How to stop a cat from biting and throwing itself at arms and legs - reasons for aggression and the best sedatives for cats 2022

Initially, the situation in which a cat attacks the legs and actively bites them does not cause tension, but is most likely perceived as a game. But when this happens quite often, or even every time a furry pet’s feet come into view, and the bites get stronger and stronger, then it’s no longer a laughing matter. It is necessary to take educational measures in such a situation, but before that you need to understand the reasons for such behavior.

Why does a cat become aggressive?

When getting a kitten or picking up a stray cat on the street, first of all it is worth remembering that all representatives of the Feline family are predators by nature. And neither the cute face nor the pleasant plush fur detract from this in the least. The cat is a predator, and that's a fact. Very often, pet owners themselves become victims, wondering what they are doing wrong and what they did to deserve such treatment.

In fact, people really “do it wrong.” And the mistake lies in ignoring cat aggression or, even worse, indulging in the unacceptable behavior of your beloved pet.

So, if a cat behaves aggressively, you first need to understand the reasons for this behavior. But to do this, you need to determine what kind of aggression the animal is showing. And there are several types of them:

From pain. Everything here is clear and natural. If something hurts, you become aggressive. The same is true for an animal, with the only difference that it cannot tell you about abdominal cramps, an aching tooth, etc.
Another point is changing teeth. During this period, any kitten strives to scratch its fangs. And if the owner did not take this moment into account and did not take care of the gear cutter in time, then the hand of that very owner will be used.
Caused by fear. Self-defense is an innate instinct, and there is no escape from it. The solution is to rid the cat of the frightening factor and calm the animal. Things that are completely familiar to us can frighten a pet. These are sharp sounds coming from a blender, vacuum cleaner, hair dryer. Even a loud sound from a TV speaker or speaker can scare a cat half to death. This also includes strong odors (bleach, hairspray, acetone), smoke, etc. Another “threatening” factor is small children. If there is a small child in the house where the cat lives, you should explain to the child the rules of behavior with a pet. And under no circumstances should you leave them alone, because even the most affectionate cat can run out of patience.
Intraspecific and redirected. This is hostility between two or more cats. Intraspecific aggression is inevitable when encountering unfamiliar cats. If there is already a mustachioed tabby in the house, but the decision has been made to replenish the cat tribe, then at first you need to carefully monitor the behavior of both pets and calm them down in every possible way. Intraspecific aggression is especially acute in same-sex cats. Castrated animals perceive each other a little more softly.
From overexcitement. Biting and exposing claws during petting is also quite common. Another thing is that this is considered a flaw in education. Such a reaction to affection should be suppressed. You should choose a comfortable toy for your pet so that he takes out all his excitement on a piece of rubber with feathers, and not on your skin.
Hunting instinct. Only a few, or rather, selected cats, are able to ignore a parrot, canary or any other small bird cooing peacefully nearby. Most cats will certainly rush at an innocent bird, and the ending of this fight is predetermined.
Maternal. A mated cat will protect her kittens in any case. And from the beloved owner as well. The cat will become aggressive at the slightest potential danger to its offspring. There is no solution to this problem. The maximum that can be done is to arrange a cozy nest for the mother and her children, away from external irritants.
Features of the breed and character. Genetics also plays a huge role. Therefore, when choosing a cat, you should carefully study the characteristics of the breed you like. Thus, it is believed that representatives of the following breeds have the worst characters: Siamese, Bengal, Sphynx, Cymric, Bombay, Savannah, Scottish Fold.

Norm or pathology

Nothing can be ruled out; in animals, as in humans, there are cases of mental disorders. However, when talking about why a cat bites when you pet it, it must be noted that the diagnosis should only be made by a professional based on an examination as well as anamnesis. However, most often the explanation lies in simpler things.

