Most cats are docile and obedient animals. Cats rarely bite and scratch, and try hard to avoid situations that force them to behave in this way. However, there are times when the cat will fight and injure the owner. Besides being painful, a cat bite or scratch can trigger an infection, so it's best to avoid it. Thus, it is useful to learn how to prevent your cat from biting or scratching, and knowing how to react when this occurs.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Reacting to Cat Bites and Scratches
Step 1. Stay calm
Never hit, chase, or scold your cat. You will only frighten the cat, so it will feel tense and confused.
Don't call the cat closer, then punish him. Your cat will not understand why you react negatively. On the other hand, the cat may expect you to respond positively when he is called closer
Step 2. Go dodge
The first thing you should do is stop holding and keep your hands out of the cat's reach. If he doesn't calm down within a few seconds, stand up slowly so you can release the cat from your lap. Walk away and don't come back until your cat has calmed down.
Do not try to calm the cat down after it has bitten or scratched. Instead, show that you don't like the behavior. After you teach that, don't immediately hug and pet the cat. This will only confuse the cat, because you're performing a variety of different actions at once. Your cat may even start biting you back for a cuddle
Step 3. Provide a way out for the cat
If you're trying to move into another room, and an angry, squealing cat gets in your way, try to see the situation from the cat's point of view. Your cat feels trapped and you move towards it, which is considered a threat. He wants to run, but there is no way out, so he must defend himself by attacking you. A simple solution is to shift and let your cat pass (which it will quickly do), then get on with what you're doing.
Do not feed your cat for about 20 minutes after it bites or scratches, as this may be considered a reward for the behavior
Step 4. Understand what triggers your cat to change its behavior
Cats will respond favorably to positive prompts, such as praise and rewards for good behavior, and conversely, ignoring and withdrawing from bad behavior.
Give him a mouse-shaped toy to bite into, instead of your hand. Then, give praise when the cat nibbles on the toy
Step 5. Try using voice commands and body language
As soon as your cat bites or scratches, say "NO!" in a commanding tone. At the same time, point your finger at the cat. Look at your cat with an annoyed or angry look. This kind of stare is considered a threat of dominance in the cat world.
Staying away from or ignoring the cat for about 10 minutes after doing the steps above can also help
Step 6. Try clapping your hands
When your cat bites or scratches, clap your hands and say "NO!" strickly. But remember not to scream or clap right in front of your cat's face. This can make the cat scared and tense. Repeat this step whenever the cat bites or scratches. Your cat must learn to stop this behavior.
This method is more suitable for cats that are dominant, aggressive, or unruly. However, it is not recommended for cats who are prone to panic or shyness, as they can reinforce these tendencies
Step 7. Try to ignore the cat
When the cat stops biting or scratching you, stand up and walk away showing that you don't like the behavior, and don't invite the cat to interact again. Make sure your cat is alone in the room and doesn't interact with other people for 5 to 10 minutes. Repeat this step every time your cat tries to bite or scratch you. He will immediately link the behavior to your abandonment.
This method doesn't work with all cats, but works well for very affectionate cats, as they will lose your attention. This method also works quite well with kittens who are still learning to behave properly
Part 2 of 3: Preventing Cats from Biting and Scratching
Step 1. Set limits when playing with cats
Learn to pretend. When your cat bites your hand while playing, try to groan loudly and pull your hand away. Then stand up and walk away, which will indicate you're done playing. If you do this consistently, your young kitten will quickly understand that biting will stop playing with you, and will try to avoid it.
If the cat bites violently and you want him to stop this behavior, gently push the cat back. Pushing the cat like this will make it uncomfortable, so it will stop biting you. Quickly getting away from this vexed bite will only increase your chances of being scratched by a cat, as it moves roughly
Step 2. Give your cat toys so he doesn't play with your fingers or hands
Cats at play often get caught up in the situation and you may get scratched, or a cat that is continuing to play may suddenly scratch your hand. To prevent this from happening, give him toys like fish and plastic hooks, laser flashlights, or mouse toys, anything that isn't part of your body.
Cats need to bite, chew, and scratch in the process of playing and learning, but not your body or anyone else's. Try playing fish and plastic hooks with the cat, so your hands are out of reach of the bite
Step 3. Let your cat play around
Spend 5 to 10 minutes playing time a day. Let the cat chase the fish toys, and continue playing until your cat is tired.
