You have just brought home the most adorable cat or kitten that is cuddly and sweet. You play together, hang out together and probably sleep together. You are still getting used to each other's routines and personalities. You might soon find out that your cat sometimes will attempt to bite or nip you. What is going on?
Biting is a form of communication. Your cat is trying to tell you something. It is up to you to figure out what that is. Below are some reasons why your cat might bite you.
Reasons That a Cat Might Bite
- Medical issue
- Not receiving enough and/or proper play time
- Hypersensitivity to touch
If a cat isn't feeling well or is in pain, s/he might bite when touched or held. If this is a new behavior, it is advised that your cat be examined by a Veterinarian. If it is a medical issue, your Veterinarian can help to determine the illness or possible injury, and work with you on the best course of treatment.
Some cats become overstimulated and react negatively which could include biting. I have seen cats become overstimulated during playtime. They become so hyper or frenzied, that they bite if touched or if you move past them. I have also seen cats become overstimulated while watching prey, ie birds or mice. They become so focused on the prey, that if you stand too close or touch them, they think it's the prey animal and become reactive. Same if cats are playing together or fighting. If you intervene, they might think it is the other cat and react defensively by biting.
Knowing HOW to play with your cat is important. First of all, it is very important to never play rough with your cat. When a cat rolls onto its back and shows its belly, it usually does not mean to be an invitation to be touched or rough-housed with. Now, that being said, some cats do enjoy a gentle belly rub. If you are still in the stages of learning what your cat likes, I highly recommend that you do not touch the belly. Also, wiggling fingers, hands, feet or toes are out of the question. Cats love to pounce on them if given the opportunity. You are inviting them to behave inappropriately. What might seem cute while they are a kitten, isn't so adorable when they start to bite harder.
Use toys to play with your cat. Wand style toys are excellent ways to have fun with your cat, provide playtime and exercise, and strengthen your bond with them. Wand toys are wonderful in that you can dangle and move the toy attached to the end of the wand away from you. The cat will focus on the toy (prey) and not you.
When using a wand toy, it's important that it is used correctly. The best way to use it, is to move the attached toy away from the cat (and you), move it around in the air, up and down furniture, in and out of a tunnel or box, etc... Make the toy act like it is a mouse or snake for the cat to hunt. When it is near the time to stop playing, do not just suddenly stop. Move the wand toy around slower and slower until it no longer moves. Allow your cat to catch the toy throughout playtime so she or he does not become frustrated or loses interest. Once the toy has stopped moving, provide a treat or a meal to your cat. The idea is to mimic hunting prey, catching it, then eating it. Afterwards, your cat should feel quite satisfied.
Some cats will bite just to get your attention. I have one of those cats! Mufasa only has 2 teeth, so he doesn't cause any harm, and luckily, he doesn't bite down hard. However, if he feels he is being ignored when he wants attention, he "bites" my arm. Every cat is different in how you might need to deal with this kind of behavior. The best way to deal with it, is to recognize the pattern and then figure out how to prevent it from happening. In Mufasa's case, if I play with him, he won't bite. I realized that there was a "look" Mufasa gets and at that point, I toss one of his favorite mice for him to chase after, and it works. Redirection is a wonderful tool!
Hyper-sensitivity to Touch
There are some cats that love to be pet or brushed all day long. There are some cats, that even though they might enjoy it, become overstimulated to the point where they bite. This is very confusing behavior because it appears that the cat is enjoying the attention.
Watching their body for signals is key to knowing when to stop providing attention. Signs to watch for include, but are not limited to: tail twitching or swaying, ears flattened, fur rippling down their back, rubbing their face against you in a frenzied manner. Once you learn their signal, you will know when attention time is over.
Reward Good Behavior
Always remember to reward your cat's good behavior. Never punish them, as that can create fear or anxiety towards you. You want to create or continue to have a special bond with your cat.
