why does my cat bite me
Meow
The meowing of cats actually corresponds to the "baby language". When the young kittens start to cry, for example because they are hungry or cold, the mother cat will immediately come to them and check on them.
Domestic cats maintain the meowing towards humans. In doing so, they develop the most diverse variations. As a rule, however, the main purpose of meowing is to attract attention. It can mean anything from a play request to "Let me out!" or "Give me food!
From constantly to not at all - when cats meow
How much and how loud cats meow varies from cat to cat. Siamese cats are known to meow a lot, for most cats it seems to be character dependent. In addition, female cats meow more when they are "in heat", i.e. ready to mate. Deaf cats also tend to meow a lot and loudly.
If cats meow constantly and seemingly without reason, sometimes all night long, this may indicate boredom or frustration. On the other hand, why some cats do not meow at all or meow very little is unexplained. Perhaps they have simply become accustomed to the "baby language".
Purr
Purring is associated with an expression of the cat's well-being. Thus, many cats purr when they are being petted, and sometimes when they are half asleep or playing.
But there are other reasons why cats purr. So it expresses not only relaxation, but also serves to calm the cat itself and to appease conspecifics. Therefore, many cats also purr when they are afraid or in pain, such as at the vet and in unfamiliar situations or when they are sick. So if the cat purrs all day, it may also be a sign of stress or discomfort.
Lactating queens purr especially much, so that the at the beginning still blind and deaf kittens find easier to the "milk bar". In addition, the individual smell of their mother helps them. This smell also identifies who belongs to the family.
The latest theories assume that purring can also accelerate bone healing, because the vibration creates a constant mechanical stimulus. It is precisely these vibrations, which can be felt all over the body when the cat purrs loudly, that sometimes give the impression that the cat is literally shaking when it purrs.
How do cats purr?
For us humans, this humming, buzzing sound, which often makes the whole animal vibrate, exerts an inexplicable fascination. Researchers disagree about exactly how cats purr. It is certain that the larynx with the vocal cords and the atrial fold, which is only pronounced in felines, plays a role. It is assumed that regular nerve impulses lead to a contraction of the laryngeal muscles and thus to an interruption of the air flow (similar to snoring).
Purring must be learned. Only domestic cats and smaller wild cats can purr when breathing in and out.
The milk kick
Milk kicking means gentle, rhythmic, massaging movements with the paws against an object, on the ground or even in the air - the so-called "kicking". The small cat babies stimulate in such a way at the Gesäuge of the mother the milk flow. Kicking is done mainly with the front paws, but sometimes also with all four.
As with meowing, many adult domestic cats retain this behavior into old age. They purr and kick, especially when they are extensively stroked, with preference against the leg or arm of the human. It can sting a bit, because the claws are slightly extended during the rhythmic kicking movements.
Kicking as a sign of well-being
The milk kick is a great sign of confidence and expresses absolute well-being. Therefore, you should never try to break the cat's habit of kicking or even punish him for it.
Some cats not only kick, but also suckle on their owner's blanket or clothes at the same time, because it obviously reminds them of the security and safety a little kitten experiences at its mother's teat. Sometimes cats also start drooling while kicking.
Why cats stomp their paws before lying down
To be distinguished from milk treading is the treading on the spot and turning that many cats show before they lie down. Perhaps this behavior is a remnant of their wild ancestors who used to paw the tall grass in the chosen spot before lying down.
Biting
Real, bloody cat bites are rare, but also dangerous, as they often become infected, which can lead to serious inflammation.
As a rule, however, cats bite only lightly. This can have various reasons. If you pet a cat and it suddenly bites and scratches while cuddling, it may be that it has simply had enough of petting or you have caught a ticklish spot. The previous warning signs of the cat, such as tail twitching and the turning of the ears backwards, the cuddling owner probably simply did not notice.
Cats very rarely bite completely without warning. Then it is mostly about getting attention. In order not to train this behavior to the cat, or to get rid of it as quickly as possible, you should ignore it immediately in such a case. Attention should only be given again when the cat has calmed down and is not actively seeking contact with humans.
