When Love Hurts: Demystifying A Cat's Love Bites - VETzInsight - VIN

26 Comments

Charlie August 23, 2022

The recommendation that might have made sense to me about my female cat aggressively biting my nose and face very hard would be to see a vet abut the problem. However, if the vets don't know any more about t that the people who write these articles then it would be a big waste of time and money. I already know much more than any of them do, but I still don't have a good solution for my problem. My cat aggressively love bites my face in the early mornings. How to stop her from these bad behaviors.

Rebecca Peppers August 16, 2022

Article was very insightful. So far nothing has worked. I know these are love bites but they're just so hard it really hurts.

Kasee June 7, 2022

I knew I was his person. My kitty in the morning when we wake up is very affectionate and sometimes loves to bump my chin, get lots of of petting and sometimes he gives kitty kisses. He will give me several kisses sometimes and then sometimes he bites my lip. It’s never been bad just a nip. Was just curious why he does this.

Mary April 4, 2022

Very helpful info. We recently had a cat come to live with us. She was living wild but was / is clearly not feral. She would allow pats and would come near without much hesitation and after several weeks of leaving food and water out and providing an outdoor shelter over winter months (temperatures very cold -25 C) she started coming in. We did not force her. Just invited her in for as long as she wanted. And now more or less she is in every day. It has taken some time for her to approach us inside but she has now started climbing up beside me.she is very affectionate and really likes to be patted. As she’s become more trusting she has taken to the odd gentle love bite. So far very gentle. If she goes too much I just ask her to stop and she does. It seems quite loving. Your info confirms what seems true for me. Thank you!

Lileana November 21, 2021

My cat usually lightly bites near my ankles, usually whenever I am walking. He likes being pet around his head but I don’t pet him under his chin because he doesn’t like it, so I’m not sure why he’s doing this . .

Victoria L. Wisdom June 11, 2021

Mine will bite and then lick, but the problem is no matter how slowly I pull away, he latches on and will try to bring his back claws into the situation

Katriona Rees December 11, 2020

Mine bites but then licks after. I think it is just playful as she is a little huntress.

Rosa November 27, 2020

I have a 6-year-old cat. I’ve had her for 5 years and a half and she’s always been the sweetest, most patient cat, especially with my now 11-year-old daughter who’s always been a bit rough with our kitty. About four months ago, my cat has started bitting me. The first time, I thought the bite had a logical explanation: I was sitting on the floor working on a puzzle when my cat sat on it, so I gently used my arm to move her out of the way. A minute later, my cat grabbed my arm and bit. She broke my skin a tiny bit. The second time, about a month after the first incident, she nibbled on my ankle and it hurt. I reacted badly and grabbed her by the skin behind her neck and firmly said no. She was not happy, and tried to bite me. I didn’t let her this time. The next two times were totally unprovoked. It always happens at the end of the day, in my bedroom, on or near my bed. She hasn’t bitten my daughter or my husband, it’s just me, and I’m the one who feeds her and is super gentle with her! I already made an appointment with her vet to make sure she’s not in pain. Hopefully, he’ll be able to help.

Lynette October 18, 2020

I have two beautiful three-year-old brother and sister black cats. They both had pillow foot when I got them and she had an almost bald belly from overgrooming. They’ve gotten over a lot of the anxiety and nervousness that they had but she gets overstimulated really easily I can usually pet her once and twice and then she’s done with being petted. Sometimes she’ll walk up to me and meow and I can tell she would like to be petted so I put my hand down in the vicinity of her head and let her walk to me to let me know if she really wants to be petted or not. Sometime she’ll walk over and she’ll smell my hand and then just very calmly bite it, not hard but more than just a tiny little nibble. And usually she just will stay in there. I will gently remove my hand from her mouth but I’m not sure if that’s a love bite or if I just irritate the crap out of her.

Lana September 29, 2020

I took in a street cat and he bites when being patted but then he’ll chase us round the room lunging and trying to bite again and again but it’s never that hard. I can’t tell if he’s annoyed by touch or this is normal love bites. He’s a black cat so he always looks angry

Sherri September 22, 2020

I have a lovely cat, but every once in a while she takes the skin of my hand in her mouth and holds it. Then the pressure of her fangs gets harder and harder. It Hurts! Why does she do that?