It is easy to forget to reward a cat when they are behaving, and that could include when he or she is just sitting on the couch or even sleeping!
If your cat bites, and you have figured out how to prevent more bites from happening, be sure to reward them. Provide a tasty treat, have a fun play session, extra cuddles, etc... As long as you give them something they highly enjoy, they will remember and it will help you both to have a safe and positive relationship.
Ask for Help
If you are experiencing aggression with your cat, and medical issues have already been ruled out, please reach out for a behavior consultation. I would be happy to help!
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Umesababisha paka au kitten wa ajabu sana nyumbani. Unacheza pamoja, unatembea pamoja na labda unalala pamoja. Bado mnazoea mazoea na utu wa kila mmoja. Wakati mwingine unaweza kugundua kwamba paka wako anajaribu kukuuma. Ni nini kinachotokea? Kuuma ni njia ya kuwasiliana. Paka wako anajaribu kukuambia kitu. Ni juu yako kujua ni nini hicho. Hapa chini kuna sababu kadhaa ambazo zinaweza kusababisha paka wako kukuuma. Kwa sababu za paka kuuma: Matatizo ya matibabu: Kutopata muda wa kutosha na au wakati sahihi wa kucheza: Uwezo wa kugusa: Ikiwa paka hajihisi vizuri au ana maumivu, anaweza kuuma anapoguswa au kushikiliwa. Ikiwa hii ni tabia mpya, inashauriwa kwamba paka wako achunguzwe na Daktari wa Wanyama. Kama ni suala la matibabu, daktari wako wa mifugo anaweza kukusaidia kuamua ugonjwa au jeraha linalowezekana, na kufanya kazi na wewe juu ya matibabu bora. Baadhi ya paka huwa na msisimko wa kupita kiasi na huitikia vibaya ambayo yaweza kutia ndani kuumwa. Nimeona paka wakichochewa kupita kiasi wakati wa kucheza. Wao kuwa hivyo hyper au frenzied, kwamba wao kuumwa kama kuguswa au kama wewe hoja karibu nao. Pia nimeona paka wakichochewa kupita kiasi wanapotazama mawindo, yaani ndege au panya. Wao huwa na mtazamo wa karibu sana na mawindo, na ikiwa unasimama karibu sana au ukiwagusa, wanafikiri ni windo la wanyama na kuwa na athari. Vivyo hivyo ikiwa paka wanacheza pamoja au wanapigana. Ukingilia kati, huenda wakadhani ni paka mwingine na kujilinda kwa kuuma. Kujua jinsi ya kucheza na paka wako ni jambo la maana. Kwanza kabisa, ni muhimu sana kutokuwa na ugomvi na paka wako. Wakati paka rolls juu ya mgongo wake na inaonyesha tumbo lake, ni kawaida haina maana ya kuwa mwaliko wa kuguswa au rough-housed na. Sasa, hilo likisema, baadhi ya paka hufurahia kutikiswa kwa tumbo kwa upole. Ikiwa bado uko katika hatua za kujifunza kile paka wako anapenda, ninapendekeza sana kwamba usiguse tumbo. Pia, kutikisa vidole, mikono, miguu au vidole vya miguu si jambo linalowezekana. Paka hupenda kuvamia ikiwa wanapewa nafasi. Unawaalika wajiendeshe kwa njia isiyofaa. Kile kinachoweza kuonekana kuwa kizuri wakati wao ni kitten, si hivyo adorable wakati wao kuanza kuumwa ngumu zaidi. Tumia vitu vya kuchezea kucheza na paka wako. Vichezeo vya mtindo wa wand ni njia bora za kufurahisha paka wako, kutoa wakati wa kucheza