Cuddle-related aggression in cats

Why does my cat bite me when we cuddle?

A cat can sometimes unexpectedly attack and bite its owner when the owner is merely petting their cat. This unprovoked reaction is what we call 'cuddle-related aggression'.

Most often a cat reacts this way when it does not want to be disturbed or petted. It could be that the owner simply didn't pick up on these signals, and therefore the cat is giving them a good telling off.

Another explanation for the cat biting could be that the cat did not have enough human contact during the cat's most important socialisation period. The reason may therefore lie in the cat's past and its early experiences with people.

The socialisation period for a cat

The socialisation period for a cat falls between the second and the eighth week of life. If the cat's contact with human and being handled and 'cuddled' has been little or no contact at all, the cat may react to intense owner contact later in life.

Previous experiences influence

Cats during their socialisation period which have been handled in a good way and have had close contact with people, often have a higher level of tolerance and show this behaviour less often.

While other cats that have had less human contact more often react aggressively just a few minutes after being petted.

In sudden attacks like this, the cat may have a direct association with a previous unpleasant experience, is not used to the current level of cuddling, or has had enough.

Petting hand - pleasurable and menacing at the same time

A petting hand can be experienced by a cat as both pleasurable and threatening at the same time. If you, as a cat owner, pet your cat a little tiredly while you are perhaps watching TV or reading a book, it is easy to miss the cat's subtle signals that it has had enough.

Cats may be comfortable with being petted on some parts of the body but not others and may react negatively to this. Most cats like to be petted on the cheeks and around the head, but there are very few who instinctively like to be petted on the stomach, for example.

Try to be calm

A cat that reacts to cuddling usually grabs the arm and may kick, bite and scratch. In response to this, it is not unusual for the owner to shout and withdraw his hand. This can trigger the cat's hunting instinct and cause the cat to attack again. The best thing you can do in such a situation is to stay calm and be still, even if it is difficult.

When the cat stops, you can calmly remove your hand. It is not uncommon for the cat to continue to feel frustrated and, for example, engage in rash actions such as suddenly starting to wash themselves.

Get to know your cat's tolerance level

Different cats have different tolerance levels for tickling. It is therefore very important to learn what exactly your cat likes and how long it wants to be petted in order to be able to stop in time. This tolerance level can be gradually stretched and increased by listening to the cat and showing it understanding and respecting what it wants.

Most often, this leads to the cat eventually wanting to cuddle more because the cat associates this with something positive. It is also possible to teach your cat to associate cuddling with reward by, for example, rewarding with food or treat while you pet them.