Is getting bitten normal cat behaviour?

[Skiddaw]

Our Munchkin does it occasionally. Usually it's that 'had enough' sort of nip but I think he sometimes has flash-backs (he was a homeless 'marauding tom' for several years before he came to live with us) to something that happened in his previous existence and then he really lashes out. He bit OH quite badly once. Thankfully it happens less and less often as his confidence and sense of security has grown.

[funkiechicken]

I have known 2 cats like this and i own one of them now.

Our Family Cat (we had many, many cats & dogs lol) Tipsey, would openly come to you for affection, however, after so long she would turn and bite, sometimes scratch and then walk off. Very much like she was saying "i love it, i love it......now ur getting on my nerves"

My cat Nuggie is the same. No bad history and have owned him since 5 weeks. However, he went through a phase of constantly attacking hands and arms, sometimes quite nastily and this was quickly tamed by not allowing people to use their hands as a "toy" - rubbing them on the floor etc, dangling fingers in his face - because he started to see hands as a play/attack thing, rather than a sign of affection etc. This worked well. However, he still occasionally acts like Tipsey did, i avoid this by spotting the start of his displeasure from the fuss he is getting....tail swish, narrowing of the eyes etc and just stop stroking him all together. (telling him hes a grumpy old man) I must say though - when Nuggie was less than 2 years he was hit by a car. No life threatening damage thank goodness, but he has been a very nervous cat since, but oh so loving when he knows people x

he also does the friendly leg nipping like the kittensmittens mentioned. I did not know this about the food! He doesnt do it often, but he'll be all dribbly from purring and fussing and then just lightly nip the leg or arm. I asked my nana & grandad who rescued and had many many cats and my grandad's theory was that as he was loved up and dribbly he probably getting himself a bit fruity and male cats nip/bite the female for mating? As my nana had 2 cats (on seperate generation/occasions) who got all dribbly and loved up and used to do the same to her? Maybe its the drugs in the food afterall! or maybe its the drugs making them fruity? 

I hope you wounds heal and dont let that cat put you off!! They are very rewarding pets!! You can often read a cat and can tell what its thinking, just by the eyes. If you get Big Blinks this is friendly peaceful sign (i always blink back - goodness knows what am saying) you can tell a big snugglebum and the rescue centre will help you xxx

[thekittensmittens]

Miyagi went through a weird phase of nipping my legs, quite alarming as he liked to do it if you had a bath etc
however this was when he went through a mental begging for food stage and it was pointed out that it may be the food he was on (aldi wet) it has stopped totally since he went onto a good quality dry and wet mix so it must have been drugging him up
at the rescue centres they always have write ups on the cats personalitys , i have only known one cat in my local rspca who sounds like the cat that attacked your arm. . :Crazy:shame as well as she was a real beauty

[Dawn F]

not common unless as Gill says they are badly socialised, hurt in some way or really really scared - some cats do a thing called love bites which is a little nip to tell you they've had enough petting but that doesn't break the skin.  One of mine (I have four including a bengal which have a bad reputation lol!) did nip from time to time when she came to us but she was a cruelty case from the rspca and had had a rough time, she doesn't do it any more and only did it if she felt cornered

do bear in mind that kittens do bite but grow out of it, when you go to the rescue to pick your new furry just ask for the biggest cuddlebum they have, there will be lots to choose from I'll bet!

[Fiona82]

Gill, thanks for your help and advice

It definitely makes sense for the cat to make the choice - if he or she likes me and likes contact etc. Also, a lot of the rehoming places have a good report on their behaviour and background, which might help.

I know I'm just nervous because I was hurt, I'll be over it soon

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

Try and make sure the cat you chose is actually a cat who chooses you 

Pick them up if you can and see if they like to be stroked and appear to like you.

Have to say Misa and Sasa were far to scared for any of this and at ages 4 and 6 had had such a terrible start in their young lives.

Misa is a a purrpot now and loves strokes but Sasa who is nearly a feral now I cannot touch still after 6 years! Both are terrified of anyone coming to the door or even worse putting a foot in the house but I love them both to bits.

As a first time cat owner I would take on an easy cat if I was you.

MY first cat chose me by walking into my garden and house and refused to leave, she tought me everything I knew about cats. all things they prefer LOL. She changed me from a cat hater to a cat lover 

[Fiona82]

Thanks for your replies.

I feel a bit reassured that this isn't exactly common! I'm expecting to home a cat within the next few weeks (my first ever!) and have been so excited and loved up with the idea, that this kind of shocked me and made me wary. But I know each animal is different and you can't take one cats behaviour as an indiciation. I've always been an animal lover - esp cats and dogs - and have never come across such a reaction before, so hopefully it's a once off lol.

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

Sorry you were so injured and good job you went to hospital, keep an eye on the injuries and if they get worse get back there pronto 

Sounds like this little cat is not socialized and thought she was going to be attacked.

Sadly some cats never get socialized and one elderly ginger who used to live up the road was like this and she was soooooooo scarey and would flatten her ears back and hiss and growl and go for you.

She was terrifying my cats and to get her out of the garden I had to walk towards her with a stool like a bloomin lion keeper.

Apparently she was like this all her life but think she was shut out at night and not looked after  as we would.

[Tiggy's Mum]

Not normal at all! Some cats have a limit when it comes to cuddles and they seem to get over stimulated but I wouldn't say it was a trait you'd generally expect in cats at all and attacking like that would be very uncommon!

Hope your injuries heal quickly 

[Fiona82]

Today, I was petting the next door neighbours cat (adorable, about a year old) and she was lying on the ground, purring, seemed to be enjoying it, as you'd expect, when suddenly she stood up, leapt for my arm, bit me twice and scratched me to pieces!  I of course backed off, shut the back garden door. But it shocked me. I know to expect some scratches from cats, it's obvious because of the claws, and I also know very young kittens might nip - but biting, is it normal?

I had to just spend three hours in the emergency doctors, getting my arm cleaned, getting my injection and now have to take a weeks course of anti-biotics.

I guess it's made me a little nervous!!