Why does my cat bite me gently out of nowhere?

We’ve all experienced a random cat bite. You’ll be enjoying a cuddle together and all of a sudden they’ll gently bite your hand or they’ll nibble at your skin while giving you ‘kisses’. Or maybe you’ve been minding your own business and out of nowhere your cat comes up and nips at your ankles.

It’s one of those seemingly random cat behaviours that has no explanation – like lying on your face in the middle of the night or chewing on bits of sellotape they find lying around. But there is a reason your cat might be biting you.

Let’s be clear here – we’re not talking about your cat biting you out of aggression (which is much harder and accompanied by intense tail wagging, pinned ears, and probably some hissing too). We’re talking about ‘love bites’ – soft, gentle bites that don’t hurt or leave marks. If your cat is biting you hard enough to puncture your skin, it could mean they are scared or stressed and telling you to go away.

If your cat starts nibbling you gently, especially if they’ve just been licking you, this is just another grooming behaviour. They think you’re part of their family and are making sure you’re clean (which is a sign they love you). Nibbling is part of grooming as they work down to the base of the fur follicles to get to any dirt down there. But it can get pretty intense sometimes.

Another way your cat might bite you is to get your attention. And there’s nothing quite like a nip to the ankle to make you pay attention to them. They’ll usually do this if they want to be stroked, cuddled, or want to play.

But if you’re already stroking your cat and they turn around and bite your hand, this actually isn’t so loving. They’re telling you to stop. This is called pet-induced aggression and happens when they get overstimulated with too much stroking. Or you have touched a spot they don’t like, such as their belly.

Fun fact: Your cat has whisker-like hairs all over their body, not just their muzzle. They are embedded a little deeper into their skin than the rest of their fur and help them to feel the world around them. But these sensitive hairs (called vibrissae or tactile hair) can cause them to become overstimulated if they’re touched too much which causes the pet-induced aggression.

Not necessarily. If your cat bites a little too hard but doesn’t break the skin, you’ll be just fine. Simply wash the area gently with soap and warm water to make sure their saliva doesn’t get into any existing cuts or grazes.

Just like dogs or other animals, cats have a lot of bacteria in their saliva, which can cause infections. And if your cat is unvaccinated, they might carry diseases that can be passed to you as well. So if they break the skin after biting you, it’s important to clean the wound and dress it properly to ensure it doesn’t get infected. And if you suspect any infection, make sure you see your doctor.

Just like when your cat licks you, gentle biting and nibbling are natural parts of being a cat. So if you don’t like it, don’t tell them off or punish them – they’ll only be confused.

Rather than punish them, divert their attention away from the biting. Offer them a toy or their favourite treats. Doing this will not only give them the attention they want and remove their teeth from your skin, but it will also help to build your bond.

No. Despite being quite emotional beings, cats don’t feel guilt. And they don’t feel guilty about biting you. Especially when it was done with love. 

Your cat biting you isn't bad. In fact, it's positive. It's your cat's way of saying they love you. It’s your cat’s way of showing you they love you. You can show them how much you love them back by feeding them fresh cat food from KatKin. Make the switch to 100% human-quality meat, gently cooked to preserve its nutrients. A far cry from dry, hard kibble. 

While you’re here, why not demystify some other strange cat behaviours? Discover why your cat licks you (spoiler alert: they love you).