The love bite in cats
If the cat starts to bite or nibble gently into the human's hand while cuddling, it is called "love bite". This behavior is not meant in a bad way. It occurs mainly when you stroke the cat's belly. This stimulates the cat to play and it becomes high-spirited. But at the same time it is a proof of love - although often not very welcome. So also the male cat bites the "female cat" easily in the neck during the mating act.
Playful biting
When the cat sneaks up on its humans and bites their hands or feet and leg, it is usually underutilized and in this way it is pursuing its play and hunting instincts. Try to play extensively with your cat for at least 20 minutes a day.
However, never scuffle with your cat with your bare hands. Also the commercially available toy gloves with extended fingers should be avoided, because the cat should learn that your hand is not a toy.
It is better to arrange catching games instead of scuffling games. In the trade there are fishing rods with a toy at it. For most cats a small ball or a cuddly toy, which is thrown and which they can chase, is enough.
Education and hierarchy
Cats among themselves bite each other mainly in the game. Rarely it comes in ranking fights to serious biting. This depends also strongly on the character of the cat and on the territorial relations in the neighborhood.
Now and then it also happens that the mother cat bites her kittens lightly in order to reprimand them. This education is harmless. However, if the cat bites her kittens more violently and apparently without reason, for example, if they meow a lot, it may be a sign of excessive demand. Then the human should intervene and try to give the cat some rest, for example by "watching" the nest for a while or possibly feeding the kittens to take some stress away from the cat.
The killing bite
To be distinguished from all these bites is the killing bite in hunting. The site of the killing bite is instinctively innate in young kittens. It is either biting through the throat or breaking the neck by a powerful bite into the neck and subsequent shaking. They have to learn the intensity, which is why the mother cat brings home live mice to the kittens every now and then after a certain age.
Bringing mice home
Many outdoor cats give their owners an unloved "gift" once or twice: mice or birds - sometimes still alive, sometimes already half taken apart. The opinion is widespread that these gifts are simple presents, the cat simply wants to "give back" something to its "can openers". Now it is in the animal kingdom however as a rule in such a way that all alleged "gifts" have some deeper background. So why does the cat think it has to bring us mice?
The reason is actually obvious if you take a look at when the cat primarily goes hunting - namely when it has kittens. As soon as the kittens are old enough, the cat never tires of hunting, so that the food table is richly filled. At some point she also starts to bring live mice, so that the little ones can learn to hunt.
So if the cats now want to share their prey with us humans, they basically simply think that we are probably not yet able to provide for ourselves. Even though there is not as pronounced a hierarchy between cats and their humans as there is between dogs, this does indicate that the cat sees itself as the leader and the one in charge.
Panting
Cats normally pant only when it is very hot or when they have completely exhausted themselves playing and romping. Since cats can only sweat on their paws, panting, like in dogs, is important for thermoregulation, that is, regulating constant body temperature.
However, some cats pant when they are excited or under extreme stress, such as on a hated car ride. If the cat is panting for no apparent reason, it should be presented to a veterinarian.
If it is mouth breathing, it may indicate respiratory problems or cardiovascular problems. The difference between mouth breathing (i.e. breathing with the mouth open through the mouth instead of through the nose) and panting is that when panting, only the upper airways (called the dead space) are ventilated, so there is no air exchange at all. This serves the evaporation on the mucous membranes for cooling.
Grooming
Cats spend about three to four hours a day grooming themselves. Extensive grooming is important for thermoregulation, among other things. In summer, the moistened fur cools. In addition, the cats distribute their very own, typical smell in the fur. This allows them to recognize each other even at great distances. The smell also plays an important role in the mother-child bond.
Sometimes cats also groom themselves out of boredom or as a so-called skip action. For example, if the cat does not know how to assess the situation (for example, when there are visitors) or can not decide ("Should I go out even though it's cold and wet, or rather stay inside?") one often observes a short hectic cleaning.
Constant grooming as a sign of illness
If the cat is constantly licking itself and perhaps even losing fur, parasites, such as fleas or mites, or other itch-causing skin problems may be the reason. Allergies are also a possible cause. If the cat constantly brushes its buttocks, this may be an indication of worm infestation. If the cat licks its paws conspicuously often, this could also be due to a fungal infection.
