Our cats communicate with us in many different ways. Some ways are comedic, others are complex, and some are second nature and completely expected. But what if your cat has a strange quirk and the message is unclear?
If your cat bites your nose, you may be wondering what the hell is going on. But the reason for this behavior may actually be due to several factors. So, ask yourself - are they aggressive? Are they acting playful? Other body signals can point you in the right direction. Let's take a closer look at each cause—and how to stop it, if necessary.
Your cat is trying to play
Cats are just stupid. They may chatter and squeak when in play mode. Especially if your cat is small, she may not realize that it hurts or that it is wrong. If you were holding a kitten and it bit you on the nose, it probably didn't mean any harm.
You've just got them all worked up and they're ready to go wild. A slight bite on the nose may not hurt, but you may want to direct it differently. If they make it a habit to playfully bite your nose when you pick them up, they might unintentionally hurt you one day.
When your cat bites your nose, gently apply pressure to his nose and say “no.” They may not react at first, but soon - unless you play along - they will understand. Try not to be too aggressive as this may cause them to attack.
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Educational fight against aggressive behavior
There are several proven techniques to wean your cat off the habit of biting. You can get rid of the problem using educational methods or certain training. You need to choose a method taking into account the cause of aggression and the individual character of the animal. Educational methods include:
- competent socialization;
- limiting affection;
- temporary ignoring;
- taking into account the pet’s personal preferences.
A kitten will not grow up to be aggressive or fearful if from an early age it has the opportunity to move around the house. It is necessary to allow visiting guests to pick him up and gently caress him, if they know how to treat animals with care. The cat will get used to it and will not consider strangers as a potential danger.
An animal that does not tolerate affection well does not need to be petted for a long time. One or two strokes and affectionate words are enough to prove your love. If a cat wants to be stroked or caressed, she will approach the owner herself.
A cat that likes to bite should be temporarily ignored if this behavior occurs. For half an hour after the aggression, you need to ignore her requests for treats or calls to play. The animal will definitely understand that it is being punished for a bad deed.
Some cats don't like having their tail, paws or tummy stroked. It is necessary to take into account and respect the individual preferences of the pet, and not to irritate him with such stroking.
Owners of small kittens need to buy toys for their pets. They will help babies avoid using their owner's fingers to scratch their gums when teething.
Do not forget that the cause of aggression can be a disease. If such a tendency appears suddenly and is not associated with castration, sterilization, or sexual heat, the cat must be shown to a veterinarian. A timely visit to the veterinary clinic will allow the disorder to be diagnosed and effective treatment to be carried out.
Your cat is showing affection
Have you ever been petting your buddy and suddenly he grabs you and gently bites your hand? This action is a complete manifestation of affection. They reciprocate your feelings. You may be holding them and your nose is the closest they can come to reacting to.
If you've ever seen two cats interact with each other, you may have noticed this behavior during grooming. Two cats lying together may lick each other and then bite each other gently. This is a good sign. This means that they are completely relaxed, calm and ready for love.
Your cat is warning you
Maybe you're invading their space too much and don't even know it. If they want you to back off, they may bite your nose lightly and then hiss or growl. If your cat shows you that they need space, give them what they want. If you resist the situation, you may actually end up getting bitten or scratched!
Cats can't talk like we do, so if they're fed up with your antics, this is the only way they can communicate. But of course, no animal should bite out of aggression. The best thing to do in this case is to not put you or your kitten in this predicament again.
Remember that animals have boundaries too. Sometimes they are not in the mood to attract attention. Cats are big believers in consent. If they don't want to be domesticated right now, your best bet is to listen to their body language.
Bite as a manifestation of instinct
A bite is always a manifestation of instinct: hunting or protective. From childhood, cats teach their kittens to catch mice and birds. The babies grab their prey with their fangs, and in the absence of a living target, the “bite” trains on toys or the hands of the owner.
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The most biting breeds include Savannahs, Bengals and Abyssinians.
The hunting instinct is not developed only in some decorative breeds, such as the Ragamuffin. All other “mustaches” differ from each other only in the strength of their urge to pursue and capture moving targets.
If the goal of the hunting instinct is strictly attack, then the defensive instinct has both attack and defense. Cats resort to it under the influence of a wide variety of emotions: fear, anger, pain and even love. In the latter case, they bite the fingers very gently, without releasing the claws and without damaging the skin. Such actions do not cause pain, so they can be safely equated with an expression of trust and devotion.
Your cat may be marking you
You already know that you belong to your cat - this is not something you can deny. This way, the cat can leave its scent on you, as if you were rubbing its chin and cheeks. Let this be a warning to all the other cats around - you are their own person, not a stranger!
Cats mark their territory in different ways. They have glands on their cheeks, paws and sides that they can use to rub against objects and other creatures. Friction against the legs indicates the shape of the markings.
