I was wondering if anyone knew any reasons why a cat would bite their owner without provocation.
PJ used to be more high strung as a kitten and would get playful and not realize how hard he was biting when when he would nibble as cats do.
He's calmed down A LOT, but from time to time I'll be petting him and out of nowhere he'll try to bite me.
This happened to my mom last Friday...she was on the phone and he jumped up on the table and started rubbing up against her face and then laid down right in front of her...as if to say...hey pay attention to me. So she reached out nonchalantly to pet him and he bit her really hard on the thumb (breaking the skin...bled a lot actually).
Then the next day he was sleeping on my bed and I tried to pick him up to move him so I could lock my door before going to work and me bit me where my arm bends...broke the skin but wasn't serious.
I blame myself for when he bit me, but this is the second time he's bitten my mom like that and since she had a nasty infection the first time and I once had an infection from one of his bites, that the health department may once day force me to euthanize him. I really don't wanna do that.
Is there any way to train him not to bite?
My mom wants me to have his fangs removed but I refuse to do that...and I like to think that any respectable vet won't do that without a medical reason.
Anyone have any suggestions?
Cat Bites for no Apparent Reason
Re: Cat Bites for no Apparent Reason
When one of our cats bite....I will yell out a loud OUCH!!...Then I will immediately hold him or her firmly in front of my face and say NO BITING! Then put the cat down and refuse to pay attention for a while. It takes a few times, but they seem to learn that biting is not fun for anyone...
Re: Cat Bites for no Apparent Reason
I've tried that...and he does stay away from me for a while, but then it happens again.
PJ usually runs away after biting me cause I think he knows I'm mad as soon as it happens.
PJ usually runs away after biting me cause I think he knows I'm mad as soon as it happens.
hhmmm...that is frustrating for sure...I am sure that since you refer to yourself and his mom...he is spoiled and has lots of toys and all that fun stuff...and that you give him alot of attention...
Is he an only cat? Would he maybe benefit from a playmate who plays similar to him and would "bite him back" once in a while?
You know...I did break my yellow lab years ago from biting...every time he bit in play, I would hold his face and bite the jowls around his mouth...risky business i know now...but that is when I was "young and dumb" as I like to refer to my younger days...
Is there a specific place on his body that you happen to be touching when he turns and bites? My mom's daschshund would turn and bite at her sometimes when she was petting him..she took him to the vet and he had a slipped disc that was painful...maybe take note and see if he bites when you touch a particular part of his body? Get a vet check and make sure nothing is physically wrong that is causing pain?
Is he an only cat? Would he maybe benefit from a playmate who plays similar to him and would "bite him back" once in a while?
You know...I did break my yellow lab years ago from biting...every time he bit in play, I would hold his face and bite the jowls around his mouth...risky business i know now...but that is when I was "young and dumb" as I like to refer to my younger days...
Is there a specific place on his body that you happen to be touching when he turns and bites? My mom's daschshund would turn and bite at her sometimes when she was petting him..she took him to the vet and he had a slipped disc that was painful...maybe take note and see if he bites when you touch a particular part of his body? Get a vet check and make sure nothing is physically wrong that is causing pain?
Re: Cat Bites for no Apparent Reason
The health dept could never force you to do that, they have nothing to do with it. If you are concerned about bites, then consider both you and mom getting tetanus shots.
I suggest 'time-outs' when he exibits the biting behavior, meaning, put him in a closed room for a few minutes at a time. Do this immediately upon the behavior, not later on when he won't associate it.
Rule out potential health illness or a sensitivity to an area you are petting him. If he doesn't like his belly rubbed, then don't touch that area, likewise for other sensitive areas. Many cats will bite if their belly is touched in a certain way, it is a very sensitive area on the body. Introduce him to more playtime with interesting toys, toys are often a good way to curb biting behavior, but you have to be comitted to setting a time each day for quality playtime/exercise/bonding.
I suggest 'time-outs' when he exibits the biting behavior, meaning, put him in a closed room for a few minutes at a time. Do this immediately upon the behavior, not later on when he won't associate it.
Rule out potential health illness or a sensitivity to an area you are petting him. If he doesn't like his belly rubbed, then don't touch that area, likewise for other sensitive areas. Many cats will bite if their belly is touched in a certain way, it is a very sensitive area on the body. Introduce him to more playtime with interesting toys, toys are often a good way to curb biting behavior, but you have to be comitted to setting a time each day for quality playtime/exercise/bonding.
..........Traci
Re: Cat Bites for no Apparent Reason
Thanks for the replies. Yes he is an only pet. I can't handle another cat...my house is just too small, and PJ poops enough for 2 cats as it is...I can't imagine cleaning twice as much. I'm also hesitant to get another cause of PJ's herpes. I don't wanna risk him speading it to the new cat.
I don't have as many toys as I used to for him cause he always loses them. He bats them around and months later I find them behind a couch or under the stove or something like that.
The toys that have stuff dangling on a string he breaks the first week we have it. I'm trying to find some toys that he won't break, lose or easliy tire of. I'm also looking at getting him one of those activity centre type things...you know its got a few levels and like a little house and some perches, and its made out of the same material his scratching post is made of...(he also needs a new scratching post too). I dunno what they are called.
As for sensitve area's...there is no one area that seems to causing a biting reaction. When my mom got bit she hadn't even touched him yet. He was being all affectionate and she was reaching out to pet him when he bit her, so I don't think it's anything medical...at least not in a sense where his biting is a pain reaction. lf it was a pain reaction I'd know it cause he has ripped his nail out a couple of times and I remember the first time he did that, I discovered it when cleaning his paws after he came inside and he meowed (plus tried to bite me) immediately and pulled his paw away. BTW he is an indoor cat now...I have kept him in since his herpes diagnosis out of fear of him giving it to a neighbours pet.
Hmm time outs sound like a good idea, if I can catch him after he bites one of us I'll try that. He usually takes off like a bat out of hell right after it happens and hides for a while cause he knows we're mad.
Thanks
I don't have as many toys as I used to for him cause he always loses them. He bats them around and months later I find them behind a couch or under the stove or something like that.
The toys that have stuff dangling on a string he breaks the first week we have it. I'm trying to find some toys that he won't break, lose or easliy tire of. I'm also looking at getting him one of those activity centre type things...you know its got a few levels and like a little house and some perches, and its made out of the same material his scratching post is made of...(he also needs a new scratching post too). I dunno what they are called.
As for sensitve area's...there is no one area that seems to causing a biting reaction. When my mom got bit she hadn't even touched him yet. He was being all affectionate and she was reaching out to pet him when he bit her, so I don't think it's anything medical...at least not in a sense where his biting is a pain reaction. lf it was a pain reaction I'd know it cause he has ripped his nail out a couple of times and I remember the first time he did that, I discovered it when cleaning his paws after he came inside and he meowed (plus tried to bite me) immediately and pulled his paw away. BTW he is an indoor cat now...I have kept him in since his herpes diagnosis out of fear of him giving it to a neighbours pet.
Hmm time outs sound like a good idea, if I can catch him after he bites one of us I'll try that. He usually takes off like a bat out of hell right after it happens and hides for a while cause he knows we're mad.
Thanks