{"id":1279,"date":"2020-06-06T14:37:19","date_gmt":"2020-06-06T14:37:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/?p=1279"},"modified":"2020-06-06T14:37:19","modified_gmt":"2020-06-06T14:37:19","slug":"what-does-it-mean-when-a-cat-bites-you-then-licks-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/what-does-it-mean-when-a-cat-bites-you-then-licks-you\/","title":{"rendered":"What does it mean when a cat bites you then licks you?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Let\u2019s be real.&nbsp; Cats can be weird sometimes.&nbsp; If you\u2019re new to the world of cats, they can sometimes seem so unpredictable and downright mean.&nbsp; For example, you two are chilling on the couch, enjoying a snuggle session when suddenly your cat attacks your hand with some teeth and claws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Worry not \u2013 they don\u2019t hate you.&nbsp; They\u2019re not angry at you, whatsoever. You\u2019ll notice how they\u2019ll even lick your hand right after their supposed \u2018attack\u2019.&nbsp; All this biting and licking action is actually one of their ways to communicate to you.&nbsp; Let\u2019s look at the possible meanings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_17 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-grey\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"display: none;\"><i class=\"ez-toc-glyphicon ez-toc-icon-toggle\"><\/i><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1\"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/what-does-it-mean-when-a-cat-bites-you-then-licks-you\/#Love_bites_Literally\" title=\"Love bites.&nbsp; Literally.\">Love bites.&nbsp; Literally.<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/what-does-it-mean-when-a-cat-bites-you-then-licks-you\/#Its_time_to_play\" title=\"It\u2019s time to play.\">It\u2019s time to play.<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/what-does-it-mean-when-a-cat-bites-you-then-licks-you\/#Is_something_wrong\" title=\"Is something wrong?\">Is something wrong?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/what-does-it-mean-when-a-cat-bites-you-then-licks-you\/#Common_questions_about_cat_bites_and_licks\" title=\"Common questions about cat bites and licks\">Common questions about cat bites and licks<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/what-does-it-mean-when-a-cat-bites-you-then-licks-you\/#What_should_you_do_after_a_cat_bite\" title=\"What should you do after a cat bite?\">What should you do after a cat bite?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/what-does-it-mean-when-a-cat-bites-you-then-licks-you\/#Why_is_my_cat_licking_me\" title=\"Why is my cat licking me?\">Why is my cat licking me?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/what-does-it-mean-when-a-cat-bites-you-then-licks-you\/#How_to_stop_play_aggression_in_cats\" title=\"How to stop play aggression in cats?\">How to stop play aggression in cats?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/what-does-it-mean-when-a-cat-bites-you-then-licks-you\/#Conclusion\" title=\"Conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Love_bites_Literally\"><\/span>Love bites.&nbsp; Literally.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Have you ever noticed that when your cat grooms itself they will first \u201cbite\u201d an area and then lick it?&nbsp; What they\u2019re doing is actually detangling their fur and then licking it clean.&nbsp; They actually do the same thing when they\u2019re grooming other cats.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When your cat bites you and then licks you during one of your petting sessions, it\u2019s actually just their way of showing how much they care about you \u2013 by giving you a bit of a grooming session (pun unintended).&nbsp; It could simply be that your cat is used to biting or \u201ccombing\u201d the area they\u2019re grooming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other than grooming, cats are observed to do some gentle love bites \u2013 again to show affection.&nbsp; Unfortunately, because humans don\u2019t have fur, we\u2019ll actually feel their sharp tiny teeth when they do this.&nbsp; One of the biggest things that makes a love bite different from a full on angry bite is that love bites very rarely draw any blood whatsoever.&nbsp; If your cat isn\u2019t showing any signs of aggression or agitation (like flattened ears, growling, or very swooshy tails), their bites are nothing but love bites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Its_time_to_play\"><\/span>It\u2019s time to play.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As you well know, cats can\u2019t communicate with words like humans do.&nbsp; Still, they\u2019ll try to communicate how they feel to us in other ways they know how.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cats, especially the younger ones, love to play.&nbsp; The way cats play is they simulate hunting.&nbsp; As early as they are able in their kittenhood, they will start to pounce, bite, and paw at their littermates.&nbsp; Even after they\u2019ve matured, cats will still love playing around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When they think it\u2019s time to play, trust that they will let you know.&nbsp; Some cats will whine at you, pounce, scratch, or even do a bite-lick combo.&nbsp; They best way to tell if they indeed want to play is to play with them.&nbsp; However, if you notice that your cat does NOT want to play and seems to show some aggressive behavior, it could be that they\u2019re trying to tell you something is wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_something_wrong\"><\/span>Is something wrong?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes, when you are just getting so into the petting session, your cat will suddenly give you a bite then lick.\u00a0 One of the reasons why they do this is that they simply have had enough of the petting session, and would very much like to stop now.\u00a0 The bite is them asking you to stop, and the lick is them saying that they still love you.\u00a0 When they communicate this to you, let them go.\u00a0 Nothing feels worse for a cat than feeling restrained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[crp]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Common_questions_about_cat_bites_and_licks\"><\/span><strong>Common questions about cat bites and licks<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_should_you_do_after_a_cat_bite\"><\/span><strong>What should you do after a cat bite?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve had an aggressive interaction with a cat that resulted in a bite or scratch, wash the wound with soap and water and <strong>seek out medical help IMMEDIATELY.<\/strong>&nbsp; Don\u2019t let 8 hours pass before you see a doctor.