Why do cats bite?
Why does my cat bite while playing? Do I have such a vicious cat that he can’t even play without biting? Do you ask yourself that question? Especially not pleasant when you walk calmly, and the cat bites your legs. For a cat, play is always an imitation of hunting. Jumping, grabbing paws, biting – this is not aggression, but a habitual part of his hunting behavior. Especially often bite young cats, kittens, who are just learning to control the strength of their bites. The problem arises when a person does not realize this and accidentally provokes aggressive play by himself – for example, allows the cat to attack his hands, run after his feet, play with his fingers instead of a toy. From the cat’s point of view – everything is logical: you gave “permission” to hunt your hands, so he does it. In addition, bites can be a manifestation of overexcitement – when the cat plays, when he is carried away by the game, lost self-control or does not know how to read stop signals. In such cases, he should not be punished, but taught to play gently and understand boundaries.
How to play with a cat correctly so that he does not bite? How to teach a cat to bite?
The most important thing is to teach the cat that hands are not prey. To do this, use only toys: fishing rods with feathers, balls, mice, tunnels. The game should be dynamic, interesting and end at the peak, so that the cat does not have time to get overexcited. If during the game he rushes at you, grabbing with teeth or claws – the game immediately stops. No yelling, no slapping – just turn around and walk away. This is a very clear signal to the cat: bite = end of fun. This way he learns to control himself so he doesn’t “kill the game”. Another effective tool is to reduce arousal. If the cat starts to play aggressively – pause, give him a chance to switch or rest, instead of stirring up the excitement even more.
What not to do and how to reinforce the desired behavior
Never hit or push a cat – not even “for training”. This will only reinforce her “hit or run” reaction, making her nervous, distrustful and even more aggressive in play. You should also discourage biting – even involuntarily. If it seems to you that “the cat bites playfully and it’s cute”, know – the cat does not understand the difference between “cute” and “hurt”. He’s just fixating: the bite works. Instead, praise your cat when he plays gently. For example, try talking to him affectionately and giving him a treat if he catches a toy without using his teeth. Gradually he will realize: gentle play = praise and pleasantness, and rough play = end of play. This is how desired behavior is formed: through consistency, clear boundaries, and no physical punishment. And remember: every cat is an individual. Some will take a few days to learn, and some will take weeks to learn. But the result is worth it: gentle play without biting is a real pleasure for both you and your naughty cat.
