Why is it that your cat suddenly bites you for seemingly no reason? Or is quite happy being petted and then suddenly sinks her teeth into your hand? Those teeth can be needle sharp! So- why does she bite you, and what can you do about it?

Cats often bite as a form of play. If you watch kittens playing, they can be very rough with each other, but as they get older they learn to regulate this. If you have got into the habit of playing with your cat by letting her attack and bite your hand, she will not necessarily know she is hurting you and won’t learn to draw back. Don’t use your hand or fingers as a play object so she is not encouraged to bite you; use a toy on a pole and encourage her to attack the toy. If she does get carried away and bite you, let out a high pitched yelp, which she will recognize as pain, and immediately stop the game. Saying ‘No!’ in a loud voice or even spraying her with water can also be effective. Never punish her physically as she will not make the connection between this punishment and her behavior, and will become scared of you.

Sometimes cats can become very playful and seem to need to release pent up energy; this is when she may hide under the bed and attack your ankles as you walk by, or run around the house as though she is being chased. You should set a particular time each day to play with your cat, using appropriate toys, to help relieve energy and boredom. This should be a time when she is wide awake and alert, as if she is sleepy she will not want to know.

Your cat may bite to show you that she has had enough of being petted for now, thank you very much. It is likely that you missed the earlier warning signs that she wants you to stop. Look out for these; if her tail starts thrashing or she lays her ears back, then stop petting her immediately. Cats have sensitive areas where they hate being touched, such as their belly, so if you touch her here you are very likely to get bitten.
Cats may bite out of fear, if they are being hurt or mishandled. Make sure all children the cat will come into contact with know how to pick her up correctly, and do not try to handle her excessively. Discourage strangers from picking her up until they are familiar to her. Make sure that she is not biting because she is in pain; if you suspect this, or she has suddenly started to bite, take her to the vet to have this checked out.

Cats tend to softly bite each other when grooming as a sign of affection. If she bites you gently when licking you, she is likely just showing affection for you. This type of bite is not generally painful.
Once you manage to stop your cat from biting, life with her will be much more pleasurable.