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Why does my cat bite me when I pick them up?

This post will show you why your cat bites you when you pick them up and what you can do about it.

So, why does my cat bite me when I pick it up? The most likely reasons why your cat bites you when you pick it up are that it doesn’t like the way you hold it, it does not like being picked up or injury.

Your cat might actually do it for a number of different reasons and it might be due to a combination of them. However, there are some things you can consider when figuring out the main cause and there are some things you can do about it.

Why does my cat bite me when I pick them up?

Below are a number of possible causes and what would make each of them more likely to be the main cause.

It does not like being picked up

The reason why your cat bites when it is picked up could be that it does not like being picked up. This would be more likely if your cat has always bitten you when being picked up and it even does it when you pick it up very gently.

Injury

The reason why your cat has been doing it could be that it is injured. This would be more likely if your cat has started doing it suddenly, if it has been showing other signs of being in pain or if your cat has been behaving unusually in other ways as well. If it does seem like injury could be the cause, the best option would be to take it to a vet.

Intimidation

It might also be the case that it gets fearful when you pick your cat up. This would be more likely if it tends to bite more when you approach it quickly, when you pick it up forcefully and if it often bites when you do not pick it up as well.

You have been picking it up the wrong way

It could also be the case that the way you have been picking it up has been painful for it. This would be more likely if you have been picking it up quickly or forcefully and it does not bite when you pick it up gently.

Surprise

The cause might also be that your cat was not expecting you to pick it up. This would be more likely if it only bites when you pick it up suddenly or when you pick it up from behind.

Things to consider

Below are some things to consider when figuring out the main reason why your cat has been doing it.

If your cat has always bitten you when being picked up

If your cat did not always bite you when you used to pick it up, it would help to consider what else happened when your cat first started doing it. If it started doing it suddenly, it might be the case that there was an event that caused your cat to start doing it. Possible causes could be that you started picking it up more forcefully or because it got an injury.

What is different when your cat does not bite when being picked up

If your cat does not always bite, when you pick it up, it would help to consider what is different when it does not bite. For example, if it does not bite when you pick it up in a certain way, it might be the case that the issue is with the way you have been picking it up.

How to get my cat to stop biting me when I pick them up?

Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.

Take it to a vet

If your cat has started doing it suddenly, your cat has been showing other signs of being injured or you are not sure why your dog has been doing it, the best option would be to take it to a vet. By doing so, you should be able to get expert advice tailored towards your particular cat and to see whether or not injury is the cause.

Pick it up gently

If you have been picking it up quickly or forcefully, it would help to avoid doing so and to pick it up slowly and gently instead.

Be calm with it

It might also be the case that it bites because the way you interact with it when you pick it up, causes it to become fearful. Instead, it would help to be calm when interacting with it and to avoid picking it up forcefully.

Why does my cat scratch when I pick it up?

Your cat might scratch, when you pick it up, for any of the reasons mentioned above. However, it would be more likely that your cat either does not like the way you pick it up or that it has an injury.

Why does my cat hiss when I pick it up?

Your cat might also hiss, when you pick it up, for any of the reasons mentioned above. It would also be more likely to be due to things such as injury or not wanting to be picked up.