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does anyone know what this means?

post #1 of 11
7/30/10 at 10:11pm
Thread Starter 
I always try to be aware of Holland's mood, and when she tells me she doesn't want to be petted or loved on I will back off and give her space. But frequently she will be laying next to me and I will be petting her, when all of a sudden she will "grab" me with her front paws and bite at my arm. It never hurts, she keeps her claws (mostly) in, and she doesn't have teeth, so my arm pretty much gets gummed instead of bitten. The weird thing is that immediately after she "bites" me she will continue to hold my arm and start licking me like crazy.

I just don't know what she is trying to tell me...
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post #2 of 11
7/30/10 at 10:49pm
I had a cat do something similar years ago to my mom who was an unknown diabetic. then she only licked and ...gnawed(not biting) when moms sugar was high.

Otherwise no idea as never seen it in my cat minus a cat who likes to rub and gnaw...sigh...hes a silly one
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post #3 of 11
7/31/10 at 4:24am
A few of mine do that as well. I'm not sure if it is a dominance thing or if they're just trying to play.
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post #4 of 11
7/31/10 at 6:55am
I believe she's petting you, too! Momma cats grab their kitties like that (soft-paw) and hold them and lick them; you are lovingly touching her and she wants to do the same.
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post #5 of 11
7/31/10 at 8:17am
She's telling you that's enough and to stop because you're overstimulating her. Both of my female cats do this. They allow me to pet them for quite some time, then enough!
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post #6 of 11
7/31/10 at 8:29am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by stephanietx View Post
She's telling you that's enough and to stop because you're overstimulating her. Both of my female cats do this. They allow me to pet them for quite some time, then enough!
I would understand that if it was just the grabbing and biting, but what puzzles me is that she licks my arm. Here's what I usually do when this occurs: After she grabs my arm I stay still and don't pull away. She licks me for a couple minutes, and when she "releases" me, I take my arm away and don't pet her anymore. Usually she'll start grooming at that point.

Thanks for the responses!! I'm not sure I'll ever completely understand kitty behavior...
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post #7 of 11
7/31/10 at 11:26am
My Charlie is like that too, and another weird thing is that he will groom/sit on my lap but when I hug and lift him, he's pushing me away
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post #8 of 11
7/31/10 at 1:04pm
Thread Starter 
Holland "pushes" me away when I pick her up too. She doesn't get aggressive at all when I pick her up and hold her, but I know she's not too thrilled about it. I don't do it very often, but I tell her letting me pick her up and kiss her every once in a while is the price she has to pay for all the spoiling she gets...
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post #9 of 11
7/31/10 at 3:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SwampWitch View Post
I believe she's petting you, too! Momma cats grab their kitties like that (soft-paw) and hold them and lick them; you are lovingly touching her and she wants to do the same.
Especially as her claws are in and she's not biting hard I don't believe it's over stimulation.
Some of mine do the same thing, I call them love nips or love bites, it's quite different to a 'stop that right now' bite.
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post #10 of 11
7/31/10 at 5:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SwampWitch View Post
I believe she's petting you, too! Momma cats grab their kitties like that (soft-paw) and hold them and lick them; you are lovingly touching her and she wants to do the same.
I agree... Easy does that to her babies. Laura does that with my hair, eyelashes and eyebrows.... she bites then licks
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post #11 of 11
7/31/10 at 9:49pm
I think this is an instinctual response of control from either over stimulation from petting, attention or playing...Sometimes they do this with toys, other animals, us, and this is what they do with their kittens or siblings as well
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