Paw-some Superstars – Why Does My Cat Bite?
One afternoon, a woman was spending time with her cat when suddenly the cat turned around and bit her hand.
“Ouch!” she cried, quickly moving away.
The woman became frightened and confused. She loved her cat, but she couldn't understand why it kept biting people.
“Why does my cat keep doing this?” she wondered. “Is my cat aggressive? Can I trust it?”
That was when the Paw-some Superstars arrived—the Asian Leopard Cat, African Serval, Bengal and Savannah.
But these weren't ordinary cats.
When their special powers were needed, the Bengal transformed into an Asian Leopard Cat, while the Savannah transformed into an African Serval. Together, the four Superstars had an important mission: to help humans understand feline behaviour.
The Superstars explained that a bite can be a form of communication.
A cat might bite because it is frightened, stressed, frustrated or overstimulated. Sometimes a cat has simply had enough stroking and wants to be left alone. A sudden change in behaviour can also happen when a cat is in pain or feeling unwell, which may require a veterinary check.
“Watch our body language,” explained the Bengal.
The woman began learning to recognise warning signs such as a rapidly moving tail, ears turning backwards, tense muscles, trying to move away, staring, growling or hissing.
Instead of becoming angry when her cat wanted space, she stopped interacting and allowed the cat to move away.
The Superstars also taught her another important lesson: don't encourage cats to attack hands during play. She began using wand toys, balls and other suitable cat toys instead.
Every day, she provided climbing opportunities, scratching areas, puzzle toys and interactive play. She also allowed her cat to approach her rather than forcing attention.
Slowly, things began to change.
The cat became calmer, and the woman became more confident. Most importantly, they started understanding each other.
“I understand now,” she said. “I need to listen to what my cat is telling me.”
The four Superstars smiled. Their mission was complete.
The Lesson
A cat that bites isn't necessarily a “bad cat.” Biting can communicate fear, pain, overstimulation, frustration or a need for space. Understanding body language, providing appropriate enrichment and respecting boundaries can help prevent bites and build trust.
If a normally friendly cat suddenly starts biting or shows an unexplained change in behaviour, a veterinary examination is important to rule out pain or illness.
Understand. Respect. Build trust. Love.