Why do cats bite when you pet them? Petting induced aggression in cats

Cats can be sweet, loving, lazy, hyper, cold, affectionate and everything in between. But make no mistake, cats are weird! However, unless you are deathly allergic, they are also largely harmless. All cat lovers know that some cats will bite us while we are trying to pet them, which makes no sense at all. Why do cats bite the person who pets them, feeds them, loves them and maintains their litter box? Some cat owners call weird behavior ‘love bites’ but only vets know better that this behavior is called ‘Petting induced aggression’. What should I do if a dog or cat bites me? Click here to read

Why do cats bite when you pet them? Petting induced aggression in cats

Petting induced aggression differs from the unfriendly behavior of cats. Some cats don’t like to be petted at all and will try to bite if you do so. The cat which shows petting induced behavior will seek affection, submit to it and then will start nibbling at you.

Why do cats bite when you pet them? Different theories

According to the vets there are different theories about petting induced aggression in cats. First of all, the ancestor of the house cat was a solitary animal, so being social is a pretty weird thing for a cat due to this hierarchy. That doesn’t elaborate this biting behavior of cats in all the situations. 

Another theory suggests that some cats may experience petting negatively for a long time that develops such a reaction. It feels irritating to the cat when it is overly done. It happens if one rubs the cat in a wrong way. The cat may get excited during petting and the petting session turns into the play time. Cats are predators after all, and they show off their hunting skills by biting you when you show affection. 

One final theory is that the sudden switch between the enjoying the moment and thrusting the blood might actually be communicated in a certain way. This might be a small clue that the cat is no longer enjoying the interaction. At start this behavior is so slight that some owners just don’t notice them in the beginning.

How to avoid cat biting while playing?

So what should the owner do with the furry friend who gets irritated by petting and shows aggression? 

For this you need to notice the maximum time it can tolerate petting that after how much time it will become aggressive. For this, you may find some importance clues which help to guess when this biting behavior is going to start. These clues include the flicking of tail, flat ears or constant jumping. If problem still continues, ask a veterinarian to help you in such condition. To find and contact a veterinary doctor near you in Pakistan, Click here