It was as if it happened out of nowhere. Everything seems nice and comfortable to your cat and then suddenly, wham! They sink their teeth into your hand. Or you’re arm-wrestling your cat and, ouch! They grab your hand and bite it. Or you do your best to take care of a scared cat, and they still attack and bite you.
Let’s look at cat bites — the why, the dangers, and importantly, how to prevent them.
Cat Bite Facts
Cat bites are no laughing matter. A cat’s mouth is full of dangerous bacteria. In fact, there is only one common animal with more bacteria: humans! So while you don’t want a cat to bite you, you definitely don’t want a human to bite you either.
Why Cat Bites Are Worse Than Dog Bites
It all boils down to anatomy. Dog teeth are larger than cat teeth. If a dog bites you, their teeth will likely tear into your flesh, leaving an ugly, albeit relatively superficial wound.
Cats, on the other hand, have small, very sharp teeth. When they bite, they can send toxic bacteria deep into the wound. Sometimes the bacteria gets deposited in the joints and tendon sheaths, making the infection worse. Bites on the hand and wrist are likely to end up in the hospital.
You really don’t want a cat to bite you, even while playing! So let’s look at why kittens do this, and how to avoid it.
Why do cats bite?
The reasons why cats may bite you range from affectionate to aggressive. This may be why people sometimes have a hard time figuring out what’s going on. But believe me, cats almost always give you warnings before biting.
Here are the most common signs that teeth are about to erupt:
- The ears closed
- Eyes widened
- If the cat is purring, they will stop. Or their low-pitched purrs grow louder
- Growling or hissing
- Trembling skin on the back
- Tail whip back and forth
- They focus on one part of the body, as if they are thinking of attacking it
- They stop contacting you
- They turn away from you in fear. Their backs may be arched or their back feathers or tails puffed out.
Never continue to interact with a cat that does any of these. They don’t want to contact you. They don’t want comforting words or touch. They want to be alone to calm themselves.
Cat Bite Risk Situations
Here are different situations where you can get bit.
Play Aggression
Uh-oh, you or someone else taught your cat that hands are toys. They must have been cute when they were two months old. But the bigger they get, the more those claws and teeth hurt! And a cat can quickly get carried away and bite you harder than they intended.
How to avoid it
If your cat thinks your hand or other body part is a toy, he needs to get rid of it. If your cat tries to play with your hand, replace it with a stuffed toy or catnip kicker. If they insist on holding your hand, walk away and refuse to interact with them. It may take some time, but eventually they will see no benefit in continuing a behavior that is unpleasant for them.
If your cat attacks the ankle, distract them by throwing something they really want away from you — a treat or favorite toy. If you really want to work on breaking this habit, start training them to sit quietly for a treat. If they know they’ll get a reward for staying put instead of attacking you, they’ll learn.
Love Bites and Bites While Petting
A gentle love bite — one that doesn’t even come close to breaking the skin — is sweet. But what if your cat really chomps down? And what about cats that suddenly seem to bite you while petting them? The one you definitely don’t want.
If a cat is too rough with love bites, freeze when it happens, and don’t react. The movement will resemble the prey and they will instinctively bite harder. When there is no reaction, the cat lets go more quickly.
If a cat bites you unexpectedly while petting, it’s because it’s overstimulated. And they’re probably giving you signals earlier that you missed. Check out the list above and pay attention, especially when it comes to ears twitching, loud growling, skin twitching and tail flicking. Keep a close eye on your cat during petting sessions, and stop as soon as you see a hint of any of these behaviors.
Treat Bites
I have to mention this one because the one time my guy had to go to urgent care was because Binga bit his thumb! He thought it was part of a treat he was trying to give her.
Don’t feed the cat with your fingers! Use only the palm of your hand or a spoon or other tool to administer the treatment. Although my man regularly breaks this rule with me (I’m super gentle), he really tries not to do it at shows, or where kids are around. If a child wants to give me a treat, he always puts it in the palm of their hand for me to take.
And if you notice, every time she gives the peach kitty treats by hand, she puts them on her flat, spread fingers. Because he doesn’t know the difference between finger and food. And even though your cat may not be semi or usually ferocious like him, they can still be overcome by the excitement of getting a treat.
Biting as Aggression
If a cat shows signs of fear or aggression, you are definitely at risk of being bitten. The best thing you can do is stay away from the cat until they calm down. And while you let them do that, try to think of a solution for their behavior. Is this just a temporary situation, or is the cat’s territory threatened by another creature, either inside the house or outside the windows or doors? You need to take steps to keep the cat safe.
If the problem persists, you may need to consult a cat behaviorist. Ask your vet for a recommendation.
There are also rare and unfortunate situations where the cat is aggressive due to a neurological condition. This is another time to consult your veterinarian.
Bites as Signs of Disease
As you probably know, cats hide their pain very well. And sometimes, if a cat bites you, it’s because you touched a place that hurts them. Sometimes it’s because they also feel bad in general. And older cats experience aches and pains. Even if they have never bitten you before, they might if they are in pain, or suffering from feline dementia. In any of these cases, it is usually quite clear that the problem requires consultation, and possibly treatment from a veterinarian.
Another case where a cat can bite is that they are deaf and you startle them. If you know your cat is deaf, always make sure to gently tap the surface they are lying on, and only touch them when they recognize you. If you have an older cat who is acting up, he may be deaf, and you will need to adjust your actions around them accordingly. Both Boodie and Binga lost their hearing as they grew older.
What To Do If A Cat Bites You
As I mentioned above, don’t act or react. A cat is more likely to let go if you stay still. Alternatively, another thing you can do is gently push your hand or arm — whichever part of the body the cat is biting — in the direction of their teeth instead of away. Even though it’s counterintuitive, the cat is more likely to let go.
Once you have removed the body part from your cat, if there is a broken skin, the first thing you should do is squeeze around the wound to get rid of the blood (and bacteria). And you do this as you go to the sink to wash the wound with soap and water. Do this under tap pressure for five minutes or so. Then go to urgent care and get the wound looked at right away. Fangs leave puncture wounds with bacteria that are too deep for home treatment and even a wound that doesn’t look bad can easily become infected. Better to be safe than sorry.
One thing not to do with a cat bite is cover it with ointment. Ointments such as Neosporin will prevent the wound from healing and make any infection worse. Just wash it well and get it treated by a doctor.
A Final Note
Never, ever punish a cat for biting you! They bite you for reasons they don’t fully understand. And aggressive cats will only act out of fear if someone tries to punish them for trying to protect themselves. Use the solutions above instead. And if worse comes to worse, consult a veterinarian or a cat behaviorist. Sometimes expert advice is the best approach.
Hope this helps! Have you ever been bitten by a cat? Let us know about your experiences in the comments.
Here are some other posts about cat behavior you might want to check out:
