Why Does a Cat Bite?
Cats can give "love nips" or "warning bites" or be venting stress
- Love nips: Sometimes while your pet is purring and nuzzling he or she might suddenly decide to gently "nip" at you (usually very gently done and does not generally leave a mark that lasts longer than a few minutes). Cats and kittens have very tough skin (their mothers’ teeth can hold them by their neck and not pierce the flesh), so this is normal by cat standards during play and cleaning each other. This is something that is more difficult to train adult cats away from than it is kittens, but you can discourage the behavior by pulling away the extremity that is being bitten.
- Warning bites/Venting Stress: If you are playing to rough or your cat is irritated, depending on their temperment, they might bite at you–not enough to generally injure you, but enough to say, "Back off, I’m not in the mood." If you do not give them space, they could resort to more violence and in some cases grab your hand/arm and hold it with their teeth while attacking you with their feet. Some cats after an unpleasant experience such as bathing or a trip to the vet might be more irritable than usual.
Cat bites should be washed with soap and water and medicated with an anti-microbial ointment. Serious bites (punture wounds) should receive immediate medical attention, especially if you do not know the cat is healthy.
Typically, cats bite for two reasons only. First of all, you may have been playing too rough with your kitty, which causes your cat to respond with a bite. Also, cats may bite is if they are upset about something you have done or just upset in general. Cats love to have to have privacy and they may respond angrily if someone does not respect that.Treatment of Cat BitesYou could treat cat bites by washing the cut with soap, applying antiseptic lotion and pasting a plaster over the wound. This will ensure that the wound is clean and free from germs.
