7 Reasons Why My Cat Licks Then Bites Me

There’s nothing quite like the love and affection of a cat. They can be so loving and cuddly, but sometimes they can also be frustratingly unpredictable. One minute they might be licking you all over your face lovingly, and the next they might sink their teeth into your flesh!

Why does my cat lick me then bite me?

So you might wonder why this happens? Why does my cat lick me then bite me? Here are seven possible reasons why your cat licks you then bites you.

Reason #1: Your Cat Is Grooming You

Cats lick and bite for many reasons – one of which is to groom. Cats often take care of their own grooming needs, but, if they need a helping hand or decide that they don’t like something about the way they look (or taste), sometimes they will ask for help from humans.

Cats use licking and biting as part of the behavior of grooming. Grooming is a very important part of a cat’s life and may be one of the most important activities for the cat because it keeps the animal healthy by helping to maintain skin, fur, claws and teeth in good condition all while cats are getting their own scent from glands on their faces.

In addition, licking is also a social behavior – cats groom one another as a way of calming and loving – so if your cat grooms you, it is likely that he or she has accepted you as part of the family.

Some cats will even request to be brushed and this allows you to help keep their fur clean and shiny. If your cat licks and bites at you, try to think about what might be making it uncomfortable. Did you just give your cat a bath? Cats don’t like water much so licking may be an attempt to get the wet and dirty smell off of him or her.

Reason #2: Your Cat Is Trying To Get Your Attention

When your cat licks you, if the animal follows the licking up with biting or scratching it might mean that he or she needs some attention.

Think about it – when you want your dog to come with you, what do you usually do? You call his or her name and say “come here” in a way that the animal knows that you need him or her. When cats lick us, they are giving us this same message but with their tongues. Cats often use licking as part of the behavior of affection and this lick-bite behavior is an act of love.

If you’re in the room, your cat may be trying to get your attention or tell you that he or she is hungry or wants some petting. They may also be reacting to the fact that you are petting them in a way that they don’t like, so next time try scratching or petting your cat in a different location.

Reason #3: It Could Be A Sign Of Affection

Cats lick themselves to groom their fur, but they also like to use licking as a way of showing affection for people. When your cat licks you, it’s usually a good sign that she trusts and likes you. However, when a cat bites or claws at her human, she is showing affection too – but in a different way.

Cats groom each other as a way of showing affection and establishing social bonds. When your cat licks you, she is grooming you to show love and trust. If your cat extends her claws or bites at you when she grooms, it’s similar to how cats use their claws when they play with one another – just more intense. When a cat bites or claws at you while she’s grooming, it means that she sees you as a member of her family and wants to make sure your fur is looking good.

This is because cats evolved as solitary creatures, so when one cat bites another during grooming it’s simply a warning not to mess with the fur – mostly used between members of the same family.

Cats are smart enough to know that their human doesn’t have much hair on his or her body, but they use licking and biting anyway during playtime to help establish a social bond with you. In other words, when your cat licks and bites at you during playtime, she’s just trying to get to know you better.

Reason #4: Cats Lick People For Healing Purposes

In ancient Egypt, cats were worshiped as gods and seen as healing animals. Egyptians believed that their goddess Bastet could cure various ailments including blindness and mental disorders.

It was once thought that cat saliva could heal wounds so people would let their cats lick at their sores while thinking the licking might help them get better faster. Now we think it’s just the warm, moist conditions of a cat’s mouth that is soothing.

A cat will most often choose to lick your wound because it is one of the ways they show affection to you. It may be that your pet sees licking as a way of expressing sympathy when you are in pain or uncomfortable, much like rubbing their heads against your leg when you are upset.

Your cat’s saliva contains pheromones which help to control the aggressive urges of other cats. When they lick you, they are calming themselves as well as you. They can express their affection for you by licking your face or hands. This is also a way that cats show love for each other and bond with one another, both feline and human.

You should not let your cat lick a fresh wound because they will likely make it worse by introducing bacteria from the mouth into the cut or scrape. In fact, their saliva could actually give you an infection in many cases, making things worse for you even though they are only trying to help.

In addition, cats have been known to spread saliva and feces on things they want to claim as their own. This is why you will often see them rubbing against furniture or other items in your home that they like or that belong to you.

Regardless of whether your cat’s licking is a force for good (healing) or evil (infection), consider yourself lucky! It is a privilege to be licked because few cats are willing to lick at their human’s wounds. And many people find the cat’s kisses very soothing, regardless of whether or not it helps heal the wound any quicker!

Reason #5: Your Cat Is Overstimulated

As you just found out, when cats are playing they have short bursts of energy, call them prey drive. These are the times when they get into trouble because this is one of their highest forms of “excitement”. And if you’ve noticed your cat panting after a play session, well that’s another form of high excitement.

So, what do you do when your cat starts to overstimulate themselves? Make sure they have an outlet for their energy. They need to be playing with you or some other toy on a regular basis. This will give them the opportunity to release some of this pent up energy instead of having it build up and lead to bad behaviors.

You can also choose to play with your cat on their terms. This means, when they are in the mood for a game. When they initiate the games then there is less chance of them becoming overstimulated or feeling that you are using them for your own entertainment.

Reason #6: Your Cat Is Playing

Cats are different from dogs in many ways, one of these is the way they use their mouths. Cats will lick you or another pet as a way to show affection. They may also choose to do this after they have had enough rough housing with someone.