Jasmin Worden August 23, 2020

Hi there! My cat sleeps in my bed, and he’s always been very cuddly & a big purr-er! In the morning he gets up and will rub his face on mine and purr, if I’m awake I will pet him, sometimes not! Recently in the morning instead of nudging me with his nose, he chomps down on my chin!! He will be purring and acting lovey but chomps my cheek and chin! Why did he start doing this!!

Daniel Burke June 3, 2020

My cat is a huge cuddler, when I sit on the couch or bed he scoots closer and presses close and purrs loudly and often headbutts my arm and rubs his jaw against me then opens his mouth and chews on my arm while purring. It’s usually not painful but he can get a little enthusiastic. He is very gentle for a cat with claws and teeth resembling the size of a bobcats even when he wrestles and kicks my hand and arm when playing rough and/or has had enough. I always have taken the chewing as a sign of affection as it’s not out of anger or fear.

Christy Corp-Minamiji, DVM March 24, 2020

Hi Anne, Ouch! That sounds painful! I'd suggest trying some of the techniques Dr. Gaspar discusses in the article such as trying to figure out which of your actions seem to trigger her biting and scratching, and also using toys like a small ball to keep her occupied.

Anne Cooper March 20, 2020

I have bite and scratch on both arms, I know it meant to be love, it is awful, I have to treat with antiseptic, I have a very tight budget , she lives inside doesn’t go any anywhere, I am desparate, poor and I love her Please help

Mary May 12, 2019

My Sheba was a kitten given to me as a present. Over time (maybe 3-4 years later) she started attacking my lower legs at night when I walked away from her to go to bed. It got to a point that I had to walk backwards saying “No!” repeatedly and hurry and shut the bedroom door. She was at that time the only cat and left alone during the day while I worked. The attacking behavior when I walked away from her to go to bed became worse (she only acted this way at night when I went to bed.) It culminated one night when I didn’t turn around and she flew up to the back of my thigh with claws and teeth and bit me. I couldn’t believe it had come to this with me trying to get this ‘wild animal’ off my leg. I was sobbing as as I wiped the blood streaming down my leg not only because of the pain but because I really loved her and feared I would have to give her away and who would want a cat like this. That was a last resort. I firmly believe she was taken away from her mom and siblings too soon. So I decided to get another cat (a young 2-3 month old). Problem solved. She never chased me or attacked me again.

Kristy January 6, 2019

My cat was rescued as a wild stray....she is terrified of anyone new....takes forever to let anyone pet her.....but maulls me every chance she gets...try to pet her she pins me down to lick and bite me while purring most times....she has a cocatoo as a friend they actually share and play

Cassandra Gale December 6, 2018

I have a 1 year old half siamese half tabby Male he has a bunch of toys yo play with and another cat that plays with him, but at night when he desides to snuggle and give me kisses, but then he'll start biting my hands sometimes its love bites and sometimes its harder so what should I try to get him to stop at bedtime?

Joyce I Keay November 27, 2018

I adopted a one-year-old neutered male cat from a shelter a couple of weeks ago. The cat's history was not good. The first thing on his history is that he was seen being thrown out of a car window on a busy highway and rescued, then brought from Florida to Massachusetts where I rescued him. Twice recently I've been on the couch and he has come up face to face with me and then bit me on the neck! This is most upsetting. I can't just leave him there. I have to pull him off. I truthfully do not remember having petted him just before it happened the second time believing that the first time might have resulted from being overstimulated. So how do I prevent this in the future? He does tend to bite when overstimulated so I am reducing the number of times I stroke him at any one time. I do not know if this neck biting might be a dominance thing. Suggestions please as to how to stop this.

