Cat behaviourist explains surprising reason your pet might be biting you
If you've ever spent time with a cat, you'll know they often have a mind of their own and will do their best to communicate any thoughts to you.
Even though we can't converse directly with our feline friends, cats have adapted their body language and signals to interact with humans. A prime example is meowing, as cats only meow at humans and their kittens. However, a less endearing but more serious method they use to express their feelings to humans is by gently biting or nibbling on us. While it might be uncomfortable, they usually don't mean any harm.
Amanda Campion, a seasoned clinical feline behaviourist with over three decades of experience with cats, revealed the most common reasons your cat might nibble on you, and what it could signify. Particularly when it occurs while they're also purring and licking you.
"Bite, lick, purr - what's that all about? What's the deal with this mixed message? If you've got a cat that licks you and then bites you, what are they trying to say?" Amanda asked at the start of her TikTok video.
"So, grooming within the species involves licking and yes, biting," Amanda clarified.
She continued: "Gentle biting and it's love bites, it's affection, and it's a way of transferring scent onto their other preferred individual, someone that they've got a very close bond with, or another cat in the home. It could even be a dog."
However, she went on to explain other reasons your cat might gently bite you, including letting you know how it's feeling in that moment.
Amanda explained: "Biting may be overstimulation, and then it's followed by a lick, which is their way of saying 'oh, sorry'. It can be a way that they're playing with you as they would do with another cat. And some cats will actually bite first to initiate attention and interaction.
"And if you've been petting them, and then they bite, it could be 'that's enough now, thank you'. So look at the body cues as well, because the bite won't be the first cue that they've given you, that will be the last."
She went on to clarify it could also be related to the feline attempting to groom you.
Given that cats are extremely meticulous about their cleanliness and frequently dedicate considerable time ensuring they're spotless, moggies also assist in grooming one another - and this extends to attempting to groom their human companions.
"It can also be grooming mimicry, especially if you've been touching them a lot, like I'm stroking Eska here. It would be quite normal for him to turn around and lick me. That's his way of initiating his part of the grooming deal.
"So learn to know your cat's cues before it escalates. Bite then lick or lick then bite - which way around is your cat?" she said at the end of the video.
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