Reasons Why Cats Bite and How to Stop It

Some cats bite as a form of communication or demand for attention. Instead of meowing, they bite. If a cat nips you and then tries to lead you to an activity, such as playing with a toy, this could be the reason.

How to Stop Cats From Biting You

While you may not be able to prevent your cat from ever biting again, there are some techniques you can try. You'll likely have to tailor your response to the age of your cat (older cat versus kitten) and the reason for the biting (dominance assertion versus communication).

• Maintain consistent responses and make sure all family members and visitors follow the same rules. If the cat gets mixed messages, it will be harder for you to enact your training.
• Never allow your kitten or cat to play with your bare hands, fingers, or toes. All cats should be taught that hands are not toys. If you offer your hands as toys, you're encouraging a risky habit.
• Offer an appropriate, interactive toy for the cat to bite. Stuffed animals are a hit with many cats. There should be a variety of toys (at least three) available so your cat does not get bored. Toys that dispense treats are a great way to keep their environment enriched and encourage appropriate play behavior by rewarding play with appropriate objects.

• Continually and gently praise your cat for soft paws (claws withheld) or a soft mouth, saying, "Good paws" or "good mouth!" If the claws come out or the mouthing hurts, make a noise and pull your hand away just as another cat or kitten would to stop the games. Use this as a distraction to stop the behavior, not as a punishment.
• If your cat bites and won't let go, grit your teeth and push your hand and arm in toward the bite to prompt your cat to release you. Pulling away from the bite stimulates your cat to bite even more. Additionally, you should treat your clothing as an extension of your skin and make it off-limits, or your cat won't learn the difference between clawing your jeans and nailing your bare legs.
• Train replacement behavior. For example, if your cat becomes overexcited and attacks your feet when you walk into a room, teach him to sit and reward him for it. Then, when you come into a room, he will want to sit to get a reward. You can clicker train by pairing a reward like food with a click from a clicker. Eventually, your cat will learn to associate the click with the reward and food treats will no longer be necessary.
• Avoid physical punishment, which only makes cats more aroused and more likely to fight back and protect themselves or engage in rough play.