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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think my cat nipping me is a sign of affection?

47 replies

BlueRussiann · 04/09/2019 09:16

We have a gorgeous Russian Blue cat who we got at 9 weeks old and is now just over a year old. She's an indoor cat.

She is a lovely, petite cat who comes to sleep on my chest/neck whenever I'm lying down. She's very independent and will only come for affection in the evenings/night time. However, she follows me around the house and will settle in whatever room that is, including the bathroom Blush

Sometimes she comes up to me meowing for attention, I'll stroke her and she'll nip at my hand gently then later chase after my feet. Now AIBU to think my cat's just being affectionate and trying to play? Or am I being completely naive here and she's plotting my downfall? 🤦🏼‍♀️

OP posts:
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Moraxella · 04/09/2019 09:29

Ours is independent and "on his own terms" but follows you around everywhere and wants to be near you. Jumps up on you and makes you stroke him, then (albeit very gently) puts his jaw around your wrist. It doesn't hurt and it's not like we initiate stroking - he starts rubbing up against your hand to get stroked! So I think it's affectionate. If his jaw was stronger and bigger he would probably kill us and eat us.

Supersimkin · 04/09/2019 09:31

She loves you!

EskewedBeef · 04/09/2019 09:33

I had a cat that did this, sort of full mouth gnawing on our hands and wrists.

PookieDo · 04/09/2019 09:33

Mine will wallop you with her paw if you walk past her sometimes (no claws) I will go back and say what was that about and she is often looking at me with a look that says I might kill you... but not today

OwnerofanAngryCat · 04/09/2019 09:36

Sorry, couldn't possibly comment without pictures. Btw your cat is training you.

UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername · 04/09/2019 09:37

She's a cat. She's playing and being affectionate but your downfall is always an option, especially if dinner is late, you don't open and close doors on demand at all hours of the day and night or just if she fancies a change.

Zaphodsotherhead · 04/09/2019 09:37

I have one, she's a very 'people person'. When you bend down she rubs against your face and purrs like mad, after a while she will nip the end of your nose, or your cheeks, just with her tiny front teeth.

We call them love bites. She really is the most affectionate cat in all ways, so I assume it's a sign of affection from her and she isn't going to try to rip my face off one day...

PookieDo · 04/09/2019 09:42

Off topic but I am so annoyed with my idiot cat. Fed her last night and she over ate too fast. Downstairs is all hard flooring - where she was fed. At 11pm she runs upstairs puking all over the hallway then ran around my bedroom vomming in 5 places. Then she felt better and sat and watched me clear it all up

AlrightOkNow · 04/09/2019 09:52

It's play. My kitten would do the same when that age but not so fun when they are a couple of years older and they play with all their hunting instincts and force.

Yabu not to include pics.

tierraJ · 04/09/2019 09:57

I think it shows she's relaxed around you & likes you.
My cat has only just started play fighting with me after I've had her for 18 months, she's a very nervous rescue.
Here's a pic of her looking scared!

To think my cat nipping me is a sign of affection?
Redshoesandtheblues · 04/09/2019 10:14

It's cat love. 😍

Redshoesandtheblues · 04/09/2019 10:16

tierraJ - what a beautiful scardey cat!!

MedalMedalMedal · 04/09/2019 10:23

Aw def she loves you! One of mine nibbles my leg for attention. Very gently 😻

tierra That is one beautiful happy cat you have there x

Purplerain16 · 04/09/2019 10:27

I too, require pictures before I can pass judgment Grin

MashedSpud · 04/09/2019 10:28

My cat will lick your arm if you stop stroking her and carry on until you start stroking her again.

QuestionableMouse · 04/09/2019 10:31

Mine does it and I've always put it down to mutual grooming.

FudgeBrownie2019 · 04/09/2019 10:34

We have a Russian Blue named Edward and he's lovely but eccentric. I can scratch at his ears and he'll have a right old time of it but I touch his chin he'll have a nibble at my hand every time, for no reason other than just liking to chew my fingers.

AlexaAmbidextra · 04/09/2019 10:38

My bastard chases my legs and feet up the stairs and bites and it fucking hurts. She’s very affectionate though and follows me everywhere. Here is a pic of the savage beast.

To think my cat nipping me is a sign of affection?
smokeytoby · 04/09/2019 10:42

Cat's are knobs, adorable, hilarious knobs.

Mine is the most affectionate soul you could ever wish to meet.....until you touch his back end. Even the slightest brush of his lower tummy or back legs and he sees that as fair game to start a play fight.

Another one of his "quirks" is seeing me walking down the stairs, running ahead of me and hiding under the piano stool, waiting for me to walk past and then pouncing on my legs!

It's normal cat behaviour, but that isn't to say that she isn't plotting your downfall ;)

Original poster
BlueRussiann · 04/09/2019 10:50

Here she is! Her favourite thing to do is jump out at me through the banister whilst I'm walking down stairs! Gives me a bloody heart attack!

To think my cat nipping me is a sign of affection?
OP posts:
hoxtonbabe · 04/09/2019 10:59

This thread is making me laugh. I have a 5 month old ginger that everyone is trying to catnap as he very friendly and probably too confident, but he enjoys a good old bite. for the most part he likes getting stroked etc but yesterday he was on one, any touch and he was ready to pounce! My son really got it yesterday as they tend to play fight loads so my kitty just sees him as his brother that he hones his hunting instincts on, lol, he never does it with me.

On Monday we took him for his vaccinations and the two student nurses were cooing all over him.. until he went for one of hands, then he was squirming all over the place and made it difficult for her to give the injection, then suddenly he was “trouble” lol

he’s not really doing the swipe leg when passing like my other cats did, but the night is still young.

hoxtonbabe · 04/09/2019 11:00

@BlueRussiann

Look at the innocent face!!! Lol

Dancingfairydreams · 04/09/2019 11:36

Standard Russian blue behaviour! Loves to hunt us!

To think my cat nipping me is a sign of affection?
CautiousPractice · 04/09/2019 12:29

My nutball1 year old cat does the exact same. He follows me absolutely everywhere when he's in. I have loads of photos of him sitting in the sink, on the side of the bath, under my feet while i'm cooking, the end of the bed, as close as he can possibly get when i'm sat on the sofa. He even knows when i'm due home from work, and will always be home sat waiting at the front door when I come in. If i'm late, he grumps at me. He doesn't do the same with my partner unless he is feeling extra needy. He gives both of us little love bites, especially during sessions of stroke-belly-but-don't-touch-belly. I never wanted a cat, but caved last year on the understanding my DP would do the gross stuff like the litter tray. Now I can't imagine coming home and him not being there waiting for me.

wonderingsoul · 04/09/2019 12:34

Mine does it as a warning sign. If I'm stroking her and dont stop when shes had enough she bite (not with force ) grab hold of your hand with all four legs and kick

Her showing affection to us is her grooming our hair if we are laying down and laying on my chest and sucking on my top. Weirdly she doesnt do the sucking with any one but me. But will quite happily curl up by the DC heads and lick thier hair

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