When your cat licks you it can mean that they are trying to get more comfortable with you in their space. When your cat bites you, they are playing. If you yelp or pull your hand away from them, they will likely think that it is a game and go back to biting and clawing. If you do not want to play this way, make a loud, startling noise. This will likely scare the cat away from you and stop them from playing roughly with you.

Speaking of rough games, if your cat bites too hard during play time it is perfectly acceptable to let them know that it hurts. My cats bite me when we wrestle but the rough play is a form of rough housing they do with each other so I don’t do anything but hope one day I have the guts to tell them not to bite so hard. There’s a fine line between playing and hurting, after all.

If your cat bites you when they lick you, then you should stop that action by giving them a loud startling noise that will scare them away.

If your cat continues to bite and claw at you during play time, then there is a more serious problem of getting along with others in the household. Cats usually like to be solitary creatures and only get together when they are mating or have offspring, so it can be hard for them to accept other pets into their territory. It is possible that you’re playing with your pet too roughly, but if they are used to rough play then there may be a problem with the relationship between other pets in the household.

The best way to approach this problem is by reading about cat behavior and body language . There are many books on this subject written for both people and pets. By learning to understand how your kitty thinks and what they want from you, then it will be much easier to interpret their actions and keep yourself safe.

Until then, play with caution or find another activity for everyone that does not involve such contact as the cat may simply need more space than is possible in one household.

Reason #7: It Is A Sign Of Stress

Cats are smart. They know when they are stressed out and will try to calm themselves down by grooming their fur and skin. This muscle-relaxing activity can also help stop them from biting each other during quarrels.

However, just like we humans do, we tend to overdo things – especially under stress – and this is how cats lick themselves so much that their fur becomes bald or starts to ingest them. This behavior may also be a sign of anxiety in your cat, which can lead to biting and other stress signals such as spraying around the house…

Therefore, a bit of stress-relieving grooming from time to time is perfectly fine. However, if it becomes a compulsive habit, you should take your cat to the vet and find out what’s causing this unusual behavior.

How Do I Get My Cat To Stop Biting Me?

If your cat is not doing this for grooming purposes, and she’s trying to bite or attack you, then you need to let her know that it’s unacceptable behavior. There are a few ways to do this:

• If you can’t stop the biting at first, escape might be the best plan of action if you can get away. Do not play with your cat while trying to stop her from biting you.
• Give your cat a distraction so she will be occupied with something else when the biting starts again. This might mean giving her toys, food or attention when she is in a playful mood.
• If these are behaviors that aren’t working for your particular cat, you might have to experiment a bit.
• If the cat is not in a playful mood, make loud noises or squirt her with water to discourage biting and distract her from going in for the bite again when she’s pouncing on you or trying to get your attention. You can also try spraying something like perfume near where you are to stop the cat from biting you.
• If your cat is just being aggressive, put them in different rooms when they are doing this.

Final Thoughts

Although we may never know for sure what is going through a cat’s mind when it licks and bites its human companion, these are some possible explanations for this behavior. If your cat exhibits this type of behavior, it might be helpful to try to figure out the reason why and address the issue.

With a little understanding and patience, you can hopefully help your feline friend feel more comfortable around you. Have you ever experienced your cat licking then biting you? What do you think was the reason behind it?

Related Questions

Why does my cat lick and bite other cats?

It may be a social gesture for your cat to lick and bite you. Cats groom each other not only to clean but also to bond. Perhaps she sees you as part of her family or herd. It might also be a sign of affection from your cat, or an attempt at play.

She might try this on the other cats in the house too. If you think this is the case, it might be a good idea to try to separate her from the other cats during this time.

Why does my cat bite me gently?

Your cat probably likes being petted. If she does not, you are likely to get a light nip or bite. Your cat might be trying to tell you that she would prefer you stopped because it’s uncomfortable for her.

Why does my cat bite me hard?

She might be playing with you. If she is playing biting, she will usually do it very gently at first, but her bites will get progressively harder before she leaps away for a moment of chasing.

Why does my cat lick my other cat and then bite?

It might be a sign of affection towards the other cat. Cats are social animals, and they groom each other to bond.

If your cats are not getting along, however, your cat might be using grooming as an attempt at reconciliation or appeasement. A better way to mediate this behavior is by simply giving treats when they are in the same area. This will make the positive behavior of treating each other more rewarding to your cats.

Why does my cat nuzzle me then bite me?

Your cat nuzzles you because she likes the smell of your face (and hopefully, you like hers too). She might also be trying to tell you that she trusts and loves you. If after all this, she bites you, then it’s likely playtime; either that or you’ve done something that has seriously annoyed her.

Why does my cat start licking and biting me randomly?

If your cat is not in pain, it might just be random behavior. Cats often groom themselves multiple times during the day to keep their coats clean and healthy. Your cat might also be trying to remove loose fur or chewing on her own hair—two things that can happen as a result of anxiety.

Why does my cat bite me when I pet her?

If your cat is only biting you when you are petting or grooming him, it’s probably that certain areas are more pleasurable for him than others. If he really likes being scratched under the chin but not along his back, for example, he might lean into the chin strokes and nip at you in protest if you try to touch him another way.

Why does my cat lick me then bite me while purring?

This is a common behavior among cats. It could be that your cat is showing her affection, or it might be a way for her to ask you for something — to play, perhaps, or to get some food.

Bite and licking might also be a way for your cat to communicate with you. If she wants something, she will let you know by biting at your clothes or trying to get in your lap. If she is feeling amorous, she might rub her cheek against yours; if her ears are flattened, however, this could be a sign of distress, and she might be trying to tell you that someone or something is worrying her.