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Is cat biting normal?

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Cat

Is cat biting normal?

Why Do Cats Bite While Playing?

In the middle of a play session, without warning and seemingly out of nowhere, your cat clamps down on you for a quick, painful nibble. First thought: “Ow! Aren’t we friends?” Second thought: “Why do cats bite when I play with them?”

One of the most common reasons why cats like to sink their tiny — but mighty — teeth into our skin is play aggression. But the good news is that with this information, you’ll not only understand why cats nip, but you’ll also have tools you need to help redirect or, ideally, prevent this unwelcome behaviour.

Why Do Cats Bite While Playing?

Essentially, if your cat nips at you during playtime, it’s their way of saying, “This is fun, but let’s take it to the next level.” Engaging in play with your furbaby is a terrific bonding experience, but if your cat’s playfulness turns aggressive, they’ll bite you or, perhaps, use your entire arm as a chew toy.

Cats play in a way that “involves typical predatory and play behaviours,” notes the ASPCA: stalking, attacking, clawing and biting their perceived opponent. It’s not unusual for them to act this way with their pet parents, and once they’re in the throes of roughhousing, they may have difficulty pulling back.

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Sometimes cat parents don’t realize they’re actually encouraging the biting. As International Cat Care points out, when people play a little too “rough and tumble” with young cats, “they often reinforce the highly excitable behaviour, and encourage kittens to grow up biting and scratching in the name of play with an intensity that can cause injury.” But keep in mind, roughhousing isn’t a good idea with cats of any age.

How to Prevent Cat Nips

The best way to stop aggressive biting is to shut it down before it becomes a habit. It’s not always easy, but your skin will thank you later.

For starters, understanding your cat’s body language can go a long way toward curbing play biting. It’s easy to get distracted while playing together, but you’ll want to pay careful attention to your cat’s stance, ear and tail positions, and eyes.

Remember that the reason cats play bite is that they are acting like you’re prey. And why do cats nip? They’re giving you a warning. If their eyes are dilated, back away slowly. And if they’re crouched and shaking their rear end, you’re about to be ambushed!

You can still goof around and be very active with your cat pal, but there are ways to do so without ending up on the receiving end of their fangs. For example, don’t use your hand or arm as a toy; instead, employ a real toy, such as a catnip mouse or bird on a wand, as the go-between. If you still find yourself under attack, redirect your cat’s attention by tossing a beloved toy in the opposite direction so they’ll dart after it.

If your cat does bite you while playing, don’t react in a way that’ll break the bond of trust between you two. “Never physically punish or even touch a cat during these times,” emphasizes the Cornell Feline Health Center, “as this may cause a cat to become fearful of people or may be interpreted as play, which may inadvertently reward the aggressive behaviour.” So if redirecting doesn’t work, simply walk away and ignore your kitty — they’ll eventually get the hint that this isn’t appropriate behaviour.

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Shifting From Cat Bites to Affectionate Acts

You may be taken aback by unexpected behaviour like play biting, but don’t consider it a sign that your kitty doesn’t love you. Cats have unique ways of showing affection, after all, from head-butting to, yes, “love nips.” When your furry friend gently nibbles on your finger, that’s just fine. When they start all-out chomping on you during playtime, it’s probably time to curb this behaviour.

Instead of allowing nipping at all, encourage more gentle sentiments like kneading and snuggling. If you show a lack of interest in playing rough, your cat might lose interest in it, too.

It’s not always easy to change your cat’s behaviour, but redirecting and preventing your furry friend’s biting urge will help take the sting out of playtime.

Source: Hill’s Pet Nutrition

Weird Things Cats Do & Why We Love Them

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Cats

Weird Things Cats Do & Why We Love Them

Most cat parents agree that they adore their feline friends because of the weird things they do. The unpredictability of funny cat behavior (Why do cats love boxes? And why do they zoom around at 3 a.m.?) livens up any household. But what you see as silly and entertaining is just your cat following their instincts.

Here are six weird things cats do and the science behind them.

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1. Kneading

One of the most common and distinctive catlike displays of affection is kneading. You climb into bed or curl up in your favorite chair, and they show up to massage you and the blankets. Nursing kittens knead to stimulate their mother’s milk flow. Cats may also use the behavior to scent-mark a beloved human, create a comfy bed or express contentment. It’s a trait kittens carry into adulthood, notes the American Animal Hospital Association, often used to calm themselves during times of anxiety. In the cat world, kneading equals love and safety.

2. Presenting Their Tail

A cat showing their bottom to you feels like one of the least charming weird things cats do. This often happens when they leap into your lap for attention, pacing back and forth as you pet them. Instead of a face-to-face interaction, your kitty turns around and sticks their nether regions in your face. Gross!

Well, not to the cat. Scent rules the feline world: Cats identify each other by smell. Presenting the tail end first shows you your cat trusts you. That high-held tail position offers a friendly greeting. Does your pet consider you a fellow cat? No, but they’re communicating the way they would to other cats, Discovery explains. Consider it a friendly invitation for a “howdy” sniff. (You don’t have to accept the invitation, of course.)

