When your cat attacks you!

Are you sick of having your cat bite your feet? Why do they do this and how can it be stopped?

catching fire

If you are tired of having your cat bite your feet there are simple things you can do to prevent this behavior. But before you change their behavior, you should identify why they are exhibiting this behavior. There are many reasons why a cat might be aggressive towards their owners. The main reasons are due to conditioning, genetics, environment, and medical.

CAT

The primary reason why cats bite their owner's feet is to get their attention. In other words they are conditioned to do this. Their reward for biting their owner's feet is often a reward in the form of food or attention. It takes a while for a cat to become conditioned to this behavior, so it takes time to de-condition them from doing it.

Another reason a cat might be aggressive is due to genetics. A cat's personality is largely determined by its genetics. Studies have shown that cat's personalities are often the same as their parents, and little can be done to prevent them from changing. It has been shown that some cats just don't like to be around people as much no matter how well they are treated.

Environment plays a big role in the behavior of a cat. Cats that live in single cat households are often aggressive towards their owners often times out of boredom. On the other hand cats that are in multi cat households are more stressed out because of the limited resources of litter boxes, food bowls, etc.

Certain medical conditions can also play a role in aggressive behavior. A medical condition called hyperthyroidism can lead to a cat acting hyperactive and aggressive towards its owners. If you suspect your cat has a medical condition you should see a veterinarian.

Just as there are many causes as to why your cat bites your feet, there are many ways to train your cat to behave and stop biting your feet. If you take the time to understand your cat's behavior you can build a great relationship with them.

When your cat attacks you!

Chris Suckow, DVM, lives and works in Los Angeles, CA.

Visit his website at http://problemcatbehaviors.com

CAT