Non agressive Biting- what does it mean?

In terms of your cat biting you when you are holding and petting her it sounds as if perhaps she could be showing petting induced aggression and this basically takes place when you are holding your cat or petting them and they no longer want you to hold or pet them, they become irritated with it and since they are not able to tell you let me down or stop they will give you a little bit to get you to stop.

When you are holding your and petting your cat it might seem as if the bite came out of nowhere ,however in the cats mind it gave you several warnings using its body language. Some things can include flickering of the tail, the cat begins to stare at your hand, her ears could flatten against her head, she could fidget, she could tense up, she could his or growl  before she bites you. Every cat is different in terms of their body language and what signs they give.

My cat does this to me when I pet and she no longer wishes to be pet anymore, she will bite me. I did notice when she is getting irritated with me that her tail flickers and sometimes she will stare at my hand as I pet her. When I see this I stop petting her so she does not bite me.

Some things you can do when you are petting her or holding her is, try holding her and petting her in shorter periods of time so she does not become irritated with the petting and being held.

I have never had stray cats but my eldest cat had kittens. Her kittens always bite me but like your case, not aggressively. Your cat is probably showing love and affection towards you.

Oliver does this. He often bats at my ankles when I'm walking by, but sometimes he'll bite them. When I pet him, he often bites but, as noted, not aggressively. And he very often will nibble at my neck or face when we're first waking up or when I'm rubbing his face with mine. I've concluded he's trying to be sweet.

Lilith was sitting in my lap last night and while I was petting her, she rolled over onto her back and grabbed my index finger and held onto it between her front paws and was alternating between licking and nibbling on it. her eyes were closed and she was purring so I'm guessing she was happy. 

I have had cats all my life . Every one of them fixed at one time or another and not feral. They have all done the love bites. The two I have now always do. My 12yr female does it once in awhile. My 5 yr male just started doing it this past year. He will nip my back, shoulder, arm, whatever he reaches first if my back is to him. He also paws me. If I am asleep he slowly taps my face over and over waiting for my eyes to open in  between each tap. On weekends now, I pretend I am asleep so he won't bug me til I am ready to get up. Doesn't always work. He is persistant. And I love him dearly. Watch Simons Cat on You Tube. Cute cartoons but oh so true. typical cat behaviours.

Laurie

My kitten does this and he's NOT a stray. I'm pretty sure the couple I adopted him from were just not very well-read on raising kittens, because it seems like they never discouraged him from viewing human hands as "prey" in his little hunting games. He likes to bite softly on my fingers and sometimes near my wrist, and he bats his paws playfully at me sometimes when he's on my lap. I'm trying to discourage him from this behavior because it might not be so cute or painless when he gets older.

HI, I'M MUMMY TO : A 2 YR OLD BLACK RESCUE DOMESTIC SHORT HAIR NAMED INKA

                                     A 1 YR OLD RESCUE BRITISH BLUE NAMED BLUE

                                    A 10 WK OLD BLACK & WHITE BROTHER AND SISTER NAMED MERLIN & CALLIE

                                   A 12 WK OLD BLACK/BROWN MAINECOON CROSS NAMED ATHENA

                                   A 10 WK OLD BROWN SPOTTED BENGAL NAMED LOKI

AS YOU CAN SEE I HAVE A MIXTURE OF RESCUES, MOGGYS AND PEDIGREES!

VARIOUS AGES, VARIOUS BACKGROUNDS.

THEY ALL GIVE 'LOVE BITES' AS A SIGN OF AFFECTION, IT IS BASICALLY THEM COMMUNICATING THAT THEY LOVE YOU AND ENJOY THE ATTENTION, PLAYING AND CARE!

THEY HOLD ON TO YOU AND PLAYFULLY NIP N LICK BECAUSE THAT IS HOW THEY COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER, MUMMY CAT WOULD HOLD DOWN BABY, WASH(LICK) AND NIP SHOWING AFFECTION. THE BABYS RESPOND IN KIND. BASIC PRIMAL INSTINCTS HERE.

CATS AND KITTENS WHICH EXPRESS THEMSELVES THIS WAY, ARE OFTEN THE GENTLE NATURED, WELL BRED/LOOKED AFTER DURING INFANCY.

I HAVE LINKS WITH IRIS CATS IN NEED, AND AM REGULARLY IN CONTACTS WITH CATS FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS AND CAN HONESTLY TELL YOU THAT YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF YOUR FURBABIES BEHAVIG THIS WAY, IT SHOWS THEY ARE CONTENT, HAPPY, LOVED AND ACTIVE.

XXX

  INKA AND BLUE  

INKA,ATHENA,MERLIN,CALLIE AND LOKI, 5 IN A BED


LOKI



ATHENA


MERLIN


CALLIE


 XXX

when I got Malachy just a month ago, from a shelter ...he would aggressive bite after/during too much petting even though he was extremely affectionate from minute one ...this is pretty much a thing of the past (yay) ...he still does play bite which can require a reprimand, but he has recently begun 'love bites',  w/teeth engaged only enough to hold my hand/finger in his mouth, while he is half asleep in my lap ...I almost think it's a comfort to him and sometimes the 'hold' is followed by a few gentle licks ...so in my case, aggressive over-stimulation biting morphed into love bites (or 'holds') ...I have not owned a cat in many years ...Mal & I have really bonded. But even with the love bites, I don't try to pull away , I still kinda push in to him as other members suggested to me when I first got him when his bites were aggressive or I simply don't move at all ..I don't want to stir that pot, so I try not to react much.  It's been a wonderful experience getting to know him, learn his body language ...and see him blossom!