na mazoezi, na kuimarisha uhusiano wako nao. Vichezeo vya fimbo ni nzuri sana kwa sababu unaweza kutikisa na kuhamisha kichezeo kilichofungwa kwenye mwisho wa fimbo hiyo mbali nawe. Paka huyo atazingatia kichezeo (mwitu) badala yako. Unapotumia kichezeo cha fimbo, ni muhimu kwamba kitumiwe kwa usahihi. Njia bora ya kutumia ni kuhamisha toy iliyounganishwa mbali na paka (na wewe), kuihamisha hewani, juu na chini ya fanicha, ndani na nje ya handaki au sanduku, nk. Wakati wa kuacha kucheza unapokaribia, usiache ghafula. Hebu uhamishe kichezeo hicho polepole zaidi na polepole zaidi hadi kisije kikaacha kuhama. Mruhusu paka wako akumbate kichezeo wakati wote wa kucheza ili asiwe na wasiwasi au kupoteza upendezi. Baada ya kichezeo hicho kuacha kutembea, mpe paka wako chakula au kitu fulani. Wazo ni kuiga kuwinda mawindo, kuwakamata, kisha kuwala. Baada ya hapo, paka wako anapaswa kuhisi kuridhika kabisa. Paka fulani hukata ili tu kupata uangalifu wako. Nina mojawapo ya paka hao! Mufasa ana meno mawili tu, kwa hiyo hawezi kusababisha madhara yoyote, na kwa bahati nzuri, hawezi kuuma kwa nguvu. Hata hivyo, akihisi kwamba anapewa upendeleo anapotaka uangalifu, "ananiuma" mkono. Kila paka ni tofauti katika jinsi unavyoweza kushughulika na tabia hii. Njia bora ya kukabiliana nayo ni kutambua muundo na kisha kujua jinsi ya kuzuia kutokea kwake. Kwa mfano, Mufasa, kama mimi kucheza naye, yeye si kuumwa. "Niliona kwamba Mufasa alikuwa na ""mtazamo"" na wakati huo, nilimtupa moja ya panya zake za kupendwa ili amfuate, na ilifanya kazi." Kupitisha njia ni chombo kizuri sana! Uwezo wa kugusa: Baadhi ya paka hupenda kupendwa au kutikiswa siku nzima. Kuna baadhi ya paka, kwamba hata ingawa wanaweza kufurahia, kuwa overstimulated kwa uhakika ambapo wao bite. Hii ni tabia yenye kutatanisha sana kwa sababu inaonekana kwamba paka anafurahia uangalifu. Kuangalia mwili wao kwa ishara ni muhimu kujua wakati wa kuacha kutoa tahadhari. Ishara za kujihadhari ni pamoja na, lakini si tu kwa: mkia twitching au swinging, masikio flattened, manyoya rippling chini ya mgongo wao, rubbing uso wao dhidi yenu katika njia frenzied. Mara tu unapojifunza ishara yao, utajua wakati wa kukazia fikira umekwisha. Thawabu kwa tabia nzuri: Sikuzote kumbuka kumpa zawadi paka wako kwa tabia nzuri. Kamwe usiwaadhibu, kwa kuwa hilo linaweza kukufanya uwe na hofu au wasiwasi. Unataka kuunda au kuendelea kuwa na uhusiano wa pekee na paka wako. Ni rahisi kusahau kumpa zawadi paka anapofanya vizuri, na hilo laweza kutia ndani anapoketi tu kwenye sofa au hata anapolala! Ikiwa paka wako anakula, na umegundua jinsi ya kuzuia kuumwa zaidi kutokea, hakikisha kumthawabisha. Kutoa chakula kitamu, kuwa na mchezo wa kufurahisha, kukumbatia, nk... Maadamu unampa kitu anachokifurahia sana, atakumbuka na itakusaidia wote wawili kuwa na uhusiano salama na chanya. Ikiwa wewe ni mgonjwa wa paka wako na matatizo ya matibabu yametolewa, tafadhali wasiliana na ushauri wa tabia. Ningekuwa na furaha kukusaidia! Kupoteza Post ya Mwisho ya Blogi? Angalia hili: