4

Cats sometimes act that way from fear. Other times, it's resentment. Still others may be playing and not know the dif. I had one who hated men because of the way she had been treated at the shelter she came from and perhaps before that, but it was always men that pushed her buttons. She would actually sit between me and any man including my father and threaten them with attack. God, I loved that cat. She actually committed suicide the very night I met my future husband. He loves cats and she didn't even give him a chance.
Past experiences, confusing fight and play, being young and full of themselves, being forced into uncomfortable situations, all can result in scratching and hissing. They can also be psychic or psycho. You might want to listen to your cat if this behavior revolves around one particular individual.
If you can determine that this is rough play, the best way to deal with that is "when claws come out, playtime is over". Absolute consistancy is required. Stop playing instantly when claws or teeth become involved and ignore the cat completely.

Answer 5

My cat does the same thing but he's doing that when we play with him. It's just the way he plays with us. We got him when he was about six weeks old from a farm. Being born outside and semi-sort-of wild, I think that's why he is so rough with us. And he hates my best friend. He hisses at her as soon as she walks in the door. I figure he's used to having me all to himself and maybe gets jealous or just plain scared.Maybe even protective. But that just the way he is.He's a really smart kitty & we just adore him. There are all kinds of behavioral books on cats, you should check a few out. If you like cats, they're really interesting.

Answer 6

My cat will bite and scratch my arsm when he wants to play. He loves to play, and he looks forward to the time before I leave for work and the tiem when I get home because this is our playtime. He is an indoor cat and this play is his exercise. My little guy is only 12 weeks old, and I wish he'd stop the scratching, which I know he has no clue of the damage he's doing. If I play, he quits attacking.

Answer 7

Maybe your cat doesn't like the way your friend smells. A cat's sense of smell is a lot more sensitive than yours, though not quite as good as that of, say, a bloodhound. Cats recognize each other by scent more than sight.

Answer 8

Maybe your cat just doesn't like you.
I have one of those cats...mean thing, I try to pet it and RAWR!
If you stop petting it and yadda yadda it should start to like you more, because you're not annoying it as much. Yeah some kittys really are not super nice, sucks doesn't it?
Good Luck!

Answer 9

Your friend have a dog at home? Or another cat? Thats probably why.

Answer 10

It is prolley just really scared. if it just does it when ur friends come over, then its prolley just protecting you. And if it doesnt than it could just be trying to play with you.. Or it just has an attitude problem...