The goal is to mentally stimulate your cat by chasing and physically exhausting him. A tired cat is much less likely to attack than a bored cat and an excess of energy that is not being channeled
Step 4. Consider neutering your cat
Non-neutered cats exhibited more dominant behavior than neutered cats. While this doesn't mean that non-neutered cats tend to be aggressive, neutering cats does have a calming effect and tends to make cats more sociable and docile.
Step 5. Learn how to recognize the early signs of a cat attack
Watch for signs such as dilated pupils, wavy fur, or stopping the cat's purring. Your cat may start making low-pitched growls, or high hissing sounds. He will probably lift his ears back and put them on his head. The fur on the cat's face may stick out and the cat's mouth will open slightly and begin to grin (often with a hiss).
- Pupils in cats that are playing will also dilate, because he feels happy. Keep this in mind when assessing a cat's body language--because a cat sitting on your lap shouldn't feel that way, so its pupils shouldn't be dilated.
- If a cat feels cornered, it will often bend over and walk from side to side in a tense manner, as if trying to find a way out (which is exactly what it is doing).
Part 3 of 3: Understanding the Causes of Cats Biting and Scratching
Step 1. Find out if your cat was cared for by humans since childhood, not by its mother
Kittens that are cared for by humans lose playtime as a child, and do not yet understand how to adjust their movements during play. This cat often grows up to be a grumpy adult cat.
Cats that have been cared for by humans since childhood and behave aggressively are usually a sign for humans to stay away. Understanding the nature of cats like this can prevent you from being bitten and scratched
Step 2. Find out if your cat is stressed or tense
Cats who are stressed and feel they have no way out will be more irritable. Stress in cats is usually caused by a crying toddler, changes in the environment, or the presence of new people. Thus, understanding the cat's emotional needs and reactions is very important. Don't assume your cat is aggressive, it may just be responding to stress.
The best response is to restore calm and a comfortable environment. Turn off the loud TV, ask the children to play more quietly around the cat, and if someone is sad, ask them to cry or scream out of the cat's ear
Step 3. Notice if the cat is just getting too excited while playing
If you trigger your cat to attack your moving hands, feet, or fingers while playing, don't be surprised if after playing it will attack your feet. Your cat may think you're not done playing yet.
Step 4. Check if your cat is sick or in pain
A sick or sick cat will show a stronger defensive stance, making it easier for him to attack. Cats showing symptoms of illness (weight loss, more thirst, vomiting), or pain (irritability, groaning, scratching, or biting) should be seen by a veterinarian. It's possible that the cat's behavior will improve once the underlying problem is resolved.
Older cats may not like being held or cuddled, so they will bite and scratch to avoid them. Ask your family members to consider the cat's age and desire to be treated more gently. Giving your cat ample play space should help correct this behavior problem
Tips
- Teach children how to properly hold and pet cats and kittens. Proper treatment can prevent many problems.
- If your cat is still biting or scratching, pat the cat firmly but gently on the tip of its nose. This won't hurt the cat, it'll just annoy him.
- The tip of the cat's nose is a little risky--pay close attention to whether this is right for your cat. Just as your cat moves to scratch or bite, hold the cat by the scruff of the neck (try to collect the cat hair, this will be easier on a bushy cat), lowering the cat's head down. Say "NO!" firmly, without shouting. You are not being rude or hurting the cat. You just stop the attack. He'll likely squirm and try to get away (if so, let him go before he starts scratching), but he'll understand that you don't like this behavior. If your cat stays still for a few seconds, remove it from your grip. You have to appear fair but firm.
- There are a variety of recommended ways to stop a cat's attack, and they usually involve using water or an uncomfortable sound. This will not help, and will only make your problem worse, by making the cat more anxious. The best result may be that the first time the cat is sprayed with water, the startled cat will stop, but if you do this again, the cat will respond by running away from you. If that's what you want (the cat won't scratch if it's not around), you can continue. But if you want to interact and build a close relationship with your cat, you can't use this method.
Warning
- If your cat doesn't respond well to any of the above, stop immediately.
- If there are children in the house, be sure to treat the cat safely at home. (Don't pull the tail, don't hit, don't yell at the cat, and don't spray water on the cat unless absolutely necessary, etc.)
- Cat bites are very easy to get infected. Watch the progress of your wound, and seek medical attention if needed.
- If a cat bite is sudden and unusual, take him to the vet for a check-up. There may be a medical issue that needs to be addressed that is causing the behavior.
