Petting Aggression in Cats: How to Stop Bites
Have you ever been petting your cat, enjoying some quality bonding time, when suddenly, they bite or swat at you? This behavior, known as petting aggression, leaves many cat parents scratching their heads (and sometimes nursing their wounds).
While the experience can be jarring, petting aggression in cats is a common behavior, and rest assured, it doesn’t mean your kitty hates you or that you’ve failed as a pet parent.
So, what provokes these unexpected nips? Read on to uncover the hidden reasons behind petting aggression and learn practical tips to prevent those pesky bites.
What Is Petting Aggression in Cats?
Petting aggression (aka petting-induced aggression) is when a cat suddenly becomes aggressive or agitated while being pet.
Though biting is the hallmark sign of petting aggression, a cat may also display additional defensive postures or behaviors, such as flattened ears, a tucked head, turning away from you, quickly jumping off your lap, swatting at you, raised hackles, hissing, or crouching.
So, what causes your sweet little furball to seemingly go from Sleeping Beauty to Cujo at the drop of a hat?
According to Kate Luse, an IAABC Certified Cat Behavior Consultant and owner of Healthy Cattitude, “Petting-induced aggression occurs when a cat is pet when they don’t want to be, pet for longer than they want to be, or pet on parts of their body where they don’t want to be.”
In other words, for some reason, your petting session becomes unpleasant for your cat, and they bite, swat, or scratch to communicate that they want the interaction to end.
Why Do Cats Bite When You Pet Them?
Unlike dogs, most cats have a petting threshold and are easily overstimulated. “There is individual variation in how much and where on their bodies cats like to be pet,” says Luse.
Some cats will gladly accept an hour of petting, while another might only enjoy a few strokes. Most cats fall somewhere in the middle.
Sensitivities
Luse explains that cats who are more sensitive to touch and prefer less petting are more likely to display petting aggression because their humans will likely pet them more than they’re comfortable with, or on sensitive parts of their body. “That said, any cat who is pet more than they want, or on places they don’t like to be touched, can display petting-induced aggression.”
Stress
Laura Cassiday, an IAABC Certified Cat Behavior Consultant and owner of Pawsitive Vibes Cat Behavior & Training, adds that petting aggression is more likely to occur in cats who are stressed out. If a cat is already agitated, it won’t take much for the cup to spill over, she says.
Pain
Cats who are in pain or discomfort are also more likely to show petting aggression, says Cassiday. If your normally-mellow cat begins to display a low tolerance for petting or you notice that petting certain areas of their body stimulates petting aggression, take your cat to your veterinarian for a checkup to ensure nothing is medically amiss.
Boredom
Lastly, petting aggression can be caused by a lack of mental or physical stimulation and enrichment, says Cassiday. “Bored and frustrated cats generally don’t tolerate petting as well as others.”
The Difference Between Petting Aggression and Other Forms of Cat Biting
It’s important to understand the difference between petting aggression and “love bites.” Some cats demonstrate affection by giving a tender bite or nip while you’re petting them. You can recognize a love bite if your cat’s body language doesn’t display signs of fear or aggression, and they seem calm and content. Additionally, love bites tend to be more of a gentle, grasping bite rather than a forceful, aggressive one.
Petting aggression is also not the same as play biting. During playtime, cats often bite or nip as a form of playful interaction. This behavior is a natural part of a cat’s development and socialization, as it helps them practice and hone their hunting instincts, coordination, and communication skills. This type of biting can be avoided by always using cat toys, rather than your hands, during playtime.
Your cat may also give you a gentle nip if they’re “grooming” you. Cats may groom their littermates, mother, and even their human companions. This behavior is thought to be an expression of affection.
Signs That Petting Aggression May Happen
While pet parents often report that cat petting aggression seems to happen out of nowhere, this is not typically the case and points to a lack of understanding of and attention to feline body language.
Your cat may display several warning signs that signal impending petting aggression. “Body tensing up, tail twitching or thrashing, ears going back, pupils dilating, and my favorite — the look back at your hand. Sometimes it’s a full-on look, sometimes it’s just a side eye,” says Cassiday. Cat parents often miss these signs (or don’t understand them), especially when they’re absentmindedly petting their cats while watching TV, scrolling on their phones, or engaging in conversation.
How to Stop Petting Aggression in Cats
To minimize or eliminate petting aggression, consider these tips:
Do a consent test
Cassiday recommends doing a “consent test” to ask your cat if they want to receive pets. “Hold your hand out an inch or two away from your cat’s face. If they close the distance on their own, they’re saying yes, please pet me. After a few seconds, take your hand away and give them the chance to close the distance again. If they don’t move, or if they turn their head away, they’re done with petting,” she explains. “Cats who are given the chance to nicely say no and don’t have warning signs ignored are much less likely to bite or scratch.”
Keep it short and sweet
Luse recommends petting your cat for brief periods, frequently stopping to assess their body language and determine if they want more (or for you to stop).
Be mindful of petting location
When you pet your cat, focus on their head, the sides of their face, and the back of their neck. Avoid full-body petting, at least initially, as this may be overstimulating. Many cats are more sensitive near the base of their tails, on their legs, and on their bellies, so these areas are best avoided (unless you’ve already determined your cat likes pets in those areas). If your cat gives you signs that they don’t like a particular area of their body being pet, respect that and immediately stop.
Maintain a consistent play routine
Engaging in daily play sessions with your cat and providing plenty of enrichment opportunities can help make your feline companion more tolerant of petting. This is because playtime helps release built-up stress, tension, and energy from your cat’s system.
Consider training
For some cats, a desensitizing or counter-conditioning plan using clicker training may help them learn to tolerate and maybe even enjoy more petting, says Cassiday. This may be particularly helpful for cats with trauma or cats who weren’t properly socialized. Training, however, should only be done under the guidance of a cat behaviorist.
Never Punish Your Cat for Petting Aggression
Both Cassiday and Luse strongly advise against punishments like spraying your cat with water or giving them a bop on the head when they exhibit petting aggression.
“Cats should never be punished simply for communicating their needs,” says Cassiday. “Most cats will gradually go up the ladder of aggression and show many other signs of discomfort first before escalating to a swat or bite, and it’s up to people to learn to recognize those signs and stop petting sooner.”
Luse echoes this sentiment. “When a cat resorts to petting-induced aggression, it means we haven’t heard what they’ve tried to tell us about when and how they like to be pet,” she says. “The solution to petting-induced aggression isn’t punishment — it’s learning to read cat body language and respecting what our cats are telling us.”
On top of that, Luse explains that punishment will likely worsen the behavior. When a cat displays petting aggression, she’s in a heightened state of arousal, and punishment will likely escalate the issue and the likelihood of more aggressive behavior.
“Punishment also harms your relationship with your cat,” says Luse. “We may think we’re telling our cat that when they engage in petting-induced aggression with us, punishment will be the consequence. But more likely, the cat comes to simply associate us, not their own behavior, with the punishment. This erodes the cat’s bond with and trust in us.”
Our adorable, whiskered friends may occasionally display behaviors that challenge us, but with patience, understanding, and a little bit of feline finesse, we can make our homes a harmonious haven for both cats and humans. So, keep an eye on your kitty’s subtle cues, respect their boundaries, and shower them with love (on their terms, of course!).
