Cats remain a mystery and a source of devotion, love and motivation for their owners —although, who owns whom?—. Among other things curiosities about catsThere are more than 500 million domestic cats in the world—of 40 different breeds—that can make more than 100 sounds and can jump up to seven times higher than you.
If you live with a cat, you have probably tried to decipher its purr, you have wondered why it sleeps so many hours, what the best foods are, or what benefits there are to sharing a bed at night with your pet. Another very common question is to find out why does a cat biteThere is no single answer, but several reasons behind this behavior.
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It is important to note that age is a very relevant factor behind the reason for the bite: younger kittens bite due to a socialization problem or as a way of playing, something that does not usually happen in adult specimens.
These are the different ones Reasons behind a cat bite:
- Game: they are bites to release energy, to ask for more quality play and have an escape route for their hunting instinct, since they are predators by nature. Since Purina Remember that if you allow a kitten to nibble on your hands when it is small, it will continue to do so when it grows up.
- Expression of love: they are the typical ones bites that do not hurt, like small pinches and they are usually preceded by licking. Sometimes they do this to get you to stop petting them when they feel overwhelmed or overstimulated by displays of affection. They may also do it when you touch areas they don’t like, such as their tummy.
- Attention call: Another reason why a cat bites is try to get your attentionInstead of meowing, they bite. It is important to divert this attention to a toy and not react to this stimulus, so that it does not happen again.
- Stop a behavior: Sometimes the bite seeks stop unwanted actions or behaviors by humans or other animalsespecially if it has worked for them in the past. For example, if they bit you when you were trying to trim their nails and you stopped trimming them.
- Dentition: Puppies often bite objects or their own paws as they are teething, which occurs between three weeks and six months of age. They rarely bite humans.
- Fear: when a cat feels threatened or corneredmay be prone to biting. This is accompanied by snorting, pawing, hissing, or pulling back ears.
- Redirected Aggression: occurs When cats bite you when they are excited by prey or stimulus that they could not reach, like a bird outside the window. It is usually of no use to punish them for this aggressive behavior, but you should go to an ethologist or veterinarian specialized in behavior.
How to stop a cat from biting you
From the specialized website The Spruce Eats They have some tips to prevent a cat from biting you:
- Don’t give your cat mixed messages: For good training, all family members and visitors must maintain consistent responses.
- Don’t let your kitten or adult cat play with your feet, hands or fingers.They must learn that hands are not toys. If you offer them, you strengthen the habit. Use other elements such as fishing rods.
- If he bites, stop playing with him. You will learn how to request the game in a different way.
- Have chew toys available: These can be interactive toys that dispense treats, toys that move, or stuffed animals.
- If your cat bites you, clench your teeth and push your hand and arm toward the bite. to make him let go. Moving away from the bite encourages him to bite even more.
- Don’t punish him: it won’t work.
- Consult with a behavioral specialist veterinarian if your cat continues to bite you.
- Don’t neglect your entertainment: You should spend 20 or 30 minutes a day playing with your cat.
- Reinforce calm play behaviors. Give your pet attention when he is relaxed and reward him positively with cuddles, tasty food, treats, or your voice.
If your cat has already bitten you, wash it with soap and water to remove any remaining saliva, and when it is dry, clean it with hydrogen peroxide.
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Tags: Trending, Animals, Pets