Reasons Why Cats Bite and How to Stop It

Cats bite for a variety of reasons. Adult cats bite out of fear, to assert dominance, or to demand attention. Kittens bite, mouth, and paw things to explore their world—they're all natural behaviors. But while a kitten bite may be cute, an adult cat bite can be painful. Allowing a cat of any age to bite as often as they wish could lead to many painful bites for the owner later and an added risk when it comes to getting your cat to do anything, from taking a medication to visiting the vet.

With some training, cats can learn to inhibit the force of their bites and to use soft paws without claws. Your cat can still nibble and play-smack you with a soft paw and enjoy a kitty-correct game without drawing blood.

Why Do Cats Bite?

Cats and kittens may bite for very different reasons, and it's important to distinguish between them to help curb the biting. A kitten usually bites because of a socialization issue, while an adult cat may bite for a different reason.

Kittens develop good manners through interaction with other kittens and their mother; other cats won't put up with being hurt. Too often kittens go to new homes before they've learned these important lessons and their owners need to teach them. Kittens don't know that teeth and claws hurt unless you explain it in kitty language the way a mother would.

Begin training as soon as you get your kitten or cat. A well-socialized adult cat that knows the rules of cat play teaches the best lessons to kittens. Kittens can also bite as a way of communicating a need, as a way of exploring their environment, or because they are teething.

For adult cats, there may be a few reasons for biting:

• It could be to assert dominance or respond to a threat. If a cat bites and then doesn't back down, this could be the case.
• Some cats bite to stop unwanted actions or behaviors by humans or other animals, especially if this was effective in the past. For example, if they previously bit while having their nails trimmed and then the nail trimming stopped, they may have learned that is an effective tool.