Indeed, cats are quite affectionate by nature, but at the same time independent. Moreover, each of them has its own character. Some are ready to spend hours receiving caresses in their most varied forms. Others, even after many years of living in the family, continue to keep their distance. And here, too, everything is ambiguous. Some kitties are ready to allow themselves to be petted for a few minutes without showing aggression, others show dissatisfaction right away. Therefore, you cannot generally consider why a cat bites when you pet it. In any case, everything is very individual.

Aggression after castration - when possible

A special place is occupied by a subtype of painful aggression, namely the condition after castration. Sterilization is not only a huge stress for the cat, but also a painful intervention in the body. Needless to say, the pet will be, to put it mildly, angry at the execution his beloved owner subjected him to.

We will not dwell on the pros and cons of this decision, but will talk about the possible reasons for the manifestation of aggression specifically after sterilization:

State after anesthesia. Disorientation, vomiting, involuntary muscle spasms and general weakness - all this is not only unpleasant for the cat, but also terribly scary. The animal does not understand what is happening to it and, naturally, becomes aggressive.
Pain. Strip surgery is not a scratch. The wound will hurt and bother the animal for a long time.
Postoperative period. Over the next three months after sterilization, hormonal changes occur. During this period, the cat may behave aggressively, and this is considered the norm.
There is another factor, the name of which is doctor’s negligence. This includes a poorly performed operation (including incomplete castration), incorrectly calculated anesthesia, and poor dressing.

All of the above reasons can be accompanied by aggression. But stories about a cat taking revenge for its organs are pure fiction. The animal cannot possibly guess what was done to it on the operating table.

Stress

There are often situations when a cat tries to bite the owner’s legs due to stress.

There can be several causes of stress:

A cat bites because it feels pain. Its source is not always illness. For example, the owner may accidentally step on the animal's tail.

It is interesting that a cat can attack even when the owner has not done anything wrong, but just happens to be within the reach of the cat’s teeth, which causes a desire to grab the owner’s legs. This condition is caused by the aggression suffered. In this case, the object of aggressive behavior is a factor: the animal, the person who caused it.

The cat bites its owner because it is afraid.

People who love cats may find it difficult to believe that a cat is afraid of them. Man is much larger and stronger than his pets, and these are sufficient reasons to run away from him.

Stress causes abnormal behavior in cats

There are situations when a cat’s trust in its owner is undermined, it begins to be afraid of him and bite him from time to time.

The cat bites its owner because it wants to free itself from his excessive attention.

This is a fairly common reason. When a person begins to impose too much attention on a cat, it begins to chew its legs to show its owner where he belongs.

For reference: contrary to popular belief, cats experience stress quite often. And this does not have a positive effect on their health and behavior.

What to do in case of aggression and how to stop a cat from biting and throwing himself on his arms and legs

First, let’s determine how aggressive the cat is. You need to sound the alarm if there are signs such as:

hissing and/or growling;
piloerection (raised fur);
arched back.

It is important to understand that the cat is seriously scared and is extremely determined. If the pet nervously beats its tail from side to side, then it is preparing to attack. This means that in an instant paws with bare claws and sharp teeth will come into use.

How to teach and calm a kitten when it's angry

In most cases, competent suppression of the kitten's habit of biting and scratching bears fruit. And in adulthood, the cat does not allow itself to throw itself at its owner’s feet.

To calm an overexcited kitten while still teaching him manners, you need to:

Use special toys in games. The kitten must remember that you can only bite and scratch certain things (toys), but not the owner’s arms and legs.
Buy a scratching post. This solution not only allows you to keep the furniture in good condition, but is also an excellent anti-stress for cats.
Stop the game. Never continue to play with a biting kitten. This way you will give him a false idea of the boundaries of what is permitted.

You can also use scarecrows. As soon as the baby starts to cross the line, you need to make it unpleasant for him: for example, throw on a robe or make a frightening sound. The animal will remember that after certain actions, trouble will inevitably occur in the form of a thrown robe or a loud bang.

