June 8, 2007, Newsletter Issue #169: Kitty Bites Me While Petting Her
Tip of the Week
Some cat owners are familiar with this cat behavior problem: youīre petting Kitty, she seems to like it because she is purring and suddenly, CHOMP! Her teeth are lodged in the flesh of your hand.
The general consensus on this problem is that the cat becomes over stimulated during petting, and canīt quite figure out how to tell you to stop. The best thing to do is DONīT PANIC. Slowly withdraw your hand, then move away from the cat. If the cat is in your lap, pull your hands away and allow it to retreat, or stand up and let the cat jump to the floor.
Learn how to recognize the signals that precede biting: wildly flicking tail, ears laid back, their pupils dilating, or their body tensing. When any of these are noticed, stop touching the animal and allow it to move away on its own.
When training a new pet, start with short time periods of petting then slowly increase the length of time. Always back away slowly when the cat shows signs of frustration.
Then there are some cats that prefer other methods of human interaction besides petting; for those animals try playing with them more and petting them less.
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