Why does she bite me?

[kaitlinktm]

I have an 8 year old ginger and white female. I adopted her when she was about 12 months - from a rescue place. She is neutered and up to date with boosters etc.

She bites me. Sometimes I understand it is very gently for attention, sometime a semi bite if she has had enough petting for now. I understand these. But sometimes she will just have a go whilst I am walking past not interacting with her at all - she doesn't want food or to be let out. I have often felt grateful that I didn't have her when my children were small.

A visitor told me today that she was just being nasty because her ears were back and I should just push her off the drawers where she was sitting. I don't know if this would do any good.

I love her to bits whatever of course but why does she do it, and what can I do?

Is she grabbing your ankles? That’s play behaviour. Ears back but no growling noises is serious play.

Ears back but lots of noise is fighting. They don’t usually do that to humans though.

She does sometimes grab my ankles, but I'm not too bothered about that. Today she was sitting about chest high on a chest of drawers and leaned out and bit my elbow as I walked past - for no reason. She wasn't making any noise.

She does however do an odd thing on the window sill. If she goes on the living room windowsill and behind the net curtain, and if anyone then approaches her, she hisses and growls and will have a serious go at them - scratching and biting. We have never understood why she does this, it is totally unprovoked and she could have been purring etc just moments before. I always leave her alone when she goes on "her" windowsill but my son doesn't.

Weird isn't it?

My cat bites me, I'm sure it's play even when it's quite hard! They are bastards

They are bastards

This is what I think too but other people seem to have affectionate cats who never bite them ever. I did wonder if it was a ginger female thing.

pushing her off the drawer would not do any good at all, poor cat. something is upsetting her, cats display all sorts of behaviour we don't always understand, have you tried a feliway plug or been to the vet to ask for their advice.

No I haven't Cheesy. Hitherto I haven't considered it serious enough - she isn't like this all the time. But it was the reaction of my visitor which made me think.

Might get a feliway though - hadn't thought of that. Thanks

If you push her and she lands awkwardly damaging herself you’ve got a vets bill.

Bitings not as bad to cats as us, furs a good protector.

I have torties. One bites. If you displease her or overstimulate her (too much cuddling) or just “because”. Must be the ginger! Like chestnut mares in horses.

Because she is feeling bitey.

maybe she doesn't like your visitor

Oh one of mine does this.
It's just her way of saying she wants to play.

Yeah mine is like this too - it's because she's a spoilt bastard, sorry no real advice other than to treat like an attention seeking toddler and ignore as soon as she starts acting up. (Also mine really hates the feliway spray and plug-ins, actually refused to sleep in her bed for weeks when I sprayed some in it) ungrateful and spoilt bastard!

Ugh. Colon bites me all the time . Like proper goes for me. Like when we let him in in the morning if dh opens the door to him he’s all purring and cuteness and
Rubbing himself
Against his legs. If I let him in he attacks me!

Haha colon. I meant Colin

Ken.
That’s a serious red light right there!
In public- hey thanks for letting me in. I love you so much and appreciate everything you do for me.
In private - do it faster next time bitch.
Sounds like one of mine. We reckon she has a switch that flips to make her change. Psycho kitty!

That is so weird - I posted on my phone but it didn't work. I was about to say yes to the two-facedness. Biting one minute, and the next like this on my bed purring.

You've had her for seven years - has this always been her behaviour or is it a recent change?

My boy cat bites me quite often but since he's usually sitting on my lap purring at the time I've always taken it as his way of showing love.

I'm following with interest. Mine is very affectionate, but also a biter. Today she tried to climb a tree with thorns and couldn't, so she just bit the thorns. Sometimes she gets bored and chews carboard, doors, whatever it is in front of her. That includes me.

A cat I know (that lives near my commercial store) is the friendliest, most affection demanding little cat around, runs towards me miaowing, demanding to be picked up and cuddled, purrs her head off etc. Until she gets bored or has had enough, then she goes into psycho killer cat mode biting and scratching. I'm getting quite good at predicting when she's about to turn, but she has drawn blood a few times.
She's very pretty so she gets away with it - She's just making her position clear.

You've had her for seven years - has this always been her behaviour or is it a recent change?

No, not a recent change. She hasn't done it from day one, but she has been doing it for several years now.

She's very pretty so she gets away with it - this is true - and I have a soft spot for ginger females.