There are even less humane methods: silicone paw pads and declawing surgery. However, experts consider these methods extreme. Firstly, there is psychological trauma; secondly, it does not protect against teeth in any way.

Naturally, the responsibility for raising a pet lies with the whole family. All household members should understand that the habit of teasing and irritating a cat is fraught with bad consequences. You should also not wave your arms and legs at your pet - the animal may perceive such gestures as an exciting game like “prey evading the predator.”

The best method of raising a kitten is love training. Surround the animal with care and affection, and it will definitely want to pay you back in the same coin.

How to calm and stop being angry in an adult cat

If in the case of a kitten, in the vast majority of cases, the problem is solved with a toy and a scratching post, then with adult cats, who sin with fangs and claws, things are much more complicated. To teach and to retrain are different concepts. But even in the most advanced cases there is a way out.

First of all, you still need to buy toys and scratching posts, if you don’t already have them. The cat will not stop scratching its claws, so your job is to provide it with a worthy alternative to its own shins and ankles.

If aggression manifests itself during play, then it is worth letting the cat know that you will no longer allow such an attitude towards you. After the next attack, just go into another room, then the pet will think: what’s wrong?

If aggressive behavior is not dictated by games, then you should:

Try to calm the animal.
Talk to him kindly, and under no circumstances shout or hit the cat.
Offer a treat as a sedative.
Sit quietly nearby so that the cat feels your support and presence.
Get rid of the irritating factor, if possible.

In the most difficult cases, you can contact a zoopsychologist. The specialist will accurately determine the cause of the cat’s aggressive behavior and give individual advice.

Playful attitude

One of the main reasons why a cat bites their feet is boredom. The owner should not forget to diversify the animal’s environment, give it a toy, play together and carefully hide objects that it is not desirable for the pet to become an object of interest to.

A cat may have dozens of toys, but too many can become boring. Therefore, you should hide some of them, and display only part of them, and after a while change their places. In this case, the cat will treat the previously hidden toys as a completely new object and will again show interest in the object.

When a cat jumps up to bite, the owner can throw him special toys, previously frozen in the refrigerator, or ice cubes. Biting such cold materials will calm the cat.

Attention! This method is especially applicable for small kittens whose teeth itch. After all, by biting the owner’s legs, they try to soothe pain in the game.

Leg biting is a way to attract the owner's attention when the cat wants to play. You should pay more attention to your pet, play with it more often, then the problem will be solved.

A playful attitude is a popular reason for biting the owner's feet.

What to choose sedatives for cats with aggression

There are special medications that can help relieve a cat from stress. But the decision to take such drugs cannot be made independently - only as prescribed by a veterinarian.

How do they work and are they dangerous?

Sedatives for cats act on the principle of regular sedatives. They may be prescribed in the following cases:

change of environment, moving;
phobias and anxiety, nervous disorders in cats;
sexual anxiety.

Depending on the composition, degree and period of exposure to the body, there are:

Chemicals.
Homeopathic remedies.

Homeopathic sedatives for cats are preparations that do not contain nootropic substances. These are tinctures of motherwort, peony, catnip, etc.

Homeopathic remedies are considered safer and more gentle. But the main disadvantage of such therapy is that the effect of such drugs is not immediately visible. That is, they are not suitable for calming a cat before visiting a groomer or veterinarian.

Chemicals are much more effective, but less safe. Any of them is taken strictly according to a veterinarian’s prescription and has its own contraindications, the most common of which are:

hypersensitivity to individual components;
diseases of the genitourinary system;
pregnancy and breastfeeding;
low blood pressure;
diabetes.

But experts do not recommend using “folk” sedatives. There are a lot of recipes on the Internet for making your own medicine at home. But how your cat will react to a remedy from Google is a big question.

Unique collars have been developed for kittens that imitate the pheromones of the mother cat. They are worn to facilitate the baby’s adaptation period in a new place.

