Orange County Cat Groomer Answers The Question “Why Cats Bite The Hand That Feeds”
Why cats bite is one of life’s mysteries. We’ve all experienced it: you’re beloved feline is enjoying you scratching their favorite spot when suddenly they bite you. Pet parents often refer to these nibbles as “love bites”. However, the behavior is so common that feline behaviorists have created a formal name for it: petting-induced aggression. As an Orange County cat groomer we’ve heard our fair share of cat bite stories.
Why do cats bite?
Sometimes cats bite when playing or as a form of communication. Some cats nip to signal what they want. You’ll know if the biting is a signal behavior if your cat bites you then tries to lead you off in the direction of what they want.
Today, we’ll talk about the type of biting that seems to occur out of nowhere, when your cat was previously content.
Although petting-induced aggression is poorly understood, there are some reasons why cats may bite:
- It could be the manifestation of status-induced aggression, where cats seek to control a situation.
- Some cats might experience neurologically significant negative stimulus from being petted for a certain length of time.
- The cat in question might be extremely subtle at letting humans know when they are unhappy, making their change in attitude seem more sudden than it actually is.
Whatever causes your cat to bite, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t still interact with your cat in a meaningful way. Your veterinarian or groomer might be able to teach you how to recognize the subtle warning signs associated with your cat’s displeasure before it reaches the point of biting.
Claws N Paws Day Spa offers professional dog and cat grooming in Orange County, California. For your convenience, we also offer full service mobile grooming. For more information, or to schedule your next grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005 today.