You may love your feline friend like they’re a member of the family, but that doesn’t mean you won’t get bitten from time to time – and often for no fault of your own. Never a pleasant experience – however small your cat is – a bite can be painful, and the first step to prevent unprovoked biting from your cat is to first understand why they do it.
Biting from kittens
There are several reasons why kittens tend to bite. The first reason is because of their innate nature. Kittens are a playful and mischievous lot and love to indulge in playing with their owners. One such game is ‘race and nip’ which involves gentle biting of your toes and fingers. When kittens are small, this sort of game can appear quite amusing. But it can lead to painful toes and fingers if it comes from an adult cat with fully developed teeth.
Teething pain is another reason why kittens are prone to unprovoked biting. Taking your furry friend to a cat dentist in Sydney to alleviate their teething pain is therefore a good idea.
There are a few things you can do to dissuade kittens from biting you:
● Ensure you have ample toys available for them so that they can bite into them to their heart’s content.
● Play games they like so that you cater to their natural needs and habits. However, take care not to over-stimulate them as that can cause unprovoked biting.
Biting during playtime
Adult cats also enjoy having playful sessions with you but, much like with kittens, it’s important not to over-stimulate them to avoid unwanted biting.
Biting as a tool of communication
You may feel that your cat has bitten without being provoked, but it’s important to be aware of the fact that sometimes biting can serve as a way of communicating for them. If you happen to be relaxing with your cat on your lap, all the while gently stroking the soft fur, then it’s not unusual for a cat to nip viciously on your hand, completely out of the blue. This is nothing to be alarmed by however, and is just an indication from your cat that they want you to stop.
Biting as the last resort
Sometimes, a bite from your cat can be aggressive and serious. This arises when they perceive that they have no other option. In more serious cases this can lead to bacterial infection and necessitate you to undertake immediate treatment. Biting in this context highlights the importance of cat teeth cleaning and regular visits to a local cat dentist in Sydney for periodical check-ups.
The above guidelines will give an idea about the reasons for unprovoked bites from your pet. Getting to know your cat better, ensuring they have ample toys, and maintaining regular visits to a cat dentist in Sydney are proven methods that will help to eliminate unwanted and unprovoked bites from your feline friend.