My cat attacks me after a hug. This is the observation of many people and which is as worrying as it is surprising. So if your cat has bitten you after or during a cuddle, something must be done to prevent it from happening again.
But rather than punishing him, here is how to react well in the event of a feline attack so that your cat lets himself be petted without suddenly becoming violent, by understanding the cause to make sure you put in place the appropriate solutions.
My cat attacks me after a hug: The causes and their solutions
This annoying habit is called the tiger syndrome, your cat becomes aggressive but it is not necessarily something serious, here are all the causes and solutions that will make your cat stop being aggressive after a cuddling session.
He is hungry
Hunger can cause your cat to bare its teeth, it brings out natural predation and this is what causes attacks after cuddling. So if your cat hasn’t eaten after the cuddles, take the test and give him kibble and mash to see the difference.
If he is thin, he may not be eating enough and his food share will have to be increased so that he is not lacking in food. Remember that your cat should have all the nutrients it needs such as mash and kibble and should eat small amounts regularly rather than having one big meal a day.
If your cat does not know how to manage his food intake, give him a food puzzle that will ensure that he better regulates his hunger and eats often in small doses, and also ensure that his food provides him with all the nutrients he needs. need so that hunger does not await him during the day.
Also make sure that there are no parasites absorbing its nutrients because these can kill it in the long run, your cat will lose a lot of weight despite its food intake in this case and you will have to have it dewormed. The presence of white dots in the stool is a sign of the presence of intestinal parasites.
He has an irritation
If your cat is irritated and you cuddle it there, then it will react by biting you. You can check this by looking at the condition of his coat, he may have a wound or torn hairs, or even fleas.
Once you can figure out what his problem is, stop cuddling him before he heals completely, but if you see fleas or a major sore, taking him to the vet or giving him pharmaceutical treatment will be a must.
You can also use a cat wound cleanser and an anti-parasitic shampoo for cats so that it can be rid of them if the parasites are not yet very numerous.
He is afraid
Your cat may be frightened, especially if you cuddle him in the stomach, his organ(s) are exposed and even if he is in no danger, he still retains his animal instincts. If he’s scared, it may also be because you punished him recently and he sees you as a potential danger.
So, correct a possible behavior that causes the cat to be afraid and also make it possible for him to have softer hugs. A frightened cat will have its claws ready to scratch you and raise its tail. To calm him down immediately, use an anti-stress spray that will act on his pheromones.
To find the cause of the fear, pay attention to recent changes, to which he will have to get used to, also check that his personal corner is in a calm and healthy environment.
Finally, if the fear is legitimate, remove it.
He stresses
Your cat may be going through a stressful time, especially if she’s moving house and hasn’t gotten used to your new home yet. Also check that there is nothing that stresses you daily.
If he is afraid of something, you can either get him used to it, like for a new inhabitant, or even remove what stresses him, like certain objects that can scare him, cats are for example scared to death of cucumbers .
When you cuddle him, also make sure he doesn’t feel cornered or that you go too hard so he doesn’t feel oppressed and in danger, otherwise he’ll associate cuddling with something that can hurt him. to be dangerous.
He plays
Especially if he is young, your cat does not necessarily control what he is doing, if when he bites you he is not angry and seems to be having a good time, teach him to control his passions, ignoring him completely for a good hour.
This allows him to understand his act and when he resumes the game in a more gentle way, make sure to reward him to create a positive association in him.
Also make sure he spends his energy accumulated during the day with games like a cat wheel or a food puzzle that will allow him to play even independently and sharpen his predatory instincts, that’s what does it love the game so much.
If he has access to the outside, you can take him out to hunt, he will come back with a normal energy level and will stop being so aggressive during the game.
He is in heat
An uncastrated cat is very aggressive , especially during periods of heat and must absolutely be castrated for its own well-being, if it is indoors it risks unloading its energy on you and outside it risks taking unconsidered risks.
If your cat is meowing a lot or rubbing at everything, he is probably in heat and is very aggressive.
He was weaned at the wrong time
If you have adopted a cat that has not been weaned at the right time, it may exhibit strange behaviors in general, such as a lack of instinct or deficiencies in its physical abilities. This is often the case with cats adopted from shelters.
If yours was weaned at the wrong time or shows strange behavior, then go to a behaviorist who will help him correct his bad habits. These may relate to cleanliness, aggression and lack of body control, and a professional to make sure the problem is solved.
He’s sick
If your cat is sick, he won’t want to be touched or at least hard petted, if you feel he’s lethargic or different from usual in terms of behavior, make sure he can heal quickly.
Already try to see if the problem is visible from the outside and go to the vet if necessary because cats tend to hide their pain as much as possible and the pain is not necessarily visible from the outside.
He is jealous
If a new cat has arrived in the household, for example, he may give you a fit of jealousy, he will end up getting used to it, but to solve the problem quickly, make sure he gets used to the new person or the new resident.
If you have a new partner, jealousy is normal at first, especially if he used to sleep with you, he may even prefer to sleep alone than to spend the night with you because of his jealousy.
He has an internal wound
If your cat bites you after you have touched a specific point but it has no irritation at this level, it may be a wound, which may be internal and it will then react to the pain when biting you. If you see that he is in a lot of pain at this level, then contact the veterinarian because it may be a serious internal injury that could be life-threatening.
How to find the exact cause?
The causes being numerous, here is how to proceed to quickly find out where his behavior comes from.
Start by asking yourself if the cause stems from a change, either in your attitude or in life in general, such as a new job or a new resident.
Then, observe if his behavior is different during the day than usual to see if he is possibly suffering.
Observe if it is a specific place that bothers him or not, a sign that localized pain is the cause for which your cat bites you after a hug.
Then, check that you are not too aggressive or oppressive during petting with your cat.
Finally, see if his environment is good enough, whether in terms of his personal corner, his food or the calm of the house, necessary for his well-being.
My cat attacks me after a hug: The final word
A feline attack after a hug is not something rare but it is also something easily resolvable, so if yours gives you this kind of surprise, find the cause and put in place appropriate solutions.