Cats bite for many reasons. Some cats suddenly lash out and bite you out of the blue. Others give warning signals such as a lashing tail or a growling sound before biting. But biting can be dangerous. A cat's mouth harbors many bacteria which can cause a fairly severe infection. But before getting rid of your cat, there are some things you can do to limit biting.
- Get your male cat neutered. Sometimes male cats are more aggressive than their female counterparts. By getting your male cat neutered, you will probably be cutting down on aggression problems.
- Take your cat to the vet. If your cat is hurting, they may be aggressive with you, especially if you touch a painful part of their body. Cats try to hide it when they are sick or hurting for as long as they can. Your vet may be able to determine if something is medically wrong with your cat.
- Don't pet your cat's belly. Many cats dislike having their bellies touched-it makes them feel defenseless. Many will respond by biting. However, you can try getting your cat used to having their belly petted by spending time with your cat and rewarding them for good behavior (see steps 7 and 8).
- Some cats are overstimulated by petting and will suddenly lash out by biting. If your cat is one of these cats, pay attention to your cat's signals. If they stop purring, or their tail starts lashing, stop petting your cat.
- Know your cat. Some cats don't like to be petted or held and will respond by biting. If you have one of those cats, don't pet them or try to hold them. Again, you can try to retrain them by spending time with your cat and rewarding them for good behavior (steps 7 and 8).
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Author: Theresa Halvorsen