Do you have a grumpy cat? After giving him attention, most pet cats will walk away. Others will nip at your hand or scratch. Why do they do this? You aren’t harming him, just petting him, and he liked it, so why is he upset?
Some cats become upset. Petting gets them wound, and the bite relieves a bit of that stress. Others just never learned that biting is inappropriate behavior. There is no good reason on why some pet cats bite and others do not, but there are some signs you can look for that might prevent you from being bitten or scratched.
Watch your cat’s tail. The tail is a signpost of your cat’s emotions. If the tail is jerking, your cat is getting irritated. Unlike pet dogs, felines do not wag their tails when they are happy. It is just the opposite, when a cat wags her tail, watch out! Watch your cat’s ears. When the ears flatten against the head, your cat is upset. Watch for the ears to approach the sides of the head. This is an sign your furry friend is getting agitated. If you are petting him, stop now and you can avoid getting bit.
With pet cats that have a tendency to bite, try to follow what has been dubbed the seven stroke guideline. Pet your cat only seven times, then stop. This is a short enough period that will not excite the cat. You can then add another stroke and then another, however, do it slowly. This will allow your grumpy cat to adjust to being petted.
Just like how some people dislike to be touched, some pet cats are also this way. Knowing the caution signs will help prevent bad feelings between you and your cat.