In all these cases, a veterinarian should be consulted, because parasites can often also affect humans. If no cause can be determined, the extreme grooming can also be stress-related. The cats develop then a regular cleaning compulsion and lick themselves in bad cases even bloody. Therefore, the cause of the stress must be found out and eliminated.
Cleaning as proof of love
Mutual grooming among cats demonstrates affection and trust. Cleaning can sometimes turn into an extensive game in which cats playfully bite each other. Cats also show their affection towards humans by licking our hand or "preening" our hair.
Cats often preen themselves immediately after being petted. Researchers do not agree on whether they do this to quickly cover up the human scent with their own, or on the contrary, to absorb it again particularly intensively.
Vomit hairballs
When grooming, cats inevitably ingest more or less fur, depending on the length and texture of the undercoat. Longhaired cats are particularly affected. The change of coat also leads to increased ingestion of hair during grooming. In the stomach it comes then to the formation of hairballs. Some of these pass easily through the digestive tract and are excreted with the feces. However, many cats regurgitate larger hairballs. How often they do this varies greatly from cat to cat. It also often goes unnoticed in free-roaming cats.
To induce vomiting, many cats eat grass. Presumably, this triggers a stimulus at the entrance to the stomach that facilitates vomiting. The plant substances in the grass also cause the hairballs to harden. One speaks then also of so-called Bezoaren ("stomach stones"). These can be vomited more easily without food remains being regurgitated. If not vomited, the indigestible grass and the hairballs bound by the grass are excreted with the feces.
A bowl of special cat grass should always be provided so that the house cat does not nibble on the house plants.
Complications due to hairballs
Complications can occur if the stomach lining is so irritated by the hairballs that it becomes inflamed. The cat then gets abdominal pain and at some point also no longer wants to eat. If she does not vomit the hairballs on her own, the vet can inject something that causes vomiting (xylacin).
In rare cases, bezoars can lead to intestinal obstruction. The cat can then no longer defecate and in the worst case, intussusception, i.e. parts of the intestine pushing into each other, can lead to circulatory problems and even death of affected intestinal sections. Therefore, if laxatives do not work, emergency surgery must be performed to remove the bezoar.
Preventing hairballs in cats
To prevent the formation of hairballs, especially longhaired cats should be brushed frequently. Special food is also available in stores. This contains fibers that bind hair and food, so that the hair is digested and finally excreted. Malt paste or home remedies, such as adding oil or butter to the food, are also said to facilitate the elimination of hairballs.
Pawing
Cats scratch in different places for different reasons. Thereby the burying in the litter box and the scratching at objects are to be distinguished from each other. In addition, some cats scratch on the floor in front of the food or water bowl. If they even scratch dry food out of the bowl, this may be an expression of dissatisfaction (in the sense of "I don't like it"). Another theory is that it is a remnant of the hunting instinct. According to this, cats try to "hide" their prey to save it for later.
Scratching as a territorial marking
If the cat scratches at objects, and/or scratches at the scratching post, this serves above all the precinct marking, because between the toes scent glands sit. Such glands are also found on the chin and cheeks, which is why cats prefer to rub themselves against furniture and against us humans to mark "You belong to me".
However, scratching and pawing at doors or windows is mainly to attract attention in order to either be let out or let in.
Scratching in the litter box
The litter box is where most cats bury feces and urine. This is a sign of submission, as they do not leave their scent mark in plain sight. They have thus accepted the human in their territory (i.e. the apartment) as higher in rank. Particularly careful cats sometimes even scratch next to the litter box. If a cat on the other hand does not scratch the excrement, it sets a territorial mark with it and sees itself accordingly as "boss" in the house.
If the cat is constantly scratching in the litter box, the owner should pay special attention to the urine output. Increased urination in connection with a lot of liquid intake can be an indication of diabetes (diabetes). Frequent passing of small amounts of urine or even pressing without urine coming, on the other hand, may indicate urinary stones. If in doubt, you should rather visit the vet to check the cat thoroughly.
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