This act is a great form of communication for our feline friends. So, if you put your cat in the nest and they rub or "hit" you and bite your nose, they are probably just letting you know that you belong to them. Who doesn't want to be a pet cat?
How to react to bites while stroking
The animal's further behavior is determined by the owner's reaction. If you have been bitten, use the following recommendations:
- Click the cat's nose. This action will help distract her from your hands. The most important thing is to correctly calculate the applied force. The click should be unpleasant, but not painful.
- Make a sharp sound. A whistle or clap can also switch attention and stop the furry aggressor.
- Release the stream from the spray bottle. A wet animal will immediately rush to lick its coat and leave you alone.
- Silently leave the room. Your departure will show that the wrong reaction is fraught with loss of attention. This method is effective only if the pet is not tired of being petted. It is also not suitable in the presence of pain, stress and fear.
Under no circumstances allow retaliatory aggression. Loud screams and physical assault will either irritate the cat even more or greatly frighten it. In both cases, the undesirable behavior will only become stronger, and with it, distrust in the person will appear.
Be aware of your body language. Be sure to stop stroking if the following signs occur:
- pressing the ears to the head or spreading them apart;
- slight twitching of the tail and back;
- hissing or displeased meowing;
- body tension.
Try to avoid intrusiveness and coercion. Don't pet your cat if he's nervous and trying to get away from you. Remember the sense of tact and the right to personal space. Your pet deserves them no less than you.
This is the closest point to pressing
Some cats bite and knead when they feel especially cute. They may bite because they feel frisky or simply out of boredom. If so, this may not cause you much concern. However, if they do it too hard, you should stop this behavior.
Your kitten may not understand how hard it is to be too hard. You need to set boundaries by letting them know that they can't bite your face at all. When your cat tries to bite your nose, firmly tell her “no” and keep some distance between the cat and your nose.
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At night
Surely many people know this joke:
“As a child, it seemed to me that at night, if you dangled an arm or leg from the bed, it would immediately be grabbed by a monster lurking there... I grew up and got a cat. The nightmare has materialized."
In fact, night attacks on hosts are rare. This is how small kittens behave, with a well-developed hunting instinct.
If you do not want to become the “prey” of a mustachioed miscreant, stock up on a spray bottle of water or a rolled-up newspaper. As soon as the attack occurs, spray the “hunter” with water or slap him with a newspaper. The most important thing is not to scream in fear if the kitten grabs you by a protruding part of your body. Soon the baby will understand that crime inevitably follows punishment, and will stop attacking you at night.
In general, to prevent night attacks, send the kitten to sleep in another room. This will not only give you the opportunity to rest normally and move around the apartment without the risk of being bitten, but will also create conditions for your pet to sleep soundly. Place an old chair covered with a blanket or a warm bed, a tray and a bowl of water in the cat's bedroom. For the first day or two, your pet may protest, moaning pitifully under the door. Be strong! Very soon the kitten will go on vacation on its own at the right time, and the recent problem can be forgotten.
Your cat can groom you
We see cats grooming each other all the time. If you are "one of them", they will try to court you too. What they're really trying to do is teach you how to take care of yourself.
You may not know it, but your cat knows that she is smarter than you. That's why they try to teach you basic survival skills. Perhaps your cat left a mouse or bird on your porch. They think you're too stupid to hunt yourself, so they try to feed you.
Similar to this mood, your cat will groom you to teach you how to clean yourself - you are a dirty animal. If your cat bites your nose, it may be a routine cleaning. If it hurts, let them know and move on. Although this type of nose-biting likely won't do any harm.
Aggression caused by petting
Weasel-induced aggression is an interesting behavior in which a cat who appears to be enjoying being petted suddenly lashes out with claws or a bite.
While this attack may often seem to occur for no reason, there are actually signs that the cat is reaching its tolerable limit of affection that you may not have noticed.
Not all cats like to be petted a lot. The follicles in a cat's fur can be sensitive, and excessive petting can become irritating or even painful for them.
Final thoughts
Our cats can communicate with us in many ways. Once you get to know your feline friend better, you will be able to easily identify his behavior, which can sometimes be unusual. But if nose biting is a recurring event that is relatively recent, you may need help deciphering it.
As long as your cat isn't showing signs of aggression, nose biting probably won't be that big of a problem. However, if you feel that your cat is struggling to behave badly, consult your veterinarian.
Article Author: Ashley Bates Ashley Bates is a freelance writer and pet lover currently studying the art of animal therapy. A mother of four human children and 23 furry and feathered babies, Ashley volunteers at local shelters, advocates for animal welfare, and rescues every creature she finds. Her mission is to inform and educate about pets to prevent homelessness. Her specialty is cats and dogs.