Ashley July 28, 2018

I successfully trained my cat, using applied behavior analysis and behavior modification techniques. It did not take long to extinguish this aggressive biting behavior. History of said cat- she was taken from mother too early, she cried for weeks calling her mom. She very conflicted with me because of this – she knew I took care of her and loved her, but she knew she wanted her real mom. I started taking mental notes of what triggered the behavior, and antecedent circumstances. She would be lying by my side, perfectly content, purring, curling her paws with me petting her favorite areas. Sometimes I she bit me because I pet the wrong areas, and sometimes it was just too much love for her. It’s as if she realized she became “too close” to me, and so, mentally, she switched to instinctual protection mode. She used rabbit-kicking along with a very aggressive bite, breaking skin. So when realized this behavior was about occur, I pulled my hands and arms out harm’s way, and held open palms at her level. At this point, she’s growling and really getting ready to strike. With my hands in the shape similar to a high-five, again, at her level, she backed off. This happened upwards of ten times. Soon, she able to independently stop herself and simply leave my side instead attacking. Usually, she would go to her food and eat. I’ve had Muppet for five wonderful years, and she hasn’t exhibited this behavior in over a year. The training doesn’t need specified amount time, only consistency, persistence, and patience with your furry loved one.

Becca June 8, 2018

I have a a male cat that has been fixed. He was found at a store and needed a home so my husband brought him to me. 12 years later we are a great together especially after I lost my dog He has never broken skin or been aggressive One time he nibble little too rough and I dramatically let out a cry teaching him it was too rough ( he never did it again. He was purring and seemed happy. I think they learn some things from humans too. U know when u get kinda excited and affectionate, they pick up on things we do and reciprocate in the only way they know.Cats are great learners within their feline abilities.. I have seen roughly handled cats and they really are traumatized by what some people do.many things are abusive to them. Always positive education. Go with the flow of each type of cat. My son saw his cat always drinking from tub or sink( spilling regular bowls of water). He was able to get a dog water bottle (looks like a hamster water dispenser). Used treats ,patience , good job" like u would a dog. Now this cat prefers drinking from the bottle U can't always teach them tricks u want but pick the habits that affect u the most. Cats get bored so I even got a cat harness to take the cat outside .wish we could afford cat fencing. Get creative.

Mr. St. December 1, 2017

Our newly adopted, very affectionate, male cat likes to bite my face in the morning. Initially, I thought it was because he wanted food, but he even does it when he still has food in his bowl. It seems to me that he does it out of affection, because his bites are accompanied by purring and headbutts. This morning he broke the skin of my ear. :(

Joanien October 2, 2017

Hoo boy! My 18th kitty started out nibbling my face a year ago. He'd jump up on the bed in the early morning start headbutting & purring, then he'd gnaw gently on mu cheekbones or chin. Now he prefers to suck a fold of skin from my neck between his front teeth and bite down gently, or attempt to take my whole cheekbone into his jaws and suck. He has never broken the skin and seems surprised when I very, VERY carefully disengage him. I don't know what to think!

KJ Gray September 2, 2017

I have a recently adopted male who was described to me as 'very needy', by his former owners. And he sure is affectionate. Not long after he got here, he began biting me but very, very gently. He's never done it hard enough to hurt or damage my skin and he never holds on. I can't link the 'love bites' to any specific actions on my part, but he particularly likes to do it in the morning when I''m using the washroom. He always follows me in there, purring and rubbing on me most of the time, but then he'll toss in a quick grab with his teeth on my leg, usually. He's never caused me pain and it doesn't bother me that he does it, but he is the only cat I've ever had that does this sort of biting. Based on what I read, he's either marking me or very attached to me, which I find a bit surprising since he's only been with me a couple of months. He is very careful when he does it; quite deliberate about it and he'll often look right at me as he does it too. He closes his fangs and molars around my arm or wrist or thigh but never puts on any real pressure. There's always something new to learn about cat's behaviour.

Jess June 15, 2017

My cat just started this new thing where he will wake up to my alarm clock and pur and lick and bite me till i wake it! If any park of my skin is visible he bites it! I love my cat so much but it is starting to get frustrating.

Denise Walding March 10, 2017

My cat usually jumps on my bed of a morning .licks my hand then bites it hard often breaking the skin.