Having a cat that keeps biting can be a very unpleasant experience. However, cat bites are not uncommon, and it’s always good to know what to do in case your cat starts biting.
Why do cats bite? Most cats bite as a form of play, as a sign of affection, or as a warning that you’re doing something your cat doesn’t like. However, it is possible for cats to bite out of aggression. Knowing why your cat is biting is key to stopping the behavior.
If your cat keeps biting, you’re definitely wondering how to deal with the situation. In this article, we’ll cover all you need to know about this, including whether you should seek medical care following a cat bite, how to treat a cat bite at home, and whether your cat will grow out of the biting habit. Before that, however, let’s look at how you can stop your cat from attacking you.
How Do You Stop My Cat From Biting And Attacking Me?
How To Tame An Aggressive Cat
Being natural predators, the biting instinct comes naturally to cats. However, if this habit is not stopped, it can lead to injury, either to you, your kids, or even the cat itself. So, how do you tame a cat that bites and scratches?
A good way to tame a cat that bites is to never let your feline buddy play with your fingers, hands, or toes. Doing so teaches the cat that biting on these body parts is okay.
What you need to do instead is to provide your cat with appropriate toys that they can play with without causing any harm. Provide many different toys to keep your cat from getting bored.
Another option is to immediately end play sessions if your kitty starts using their teeth. Stop playing with them and walk away. This lets the cat know that biting or any other aggressive behavior is not allowed.
Is There Medication For Aggressive Cats?
Yes. It is possible to treat aggression in cats through medication. Sometimes, aggression in cats is caused by anxiety and fear. In such cases, giving your cat anxiety medications can help reduce the aggression.
Medications that are used to treat aggression in cats are classified as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), and benzodiazepines (BZs). Examples of such medications include fluoxetine, paroxetine, lorazepam, alprazolam and buspirone.
How Do You Calm Down An Aggressive Cat?
The best way to calm down an aggressive cat is to provide the cat with a safe place away from whatever is stressing them and causing the aggressive behavior. You should also avoid yelling at your feline buddy, even when they do something inappropriate.
It’s also a good idea to have your cat checked by a vet, because aggression can sometimes be caused by health issues.
Should I Go To Urgent Care For A Cat Bite?
Cat bites can easily cause infections, and therefore, it is important that you go to the doctor for a cat bite.
About 75% of cat bites will lead to infections if they’re not properly treated.
In addition, depending on the intensity of the bite, the wound could need stitching.
How Long After A Cat Bite Does Infection Set In?
Without getting any treatment, a cat bite wound will start showing signs of infections within a few hours. During the first 12 hours after the bite, you should check the wound frequently, and if you notice increased pain or redness, see a doctor immediately.
Is It Necessary To Take Injection After Cat Bite?
If you’ve been bitten by a cat, the doctor might recommend that you get a tetanus shot to prevent the likelihood of developing this disease, which is caused by bacteria.
If the cat that bit you is not vaccinated, you will also need to get a rabies shot to prevent developing this neurological disease.
When Should I Be Concerned About A Cat Bite?
If the cat bite results in just a small scratch that barely gets through your skin, there is no cause for alarm. However, if the bite results in a large wound, or if the bite is deep enough that it has gotten through to fat or muscle tissue, you need to see a doctor. The same applies if the wound does not stop bleeding.
The other time you should be concerned about a cat bite is when you notice signs of an infection setting in, even if the bite wound is not big. Some signs that an infection is setting in include redness around the wound, increased pain, higher temperature in the area surrounding the wound, swelling, the wound oozing pus, fatigue, fever, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Can I Treat A Cat Bite At Home?
If the wound from the cat bite is not very big or deep, and provided there are no signs of infection, you can treat the cat bite at home. The very first thing you should do is to thoroughly clean the wind with water and soap or antiseptic.
Below are a few other things you should know about treating a cat bite at home…
Should You Ice A Cat Bite?
There is nothing wrong with using an ice pack on a cat bite. The ice will help reduce pain, and can prevent the wounded area from swelling. The ice should be applied on the bite wound for about 10 to 20 minutes every hour.
Can You Put Peroxide On A Cat Bite?
If the bite wound is superficial, you can use some hydrogen peroxide to disinfect the wound after cleaning it with running water. However, if the wound is deep, do not use peroxide, since doing so could slow down healing. Have the wound checked by a doctor instead.
Can You Put Neosporin On A Cat Bite?
Yes, you can use an antibiotic ointment like Neosporin to prevent infections in minor cat bite wounds. After applying the ointment, continue monitoring the wound, and if you see any signs of infection, have the cat bite checked out by a doctor.
Do I Need Antibiotics For A Cat Bite?
Due to the high risk of infection that comes with cat bites, most people will need to take antibiotics to prevent the wound from getting infected. This is particularly important to people who have compromised immunity.
What Is The Best Antibiotic For A Cat Bite?
The recommended antibiotic treatment for dealing with cat bites is Augmentin, which contains amoxicillin with clavulanic acid. Antibiotics containing both amoxicillin and clavulanic acid are more effective in preventing the spread of infectious bacteria than those that only contain amoxicillin.
Will My Cat Grow Out Of Biting?
Biting and pouncing during playtime is how kittens hone skills that will help them later in life when they need to hunt or protect themselves from other animals. Most kittens will grow out of this biting behavior by the time they are 2 years old.
However, you need to make it clear to your kitten that biting and other aggressive play will not be tolerated. If you don’t discourage this behavior from a young age, it will be a lot harder to get your kitty to drop the habit once they’re older.
Why Do Cats Bite Their Owners For No Reason?
If your cat starts biting you for no reason, this could be a sign that the cat is anxious or stressed. It could also be a sign that the cat has some health issues, such as arthritis, liver disease, neurological disease, or a hormonal imbalance.
Why Does My Cat Grab My Hand And Bite Me?
This often happens when your kitty is trying to simulate hunting, using your hand as practice “prey”. You need to make it clear to your kitty that behavior is not acceptable, and provide them with toys that they can practice on.
What Does It Mean When A Cat Bites You Hard?
Cats who were taken away from their parents at a very young age tend to bite hard because they didn’t learn about bite inhibition from their mother and siblings. Biting hard can be a sign that your cat is scared or angry.
Is My Cat Biting Me A Sign Of Affection?
Cats can also bite as their way of showing their affection. Mother cats show affection to their kittens by gently nibbling on them. Therefore, your cat knows this as a sign of affection, and by gently biting you, they could be expressing their love the only way they know how.
Related Questions
Why Does My Cat Bite Me After I Pet Him? If your cat bites you while you’re petting them, this is their way of saying that they’ve had enough petting. Petting can easily become irritating for cats, so you need to learn to tell when your four-legged buddy has had enough stroking from you and stop it before they turn aggressive.
Is It OK To Play Rough With Your Cat? No, playing rough with your cat tells them that this behavior is okay. This can encourage your cat to bite or try to scratch you even when you’re not playing. If your cat is interested in rough play, direct the play to your cat’s toys, which can handle rough play without the risk of injury to anyone.
How Do You Stop A Cat From Attacking You? If a cat attacks you, the best course of action is to leave the room or area. Don’t hit or yell at the cat. This will make the cat even more enraged, which will make the attack worse. If you cannot leave, distract the cat by throwing something at a wall or making a loud noise.
