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BITING CATS

HANDLING BITING CATS

By Tess Thompson

Unlike dog aggression , which basically occurs due to the inherent dominant nature of dogs, feline aggression is most of the times a playful activity. Cats seldom indulge in aggression without provocation. But they are likely to react aggressively if provoked too much.

A fearful cat is more likely to try the escape route and hide behind a sofa. Biting is not a natural response that it has. But it is not uncommon to hear about cats losing their homes due to aggressive behaviors like biting. Physical distress and fear are factors that can drive cats to indulge in biting in a manner that it provokes aggressive dog behavior .

However, it is only when aggression is encouraged or ignored that a cat tends to behave aggressively. A delivery man, who hides or runs away on seeing a household cat that shows aggressive body language, is sure to instill enough confidence even in an otherwise docile cat. He will remember it and every time a delivery man comes knocking he is liable to face an increasingly aggressive cat every time.

Cats are actually very predictable animals and seldom do anything without a reason. Cats that bite or indulge in excessive scratching often develop the habit due to human negligence. Playful biting and scratching are integral parts of cat behavior. This behavior can commonly be observed in a litter where the winner takes it all.

They also tend to indulge in aggressive play with a toy mouse or a human who happens to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. When you do not teach a cat that human hands are not toys, they are bound to bite or scratch them whenever they feel like playing.

One of the major reasons behind cat biting is the inability of humans to understand body language in cats. Normally cats love petting and would allow you to do it for hours. But some cats can get over stimulated by petting and usually signal that they want you to quit.

Such a signal may be in the shape of narrowed eyes with ears pulled back and ultimately, tail lashing. If you ignore these signals, you are most likely to be bitten by the cat. Watch out for such signals well in time and stop petting.

Indoor cats are liable to vent their frustration at whosoever is nearby on seeing a potential prey outside. If it is another cat that he sees outside he may be afraid. In either case you should allay his fears by playing with him and giving extra treats to redirect his attention.

Sometimes a medical cause may disturb a cat and lead to biting. Make sure to pay attention to any wounds or lacerations or cracks in the skin that you see. Parasites like mites or fleas can cause extreme distress and cause abnormal behaviors in cats, including scratching and biting. A docile cat may become aggressive if her hormonal balance is disturbed due to any underlying disease. The veterinarian is the right person to consult in such cases.

Kittens and young cats are used to rough play with each other. During the process they get used to the protective fur of other cats and do not realize that human skin is delicate and easily damaged. While dog biting is normally reported, cat biting is somewhat a domestic concern, but a concern nonetheless. Handing cat biting mostly involves getting familiar with the cat, avoiding rough play and understanding his body language.

References:

http://cats.about.com/cs/behavioralissues/a/bite_scrat_2.htm
http://messybeast.com/nervous.htm