If your cat has been grabbing your hand a lot, you might be wondering why and what you can do about it. This post will show you a number of possible causes and what you can do about them.
So, why does my cat grab my hand? Possible reasons why your cat grabs your hand are that it is showing affection, it wants you to pet it, it doesn’t want you to leave, it wants you to pet it differently or it feels intimidated.
Since there are actually a number of possible causes, it would help to consider what would make each of them more likely. Once you have a good idea of the main cause, it should become easier to get it to stop doing it.
Why does my cat grab my hand?
Below are a number of possible reasons why your cat has been doing it and what would make each of them more likely to be the main reason.
Showing affection
The reason why your cat does it might also be that it is showing affection towards you. This would be more likely if your cat does it when you are petting it and if it does not do it aggressively. In this case, it could be showing affection back at you for petting it.
Related: why does my cat grab my arm?
To get you to pet it
The reason why your cat grabs your hand could be that your cat wants you to pet it. This would be more likely if your cat does not do it aggressively and if it does it when it is lying down with you.
Related: why does my cat bite my feet?
Separation anxiety
Another possible cause is that it has some separation anxiety and it does not want you to go away. This would be more likely if it grabs your hand when you are leaving it and if it seems to get anxious when you are leaving.
It wants you to pet it differently
Another possible cause is that it does not like the way that you are petting it and it either wants you to stop petting it or to pet it differently. This would be more likely if your cat does it when you are petting it and if it also scratches and bites.
Intimidation
The reason why it does it might also be that it feels intimidated. This would be more likely if your cat seems to pull away from you and if it also scratches, hisses or bites. In this case, it could be the case that you are not being gentle enough or you are approaching it too boldly.
Things to consider about your cat grabbing your hand
Below are some things to consider to help figure out the main cause of your cat doing it.
If your cat has always grabbed your hand
If your cat did not always do it, it would help to consider if anything else changed when your cat first started doing it. If it started doing it suddenly, it could be because you started petting it differently or it started being intimidated.
What is different when your cat does not grab your hand
If your cat does not always grab your hand, it would also help to consider what is different when your cat does not do it. For example, if it does not grab your hand when you pet it in a certain way, it might be the case that it does grab your hand when it does not like the way you are petting it.
What to do about your cat grabbing your hand
Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.
Be gentle
If you have been petting your cat a bit forcefully, it would likely help to try petting it more gently.
Pet it differently
Another thing to do would be to pet it in a different manner. Often cats prefer to be rubbed below the chin instead of having their bellies or backs rubbed. It could help to try scratching below its chin instead.
Let it do it
If your cat seems to be grabbing your hand due to being affectionate and it does not bite or scratch you, another option would simply be to let your cat continue doing it or to pet it differently.
Why does my cat grab my hand when I pet it?
If your cat grabs your hand when you pet it, the reason could be that it wants you to continue petting it or it is showing affection back to you. If your cat grabs your hand aggressively, the cause would be more likely that it wants you to stop petting it.
Why does my cat grab my hand when I pull away?
If your cat grabs your hand, when you pull away, the cause would be more likely to be that it wants you to continue petting it or that it is showing affection.
Why does my cat hold my hand?
If your cat holds your hand, it could be due to any of the reasons mentioned above. It would help to consider if it also bites and scratches and what is different when it does not hold your hand.