Why your cat might bite: Exploring aggressive behaviour and solutions

Cats walk their paths. However, certain behaviours can be quite easily interpreted. One of them is nibbling on our hands when we try to pet them. There are several reasons for this "attack."

Cat owners know that these four-legged animals are unique individuals. However, specific behaviour patterns can be noticed. A relatively common behaviour of cats is nibbling on our hands while being petted. This one gesture, however, has several explanations. It's worth knowing all of them, as it's not always a sign of aggression from our pet.

Very often, cats decide to "attack" their owner when they lose their alertness and suddenly are jolted out of relaxation - in other words, their instinct kicks in. Sometimes, they don't feel like receiving affection, for example, because of overstimulation. If we see that the animal lays its ears back, tenses its muscles, or dilates its pupils... it's better to leave it alone.

Instinct can also kick in for a cat in another case. The pet was playing alone or with us, and we suddenly wanted to pet it. It will likely pounce on our hand with its teeth because it’s still in a play phase. Sometimes, it happens the other way around - a bored cat that hasn't released its tension will tease us to let off some built-up emotions.

It can also happen that our cat responds to attempts at affection with biting for another, more alarming reason. If it attacks us when we touch a specific area, it probably feels pain. In that case, observe the animal and don't hesitate to visit the vet and inform them of your concerns.

If our four-legged friend's "attacks" bother us a lot, it's good to seek the opinion of a behaviourist. We will likely then receive suggestions for exercises and games aimed at overcoming these difficulties and teaching our cat how to handle emotions.

Every cat has a different personality - maybe we came across an individual who simply doesn't like being petted. It's better to let the animal keep its habits.