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3. Countertop Cruising

Cats love lounging on countertops, shelves and other second-story territories. The higher the perch, the better. That poses a hygiene and safety issue for cats who stroll across the stovetop. But you can’t stop this natural inclination.

Pet cats, though no longer wild, inherit the instinct to seek high ground, notes Feline Behavior Solutions. They’re hunters, sniffing out and stalking that tasty butter dish but also prey. Finding the highest ground in your house offers a nifty lookout, far from dog-sniffing and kid-poking range. Plus, it has the added perks of food rewards. To redirect your cat’s natural urge, put away tasty temptations, make counters unattractive and give your climbing kitty a cat tree or other perch higher than the counters.

4. Staring at Nothing

Cats tune in to their environment. They hear and see things people can’t, like that dust bunny floating through the air 30 feet away. It may freak you out to see your kitty sitting in a corner staring at something invisible, but rest assured, those feline eyes are trained on something important.

According to Cats Protection, cats hear things in the ultrasonic range that humans can’t. They also have an eight-octave hearing range, hearing higher and lower than many other mammals. We can’t know if they watch ghosts move across the room. But, more likely, your cat tracks the sound of insects behind the walls or mice in the ceiling.

Your cat also sees things differently than you, explains Live Science. Humans see light in a spectrum of colors from red to violet. But some animals (including cats) see the ultraviolet spectrum invisible to us, notes Live Science. Rodents use this ability to see and follow urine trails. We don’t know what cats see, but when they act as though something enthralls them, it might just be invisible.

5. Zoomies: Running Around the House

Zoomies could be the weirdest of the weird things cats do, and they do it a lot. One moment, they’re sitting there, quiet and unassuming. Then, they dart across the room at top speed to chase … nothing. Zoomies (properly known as Frenetic Random Activity Periods or FRAPS) can startle us, especially in the middle of the night. This normal cat behavior has several potential causes.

In most cases, zoomies express pent-up energy or counteract kitty boredom. Kittens and young adult cats indulge more often. Even older felines can burn up the house from time to time. According to Pet Health Network, other cats zoom after using the litter box because they feel so good after emptying, or they zoom when they experience discomfort eliminating.

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6. Hiding in Boxes and Small Spaces

Have you ever wondered, “Why do cats love boxes?” Is there anything cuter than seeing an adorable face sticking out of a paper bag? Or finding your cat curled up in a tiny cardboard box that’s three times too small? Cats love seeking small hiding places. Although this behavior is endearing, it also makes cats feel safer. They seek comfort, security and warmth in spots that seem so odd to you, like a shoebox or the bathroom sink.

As predators, cats instinctively find hiding places from which to stalk prey. But as prey themselves, they also appreciate defensive hiding spots to stay safe. More than that, the swaddling effect that comforts human babies also benefits cats. They can create this hugging benefit by squeezing into boxes to calm their stress, explains Live Science.

These are only a few of the weird things cats do to bring love, fun and comfort into your world!

Source: Hill’s Pet Nutrition

Squeaky Toys – Why the Craze?

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Squeaky Toys

Image: Pixabay

Squeaky Toys – Why the Craze?

Ever wonder why your dog goes crazy with excitement when they hear that squeak escape their favourite toy?

Well, the answer is quite simple – dogs are hunters, and the squeak itself simulates the cry of prey. That high pitched sound that sometimes irritates our own human ears, and or ripping apart a plush toy releases a happy hormone in your dog’s brain, it is immensely satisfying to them for some dogs. The sound itself triggers an immense and immediate gratifying auditory reward.

We often hear owners say they can’t understand why their dogs destroy their plush beds and toys, that they don’t know how to stop the naughty behavior. But this isn’t naughty behavior at all. It is natural.

Studies have shown that certain sounds like those of a squeaky toy, makes trigger reward centers in the brain release the feel-good chemical, dopamine. Pretty much like a runner’s high, or that great feeling after a hard gym session. Dopamine being released gives your dog instant gratification and encourages them to keep coming back for more.

It stands to reason that dogs enjoy squeaky toys because it’s fun to bite down and get an interesting sound. Dogs engage in behaviors that are reinforced or rewarded, which is why we repeat “fun” things with them.

However, dogs are individuals, and even dogs within the same breed will have preferences due to personality differences.

Some dogs prefer harder toys that feel good to chew on, others prefer toys like balls or something they can fetch when thrown.

No matter the preference, the reason and outcome remain exactly the same – it makes them feel really happy.

Source: English & French Bulldog Rescue SA – November 2023 Newsletter

Playing with your cat

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Playing with your cat

Image: Pixabay

Playing with your cat is an important part of maintaining their health and your bond with them. Luckily, they love to play!

Providing opportunities for solo play is particularly important for indoor cats, especially if they spend much of the day alone.

Kittens and adult cats are both stimulated by the same sort of games, though kittens don’t require a great deal of encouragement to get started. Cat play is almost entirely about simulating behaviour associated with hunting.