&nbsp; Cat bites can be very infectious especially if the person bit is immunocompromised or have diabetes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_is_my_cat_licking_me\"><\/span><strong>Why is my cat licking me?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Licking is one way your cats show their love for you.&nbsp; For kittens, it\u2019s the same thing as hugging someone they love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another reason why they could be doing it is that they\u2019re marking their territory.&nbsp; Cats love leaving their scents on things they perceive as theirs \u2013 this includes people.&nbsp; Every time your cat licks you, they\u2019re simply declaring to the world, aka the other cats in the area, that you are theirs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_stop_play_aggression_in_cats\"><\/span><strong>How to stop play aggression in cats?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Cats who grew up around humans who played with them roughly or encouraged their aggressive behavior tend to play rougher than other cats.&nbsp; If you are a cat owner, do not bully them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bored cats also express a bit of play aggression because they just have so much pent up energy.&nbsp; Keep your cats engaged and healthy by playing with them regularly and making sure that your home is suitable and enriching or cats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, cats will start showing signs of aggression if they are in pain.&nbsp; Get your cat checked by your vet to rule out any medical problem as the cause of their behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Because cats can\u2019t communicate with humans with words.\u00a0 They make do with what they can.\u00a0 For the most part, cat bites, if they\u2019re done without aggression are absolutely nothing to worry about \u2013 especially if they\u2019re followed up with a bit of licking.\u00a0 They\u2019re your cat\u2019s way of saying they love you, or that they want to play with you.\u00a0 Other times, it\u2019s a soft warning that they\u2019re getting a bit overstimulated with the petting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/What-does-it-mean-when-a-cat-bites-you-then-licks-yo-1-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"What does it mean when a cat bites you then licks you\" class=\"wp-image-1281\"\/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Let\u2019s be real.&nbsp; Cats can be weird sometimes.&nbsp; If you\u2019re new to the world of cats, they can sometimes seem so unpredictable and downright mean.&nbsp; For example, you two are<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":1280,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[8],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v16.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What does it mean when a cat bites you then licks you? [ Answer ]<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/what-does-it-mean-when-a-cat-bites-you-then-licks-you\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What does it mean when a cat bites you then licks you? [ Answer ]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Let\u2019s be real.&nbsp; Cats can be weird sometimes.&nbsp; If you\u2019re new to the world of cats, they can sometimes seem so unpredictable and downright mean.&nbsp; For example, you two are\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/what-does-it-mean-when-a-cat-bites-you-then-licks-you\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"AnimalsA2Z.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-06-06T14:37:19+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/What-does-it-mean-when-a-cat-bites-you-then-licks-yo-scaled-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"973\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\">\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"5 minutes\">\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/\",\"name\":\"AnimalsA2Z.com\",\"description\":\"Just another WordPress site\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/?s={search_term_string}\",\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/es\/what-does-it-mean-when-a-cat-bites-you-then-licks-you\/#primaryimage\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/What-does-it-mean-when-a-cat-bites-you-then-licks-yo-scaled-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/What-does-it-mean-when-a-cat-bites-you-then-licks-yo-scaled-1.jpg\",\"width\":2560,\"height\":973,\"caption\":\"What does it mean when a cat bites you then licks you\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/es\/what-does-it-mean-when-a-cat-bites-you-then-licks-you\/#webpage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/es\/what-does-it-mean-when-a-cat-bites-you-then-licks-you\/\",\"name\":\"What does it mean when a cat bites you then licks you? [ Answer ]\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/es\/what-does-it-mean-when-a-cat-bites-you-then-licks-you\/#primaryimage\"},\"datePublished\":\"2020-06-06T14:37:19+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2020-06-06T14:37:19+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/#\/schema\/person\/40209377c762bd7e66a7a961433e79cf\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/es\/what-does-it-mean-when-a-cat-bites-you-then-licks-you\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/es\/what-does-it-mean-when-a-cat-bites-you-then-licks-you\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/es\/what-does-it-mean-when-a-cat-bites-you-then-licks-you\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"item\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/\",\"name\":\"Home\"}},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"item\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/es\/what-does-it-mean-when-a-cat-bites-you-then-licks-you\/#webpage\"}}]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/#\/schema\/person\/40209377c762bd7e66a7a961433e79cf\",\"name\":\"Rolf\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/#personlogo\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f426b88898e45cab2746f58ec14d18e4?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f426b88898e45cab2746f58ec14d18e4?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Rolf\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1279"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1279"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1279\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1280"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1279"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1279"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1279"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}