5 best safe sedatives

The safest are plant-based preparations that do not contain a single aggressive substance. These include:

Relaxivet. Available in the form of drops, spray, tablets, suspension, and impregnated collar. The composition depends on the form of release. In most cases these are essential oils and herbs. The suspension contains L-tryptophan and L-theanine - an antidepressant and antioxidant of natural origin. Quick effect. Relaxivet products are considered safe due to their natural composition.
Doctor ZOO "Calm cat". A safe, plant-based spray that has a mild sedative effect. Safe due to naturalness. The only negative is that it wears off quickly, hence the high consumption of the product.
No Stress. Diffuser with valerian essential oil. Safe for cats and people as it does not contain chemical components. One block is enough for 4 weeks of continuous use. Afterwards it can be replaced with a replacement one.
Collar GOOD No stress. The impregnation consists of valerian rhizome extract, lavender and bagardia essential oil. Has a mild sedative effect. Safe due to its exclusively herbal composition.
Japan Premium Pet Matatabi. Matatabi is the Japanese equivalent of the well-known catnip. A mild sedative effect plus a good mood for the cat. Safe because it does not contain harmful substances.

In any case, no remedy will cope unless the therapy is complemented by peaceful stroking of the fur and warm, soothing words. Any pet will endure all the hardships and troubles with its owner if it feels loved.

During the game

Often, it is the people themselves who are to blame for the fact that a kitten shows aggression during play: it is hilarious to watch how a baby of two or three months old, with his ears flattened and his short tail lashing, pounces on the owner’s huge hairy hand and diligently chews a thick finger with his fangs. Several months pass - and a large, angry cat, angry that the owner has taken his favorite place on the sofa, digs into him with claws as sharp as fishhooks, and can easily bite an arm or leg to the bone.

If you want to protect yourself from your pet's aggression, remember a few simple but effective rules.

Diseases

Cats cannot tell humans what and where they hurt. But by your pet’s behavior you can understand that something is wrong with your pet’s health. For example, if an animal has an injured limb, and a person, without knowing it, accidentally touches the leg, causing an attack of acute pain, the cat, showing emotions, will scream, hiss or bite.

Feline diseases manifest themselves in different ways, and not every one is accompanied by pain. However, the owner should be wary if the cat behaves uncharacteristically, and the following symptoms are also present:

Lethargy, weakness;
Refusal to eat and drink;
Dry nose, which indicates a high temperature;
Restless sleep.

A common disease diagnosed in older cats is urolithiasis. With this pathology, the animal begins to worry while visiting the toilet, endlessly licking itself under its tail, and urinating past the tray. These are characteristic signs of ICD, in which delaying a visit to the veterinarian is dangerous.

Hunger, thirst

When a cat is hungry, it becomes irritated, and if a person ignores a request to feed, don’t be surprised that the animal begins to behave just as carelessly towards him. It is important to feed your four-legged friends with quality food on time.

Irritation can also be associated with thirst. Therefore, pets should always have fresh, clean water at their disposal.

Little kitty

Kittens often frolic, play, and during play they can attack various objects. They are especially attracted to moving legs. Also at this age, a small animal is teething. And this phenomenon, which brings a feeling of discomfort, leads to the desire to bite or chew something.

The kitten can attack feet, cling to socks and slippers with its teeth. The behavior is not unusual, but the owner should immediately stop any attempts to bite.

ATTENTION! If even a small kitten bites your feet or clings to your slippers, you should fight this habit.

Otherwise, this behavior will become characteristic of an adult. And when cats bite adults, it is both painful and dangerous. What to do in this situation? You should immediately retrain your pet. If the problem is related to teething, you need to buy your pet a rubber ball and other teething toys.

When a kitten grabs your leg, you need to immediately give him a rubber toy and distract his attention with it. This is what you need to do every time you see an intention to grab a foot or a slipper. Over time, the kitten will understand that it is the toy that should be grabbed with its teeth. It is important to educate pets and instill in them norms of behavior.

