What should I do if a kitten likes to bite its owner’s hands and feet?

Cats are some of the most lovable members of many families, but sometimes they engage in troubling behaviors, such as biting their owners’ hands and feet. This can cause pain and discomfort for the owner and can affect the relationship with the cat. So, what might it mean when a cat bites its owner’s hands and feet? How can we get rid of cats’ habit of biting people? Next, let us find out together!

What it may mean when a cat bites its owner’s hands and feet

Cats may hate their owners

Some cats may hate their owners because of their behavior, such as the owner often disturbing the cat’s rest or forcing the cat to do certain things. At this time, the cat may express its dissatisfaction and anger by biting the owner’s hands and feet.

The cat may want to play with its owner

Cats are naturally good hunters. They like to chase their prey, and their owners’ hands and feet are often one of the targets they chase. If cats regard their owner’s hands and feet as prey, they may bite their owner’s hands and feet to express their desire to play.

Cats may signal owners to stop petting

Sometimes owners pet their cats so much that they feel uncomfortable or stressed out. At this time, the cat may bite the owner’s hands and feet to signal the owner to stop petting.

Cats may need to grind their teeth

Cats need to grind their teeth as they grow to keep their teeth sharp and healthy. If cats don’t have enough opportunities to grind their teeth, they may satisfy their grinding needs by biting their owners’ hands and feet.

Cat may be hungry

If cats are hungry or don’t have enough food, they may bite their owners’ hands and feet to attract their attention in the hope that the owner will provide them with food.

How to get rid of the cat’s habit of biting people

Use citrus, grapefruit and other scents to deter cats from biting
Some cats may be sensitive to the strong smell of fruits such as citrus and grapefruit. Therefore, owners can apply some juice of these fruits to the parts they do not want to be bitten to make the cats feel uncomfortable and prevent them from biting the owner’s hands and feet.
Pretend to be angry and yell at the cat and tell it not to bite
When cats bite their owners’ hands and feet, owners can let them know their behavior is unwelcome by pretending to be angry and yelling at them. At the same time, owners can also use a serious tone to tell cats not to bite people, so that they understand that their actions will bring adverse consequences.

Provide your cat with plenty of toys and teething items

To prevent cats from biting their owners’ hands and feet because they are bored or need to grind their teeth, owners can provide them with enough toys and teething items. This allows the cat to consume energy while playing and grinding its teeth, and reduces attacks on the owner’s hands and feet.

Establish the right interaction model

Owners can prevent cats from biting their hands and feet by establishing the right interaction patterns with their cats. For example, when playing with a cat, do not tease the cat directly with your hands or feet. Instead, use a cat teaser stick or other toys to interact with the cat. In addition, when a cat bites the owner’s hands and feet, the owner can quickly remove the fingers or toes from the cat’s mouth and stop playing with the cat for a period of time to let them understand that their behavior will lose the owner’s company and the opportunity to play.

Trim your cat’s nails regularly

Trimming your cat’s nails regularly can prevent them from using their claws properly because their nails are too long, thereby reducing the likelihood of them biting their owners’ hands and feet. At the same time, trimming nails also allows owners to interact with cats more safely and avoid being scratched or bitten by cats.
In short, there may be many reasons why cats bite their owners’ hands and feet, and we need to determine the specific reasons through observation and analysis, and take corresponding measures to change their bad habits. By using scents such as citrus and grapefruit, pretending to yell at the cat in anger, providing enough toys and teething items, establishing correct interaction patterns, and trimming the cat’s nails regularly, we can effectively reduce the occurrence of cats biting their owners’ hands and feet. Make our lives more harmonious and beautiful.