Pet behaviourist explains why ‘friendly’ cats still bite

Your cat could still bite you even if it seems like it wants attention, according to a pet behaviourist.

Cats are complex creatures – and it can sometimes be hard to tell what they’re feeling. Unlike dogs, they don’t wag their tails when they’re excited. It can often seem like they aren’t as affectionate as they don’t always demand attention and petting as much as some of our other furry friends do.

However, an expert in pet behaviour has revealed some of the reasons cats might behave the way they do, including why they might turn nasty and bite you even when they’ve settled themselves down on your lap.

You might think that if your cat makes the decision to come over to you while you’re sitting on the sofa or lying in bed, that they must want attention. After all, they’ve chosen to be near you instead of wandering off on their own.

But the expert said that isn’t always the case – and if you overstep their boundaries, you might still get bitten or scratched.

Doctor Annie Valuska, a pet behaviourist, shared a video on TikTok in which she responded to another clip of a cat owner. She was left baffled when her kitten bit her during what she thought was a “sweet moment”.

In the original clip, the orange and white cat jumped up onto the woman’s bed and settled on her chest. The woman then began stroking her pet around its face, and before long, the cat decided it had had enough and bit her.

The woman claimed she had no idea why her cat’s mood had changed so suddenly, but according to Dr Annie, the warning signs were there from the start of the clip.

She said: “The original poster said she expected to relax and have a sweet moment with her cat, but in my opinion, the cat was clear from the very beginning that that was not going to happen.

“As soon as he settles in, you can see that he’s still very alert…

“That tail is swishing, his head movements are pretty rapid, and there’s a lot of tension in his body. A truly relaxed cat will often look like it’s almost melting. That is not happening here.

“Again, we’ve got some twitchy head movements in response to the pets, and the ears are moving all over the place. Both signs that he’s getting more psychologically aroused, which could lead to a bite.”

The expert went on to state that just because a cat has come to you to lay in your lap, it doesn’t mean they want to be stroked, and doing so could overwhelm your pet and make them more likely to lash out.

She added: “To avoid a bite under these circumstances, I would recommend not petting at all.

“Cat social behaviour includes a lot of resting in contact, or just being in close proximity with their preferred associates. He may have wanted to sit on top of her, but the petting is just too much.”

Dr Annie also explained that the bite the cat gave his owner appeared to be a “play bite” rather than a serious one. She said the cat owner has other videos that show the cat biting the woman’s hands and arms during play, so her putting her hand near his mouth when petting him may have also contributed to the bite.

Commenters on the expert’s video were thankful for her explanation of the cat’s behaviour. Many said they had no idea that pets don’t always want attention, even when they’ve approached their owners first.

One person said: “Thank you, Dr. Annie, for your simple and straightforward teaching! Our cats deserve our understanding.”

Another added: “This breakdown was so helpful! Thank you! I love my girls, but every now and then, I forget to read the signs.”