Skip to Content

Why do cats bite themselves?

If your cat has been biting themselves, this post will show you likely reasons why and what you can do about it.

Likely reasons why your cat has been biting themselves are that your cat is trying to untangle clumped up fur, overgrooming, they are itchy, fleas, boredom, anxiety or due to being sick.

There are multiple possible reasons why your cat may bite themselves. However, there are a number of things you can consider to help figure out the main reason and it is usually not a significant issue.

Why do cats bite themselves?

Below are a number of likely reasons why your cat has been biting themselves and what would make them more likely.

Grooming

It is not uncommon for cats to bite themselves while grooming. Often, cats do this in order to untangle clumped up pieces of fur. This would be more likely if your cat does not actually bite into its skin and if your cat does not bite its fur very often.

Overgrooming

It could also be the case that your cat has been overgrooming.

Overgrooming in cats is defined as excessive licking, biting, or scratching of the fur.

The most common sign of overgrooming in cats is excessive licking and chewing of the fur, which can lead to baldness.

Other signs include redness and inflammation of the skin, and scabs or sores.

Overgrooming can be a sign of stress, anxiety, or boredom, and can also be a symptom of underlying medical conditions such as allergies or parasites.

They may be itchy

It could also be the case that your cat has been doing it due to being itchy. This would be more likely if your cat only does it occasionally, your cat seems to bite a certain area, your cat has a rash, or if you have been seeing fleas around the house.

There are a number of reasons why a cat may be itchy, including allergies, parasites, and skin infections. If your cat is itchy, you should take them to the vet to rule out any underlying medical conditions. You may also want to try giving them a bath with a mild hypoallergenic shampoo, and brushing their fur to remove any allergens or irritants.

They may have fleas

As mentioned, it might be a sign that your cat has fleas. It would help to inspect your cat for signs of fleas.

The first step is to vacuum thoroughly, paying special attention to areas where the cat likes to sleep. Be sure to dispose of the vacuum bag immediately afterwards.

Next, treat the cat itself. Begin by combing through the fur with a fine-toothed comb to remove as many fleas as possible. Follow up with a topical spot-on treatment, which will kill fleas and their eggs. You may also want to consider giving the cat a bath with a flea-killing shampoo.

They may be bored

It is also the case that a cat may bite themselves out of boredom and it could be why your cat has been doing it. Again, this would be more likely if your cat has not been doing it excessively and if your cat does it more in situations such as when it is being lively. Unless your cat has been causing itself to bleed or has bald patches, it is likely not an issue.

They may be anxious

It could also be the case that it is a response to being anxious. This would be more likely if your cat has been doing it more at certain times such as when a dog is around or when something else could be causing your cat to be anxious.

They may be sick

It is also the case that cats will sometimes start to bite themselves when they are sick. This would be more likely if your cat has been showing other signs of being sick such as vomiting or being lethargic.

Why do cats bite themselves while cleaning?

There are a few reasons why cats might bite themselves while cleaning.

One reason is that they are trying to remove something from their fur, like a piece of dirt or a bug.

Another reason is that they are trying to groom a difficulttoreach area.

Finally, some cats do it simply because it feels good!

Usually, a cat biting themselves while cleaning is not a cause for concern unless your cat has also been doing things such as showing bald spots or bleeding.

How to get my cat to stop biting itself?

Below are things you can do about your cat biting itself.

Leave your cat alone

As mentioned above, it is not uncommon for cats to bite themselves. If your cat has not been showing bad signs such as balding or bleeding, it would likely be the case that it is normal behavior and the best thing to do would be to leave the cat alone.

Treat your cat for fleas

It would help to inspect your cat for fleas. If it seems like your cat has fleas, it would help to take measures to get rid of them. To do so, you can vacuum the house thoroughly, comb the cat, treat the cat with flea treatment and give your cat a bath with a flea shampoo.

Limit reasons why your cat might be anxious

If it seems possible that your cat has been doing it due to being anxious, it would help to take measures to limit reasons why your cat may be anxious. One option would be to allow your cat to stay in a different part of the house where other pets can’t reach it.

Give your cat distractions

It could also help to give your cat distractions such as toys to play with or a scratch post.