An aggressive, uncontrollable cat will become a problem for the whole family and for visiting people. To keep the house calm and peaceful, the kitten needs to be exercised regularly.

This is interesting: What to feed a Thai cat?

What to do?

Basic methods of weaning:

To solve the problem, switching your pet's attention to a toy may be enough.

It is necessary to provide sufficient physical activity and pay attention to the cat.
Under no circumstances should you hit or shout at an animal. It’s better to just push away, go to another room, ignore. Then the cat will understand that he did something bad.
Good behavior should be rewarded.
You need to train your cat to bite toys. To do this, it is recommended to buy more so that you have something to occupy your teeth.
If your pet suddenly develops aggression, you should consult a doctor.
There is no need to specifically tease or shuffle your feet on the floor.

Return to contents

Brief conclusion

Cats are smart animals and have highly developed intelligence. However, every living creature has individual character traits, habits and habits that distinguish them from each other. You just need to find an approach to your pet, keep it strict and educate it from an early age, pay enough attention, play, care and just love.

Source

How to act

There are several guidelines that need to be studied and used depending on the circumstances. The first step is to exclude the possibility of rabies, this is a fatal disease that can also infect humans:

The games of a kitten can be perceived with affection, but for the time being. It is better to accustom your pet to toys , otherwise in the future his attacks on the legs of his owners will become a problem.
The pet should be observed; perhaps the cat is in pain, irritated, and therefore rushes at people passing by.
A cat may simply be hunting, but it considers moving objects to be prey. You just have to be prepared for an attack and stop it.
If the claws of a cat are trimmed, the only weapon of this “predator” will be its teeth. This animal does not like to feel defenseless, so it can show its teeth and bite.

Teething

If the owner is bitten by a kitten, then most often the reason for this behavior is teething. In such situations, the baby constantly tries to put something in his mouth, which is quite normal for this age. To prevent a kitten from growing into a naughty prankster, it is important to explain from an early age that this cannot be done.

To help your cat cut teeth faster and stop biting, it is recommended to buy a special rubber toy that your pet can chew on when he wants to “scratch” his gums.

Hunting

Cats often attack moving legs as a result of their hunting instinct. They imagine themselves on a hunt, play, begin to hide, and suddenly attack in bulk. The location of the ambush can be very different - a tablecloth, an open closet, etc. If a person is not ready for an attack, a sudden jump on a pet’s legs can frighten and lead to a fall.

Especially often, an attack occurs on the legs of the owners at the moment when the cat is eating and someone passes by.

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to rid your cat of the hunting bug; you just need to accept it and be careful on those days when your pet is especially in the mood to hunt. Although it would not be a bad idea to give a stern reprimand for attacks, but no physical punishment.

Showing love

Animal psychologists who study the character and habits of cats agree that cat bites are one of the ways of communication. If a pet often bites its owner, perhaps this is his way of expressing immeasurable love and devotion. Many owners have noticed that when you scratch their four-legged friend’s neck or behind the ear, he will definitely turn around to bite the person’s hand. However, this bite does not cause pain, but is more like a tingling sensation. But when the animal’s emotions go off scale, the biting becomes more intense.

Tramples you with his paws

When a cat comes and begins to massage with its paws, this is how it shows its love and care for you. At this moment, the cat can dreamily roll its eyes, its muzzle takes on a peaceful expression, the pet begins to purr, and some individuals even drool. In general, this is the explanation of why a cat tramples you with its paws.

At such moments, the cat feels as comfortable and safe as possible - like under the side of a mother cat. When kittens feel the cat’s nipple, they begin to knead the space with their paws, thus stimulating the flow of milk near the nipple, eating and enjoying it.

So, when your adult pet starts giving you a paw massage, don’t drive him away, but gratefully respond with mutual tenderness. The main thing is to trim the claws in a timely manner so that the massage brings pleasure and not scratches.