Cats have a strong instinctive desire to stalk and kill prey so you’ll find you have the most success if you can mimic the actions of something they’re likely to hunt.

The right toys
The first thing you’re going to want to find is a proper toy to play with your cat. If you’re trying to stimulate prey hunting behaviour you don’t want to use your hands. Even if your cat is gentle, they might bite if they become too excited. You want your cat to associate your hands with petting and feeding, not hunting and killing.

Good toys for cats are easy to find and most of the time you don’t even have to buy them. They’re usually just as interested in a piece of paper or a ping-pong ball as a manufactured toy.

Rolled up balls of tin foil, plastic caps from bottles, paper bags or anything that moves easily and makes a bit of noise is a prime candidate to be turned into a cat toy.

Dangers
Be wary of plain pieces of string, elastic bands or anything else your cat might swallow. Some thinner pieces of string, when stretched, can even become sharp. These might make good toys, but you musn’t let your cat play with them unattended.

Sound stimulation
Toys that have bells or ‘squeakers’ are especially good to give your cat if they are likely to be left alone as the noise acts as an extra stimulus.

The important point to remember with all these toys is that you need to alternate them to prevent boredom. Don’t just throw all your cats toys on the floor and leave them. Cats are very smart and will tire of toys quickly.

Instead, put out only one or two toys and change them regularly. This will be far more interesting for your cat.

Games
A fantastic type of toy for you and your cat to play with is the kind that has a ball, mouse or feather at the end of a string. Sometimes the string is also attached to a wand. These toys make it very easy for you to simulate moving prey for your cat.

Try to imitate a small animal sneaking around your furniture. Or swing it through the air like a bird, letting it occasionally land and hop around on the ground. Take your time, let your cat stalk or chase the ‘prey’ for a bit. After five or ten minutes, let your cat pounce on the mouse or snatch the bird out of the air. It’s important that your cat feels like they had a successful hunt.

Your cat may chew on the toy or carry it off. If you are both still having fun the toy can come alive again, or you can introduce a new one. Anything with a string on it shouldn’t be left out for your cat to chew through and swallow. And remember, it’s important to keep the toys fresh and exciting.

Favourites
Cats can become very attached to small stuffed toys, and every once and a while will bring them outside to play with. Some will meow and howl over a favourite stuffed animal. There is no conclusive explanation why they do this; however, it is all good fun and part of your cat’s play.

How Often?
Two play sessions a day would be fantastic for both you and your cat. You might find having a playtime just before bed (or even adding a third one) will help settle down a cat that usually gets into trouble at night.

If your cat doesn’t feel like playing the first time, don’t get discouraged. Keep trying and you’ll start to work out how and when your cat likes to play.

Source: Hill’s Pet Nutrition 

7 Tips for Introducing a New Kitten to Kids

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Image: Pixabay

Bringing a new kitten into your family is bound to be an exciting time, but should you be worried about introducing him to your kids? The answer is No; as long as you follow these essential tips for introducing a new kitten to kids, you’ll have a well-adjusted kitten and children who know how to respect animals.

7 Tips for Introducing a New Kitten to Kids

1. Take it Slowly

Your new kitten is likely to be overwhelmed by his new surroundings; add excitable children to this and it can be a bit too much. Your children are bound to be thrilled with their new playmate, but you should make sure that they understand that they have to take their time in getting to know him. This will obviously be more difficult the younger the children are, but instilling a respect for animals and an understanding of how to treat them when your kids are young is a great start in life.

2. Be Gentle

Being handled at a young age will help ensure your nervous kitten turns into a confident, well-socialised cat, but it has to be gentle. Young kittens are delicate, despite what you might think after seeing him racing around the house at the speed of light.

3. Get Down to His Level

Encourage your children to lie down on the floor to meet your kitten; it’s less threatening for your kitten to have everyone on his level, and he’s more likely to feel comfortable approaching you and your children.

4. Set the Ground Rules

As we all know, children can get noisy when they’re over excited, and what could be more exciting than a cute little kitten? Make sure that they know to speak in soft voices, without squealing, screeching or screaming around him, because the last thing they’ll want to do is scare him!  Other understandable ground rules should be no pulling of tails and no squeezing too hard (no matter how cute he is!).

5. Get the Kids Involved

Depending on their ages, give your children responsibility for different aspects of looking after your kitten, for example feeding time, changing litter and coming on visits to the vet. Apart from making them feel involved, it’ll also teach them about responsible pet parenting.

6. The Right Way to Play

Once kitten and kids have been properly introduced, and your kitten is more comfortable with the whole family, it’s important to teach your children the right way to play with cats. Playing rough is a bad idea, even though a little kitten’s claws won’t make much of an impact now – when he grows up and wants to carry on playing rough, it could end in tears!

7. Keep an Eye on Proceedings

Make sure that any time together is supervised until you’re absolutely certain that your children know exactly how to behave and handle the kitten.

Once your whole family is comfortable with the new kitten, you’re well on your way to having a well-socialised cat, respectful and knowledgeable children, and an all-round happy family!

Source: Pawsome Cats