I've always wondered this myself... I have 2 cats, both fixed, 1 male and one female. My female, Alice, gives love bites. She is nearly 4 years old, has done it since she was a kitten, and NEVER bites hard. I call it '"mouthing", because she is so gentle all she really does is open her mouth and put it around my hand....usually my knuckles. She doesn't play much...she's a very aloof, relaxed kitty, but she loves to sleep with me, or take naps in my lap. These love bites usually occur during these times. A lot of times she does it when I STOP petting her, as if asking me to pet her more. It's very sweet. I've been bitten by a cat, hard, because he didn't want to be petted anymore, and trust me, love bites are the exact OPPOSITE. Also, my male will bite when I'm trying to sleep, enough that it hurts, which is a dominate behavior that he gets reprimanded for (and kicked off the bed)...this is NOT a love bite. But little love bites (according to my vet) are perfectly normal, and a sweet display of affection.

Our four newest guys... different breeds, different ages, all syringe/bottle fed from birth.
All of them love playng, nipping gentley. They do it to all of us humans. Intetesting how many of have feral "kids" or cats taken from their mommies too early.
95% of the time it is gentle. 5% it is really rough but never in anger. It just gets... past nice playing. Especially Wallypops. He is the baby. The other four do it more lovingly. Gentley.

The love (the older 3) to lick, headbutt, rub ect... with my husband, the older three love to lay around his neck. With me, they sit in my lap as close as they can. They love grabbing my hands and nipping. Especially if I am sleeping or reading... not giving my full attention.

In a former life she was a dominatrix? *shrug*

One of our younger coons is a mouther. He'll naw on my fingers (sit up, grab my hand with both paws) which I don't mind because makes it easier for me to check is teeth/gums.

Mama cat is the most tender cat I've ever known... Even when we're playfighting she barely even pulls my skin, she's never drawn blood, and she 'pretend' bites. When she's getting really into a fuss though, she'll give you a 'love bite'... although it's not really a bite. She opens her mouth and puts your finger/toe/side of your hand in her mouth while smudging you. It freaks other people out beause they think she's going to bite, but I know it's because she's having just the best possible fuss! I find it very endearing, but I have had to pull her away when she's started on my toes because I have extremely ticklish feet! And toes are her favourite targets for this behaviour! 

Definitely not just feral kittens that do this. My cat gets so caught up in love that he purrs really loudly and then rubs his teeth against my skin until he falls asleep.  

When he is really excited, he liked to run up my shoulder and try to bite my chin. 

I think it's comforting to them. 

My cat also does runs up and lightly bites my ankles when I come home and don't love him fast enough. 

my 1yr old does the same thing,why may i ask? he does'nt break skin but leaves marks now & then

I had only seen this behavior once before we brought Orion home last December. Imagine my surprise when our new 7 month old neutered cat form my mother-in-law thought "love bites" were the thing to do!! I was used to 14 yr. old Zoe, who bit to tell you "NO" and got the point across. Orion has NEVER bit aggressively or even scratched aggressively. He has never been a stray/feral or even seen a shelter. Then we bring home a shelter cat (also a neutered male) last weekend who also LVOES to give "love bites". It seems like our new kitty (history unknown and name TBD) does gives these little bites to say "Thanks, but no". lol 

 

When your cat bites at your ankles it is because the cat thinks your prey. Basically has pent up energy and sees something moving and just goes for it. Playing with your cat before bed time or throughout the day, and straight up playing to the point when he is panting will help him to get rid of all that pent up energy. When you pet your cat watch for any signs that your cat is getting overstimulated, even if your cat is purring, he/she can still bite.

Sophie started doing something new this morning. Usually, she wakes me up by jumping on me and giving me a few gentle taps on the cheek with her paw. then she lays down on me and purrs. Today, she did that but instead of just laying down, she gave me a couple of little bites on the jawbone. I was still half asleep when she did it, so it was a surprise. She was purring when she did it. I could definitely feel those sharp little teeth but it didn't really hurt or leave a mark. She likes her breakfast early. This was 530 AM. Lilith has never woken me up. I guess Sophie was given the job. Is that normal for her to do that? I got used to the little taps on the cheek but wasn't ready for the bites.

Yes that is "normal" in that she's trying something new to wake you up!    

I wouldn't encourage her by responding to it if you can help it.  She may begin to think "this works; so I'll keep doing it!" 

I live in a homeless shelter and there is a business near that takes in stray cats and there is one that particularly takes to me that the owner named Bela, (heck of a name for a female but she is all black) and while I am petting her she gives me those little bites, so maybe she recognizes that I am a stray just like her.