Love Bites - Do your cats do this?

When my kitten Lusa is in my lap, she'll sometimes rub her face against my hand a couple of times and give me a gentle "love bite". She never hurts me and lets my hand go if I pull it away. She seems relaxed and enjoying herself when she does it.

Why does she do this? Is this just a kitten behavior?

Sure! Luna will do it too...especially if she's lovey and playful. I'll go to pet her, she'll gently bite me, but then lick my hand in the same area.

My Nova does this all the time. Her favorite time to do it is when I'm in bed in the morning and she's wanting to wake me up to feed her. She'll usually 'nose' me first with her wet nose. That's my warning that if I don't get up I'll get a love bite. ~It's never anything hard, but she scares me when she's trying to do it to my neck or cheeks!

Spyder is 5 yrs and still does this, especially when he is trying to wake me up in the morning for his breakfast.

12 year old Spaz is the queen of lovebites.

Her worst is when she's on the back of the couch, she'll love my head for a bit, quite thoroughly, then surprise! she's nibbled on my ear.

Sibohan likes to bite my fingers and my head (right at the part in my hair)

Duke is more of a snuggler

Christopher Cody does that a lot. I know it's a love bite because he is purring up a storm when he does it.

Seamus does it too, both my hand and sometimes my chin or nose if he's rubbing my face.

Libby does this to my husband.

I actually read last week that, supposedly, when cats do this (put their teeth on your skin as if to bite but do it gently and hold it for a second or two) it's their version of a kiss.

My girls never do it, but my Rufus bites me all the time. Mostly it is when I am petting him. But, sometimes he does it when I stop petting him. Or when I walk by. He just bites. But, it is never hard and he never does it in a mean way. He is just saying he loves me. Lucky me. Rufus is a trip!

Swanie does it, but not all the time. I guess if he's really into the petting. He'll grab my hand in both his paws, pull it to him, and nip my hand. I think it's to say "thanks!"

It's good to know this is a normal thing. I'm flattered that Lusa might be saying "I love you" to me. Ahhh, warm fuzzies...

Gizmo gives 'soft bites' too, and though I know they are not real bites, they certainly aren't kisses. Generally the cat will do this if you have petted it too much and it wants you to back off a bit.
A kitty 'kiss' is touching noses, or so I was told.

Originally Posted by Euterpe

Libby does this to my husband.

I actually read last week that, supposedly, when cats do this (put their teeth on your skin as if to bite but do it gently and hold it for a second or two) it's their version of a kiss.

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close it's actually them grooming you! the queen usually does this to her mates and litter when they are with her. few licks and a nibble and more licks.

As I said, it's just what I read, hence the 'supposedly'

I just know that Libby does this to my husband when she comes up for petting. She'll put a paw on his hand, put her teeth on his finger gently for a second and then start cleaning him. She licks so much, it's so cute!

Lynx does this to me sometimes, and I have to think it is his version of a kiss. It is usually after I give him a kiss on the top of his head. He responds with a very light nip on my cheek. He doesn't do it when he wants down or away, it usually happens when he is happy being loved and snuggled. It startled me a bit at first, but now I am used to it.

It's a normal behavior. My Trixie licks me a lot, but the only place she gives a love bite, is on the chin.

Gizmo will sometimes nip the end of my nose if I don't get out of bed when it suits her.

My Mom's cat, Patrick, does that to me. He will lick my hand and then give it a small bite. I think he is just getting into the licking so much that he gets excited and bites.