2007-03-12 12:20:23 · 19 answers · asked by James K 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
Over the years I have had three cats. The first one, a neutered male, who occasionally went outdoors, who was extremely affectionate, and adored sitting on anyone's knee, never did this. The second, a female spayed, totally indoor cat, was affectionate,and never sat on anyone's knee, but sometimes bit if she was being petted when she was sitting next to someone who was petting her. This appeared to be either a "love bite", or sometimes: "that's enough petting thanks. Leave me alone to sleep, or watch these birds oustside in peace". The current third, a female spayed, totally indoor cat, is extremely affectionate and adores sitting on only my knee, gives "love bites", but occasionally gets sick of being petted to varying degrees and can bite hard, or, tackles the petting hand with a few slashes of her deadly back claws as well as a bite. I keep my hand still, gently remove my hand, and she has the choice of jumping off my knee, or usually decides to stay on my knee to sleep without further petting until I finish my reading or sitting down session. Do not hit the cat for this behaviour, the cat does not understand why it is being hit for what it considers normal behaviour. Try to terminate the petting session before the cat bites by gently removing from the knee, or attracting its attention with a favourite toy, and the cat can find something else to interest it, have playtime, go for a drink of water, or a catnap.
2007-03-13 11:31:59 · answer #1 · answered by Gastronaut 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Reading the some of the other answers people have given, I don't think it is playing or showing affection. The 2 cats I have owned never did it, and were affectionate all the time, almost like dogs-they loved being around the family. Now my friends cat does the "oh pet me, pet me--yikes, bites thing... There is no way it is trying to say lets play... He bites and runs off... I think they are saying "get your darn stinking hands off of me" LOL!!!
2007-03-12 19:37:59 · answer #2 · answered by luv2bme 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the dear little sweet things are playing and having a ball at it. that's the way a cat plays, it bites. If you watch two cats playing together, like my two idiots (I do love them dearly), they roll over each other, take bites, usually from the neck or ear, then run away and one will sort of climb up on something in wait for the other and jump down and start biting again. You are the play thing for your cat,so you get the bites, it's all in fun. Don't get angry with your cat, just try to keep it from breaking the skin, but remember it is showing you affection.
2007-03-12 19:33:55 · answer #3 · answered by lochmessy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cats are funny creatures aren't they?? You think they are enjoying themselves and then Wack!! THEY BITE YOU.
Apparently i have been told by a cat behaviourist that it is a cats way of showing you they have had enough.
You do see it when they interact with each other. They may be playing or licking each other and then all of a sudden one will get really annoyed and then wack one will lash out and bite the opponent.
Cats!! Who can understand them sometimes???
2007-03-12 19:26:31 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
A lot of times cats just get sick of being petted, or maybe they get pet the wrong way and it just ticks them off. If they are playing they will usually stick around and bat at your hand, but if they are just being plain mean they will run away. Who really knows why they do it, sometimes they just get moody and temperamental. My cats have never done it but some cats i know have done it to me... it's weird but thats just how they are.
2007-03-12 19:24:45 · answer #5 · answered by Sarah C- Equine Help 101 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes, when a cat is over stimulated ( pet too much) they nip at you, or they drool...
they nip at you, because you may be slowing down in the petting, and they are trying to get you to pick up the pace. If you want to stop petting a cat, with the last stroke, gently push the cat from your lap,etc.
when you notice a cat start to drool while you are petting them, they are also getting ready to nip at you.
2007-03-12 19:32:06 · answer #6 · answered by ? 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think its a little bit of both. They have had enough of you petting them, or you pet them in a way that they think you want to play with them. My partner loves to pet our kitten and waits for her to bite him. He them keeps on doing it and tickling her. She finds it a big game and runs away for a while and them comes back for more. It's thier way of saying "ok had enough of this quiet time - its fun time now!!" . They are not intentionally being mean
2007-03-13 04:24:02 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you're in the middle of patting her and she turns and gives you a nip, that is commonly referred to as a love bite. It is neither play or meanness it is appreciation of the moment.
Take it from someone who has been bitten once or twice (I groom cats) when they bite you out of anger or fear you know it.
2007-03-12 19:32:05 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My cats bite me when i pet them,but they are just playing, So it depends..
2007-03-12 19:30:41 · answer #9 · answered by Animal l 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We have two cats that are doing. Neither has ever bitten down hard enough to even break the skin. They're happy and content. It's a play thing.
2007-03-12 19:48:20 · answer #10 · answered by ladydi_1987 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