If your cat has been hitting you, when you stop petting it, this post will show you a number of possible reasons why and what you can do about them.
So, why does my cat hit me when I stop petting it? The most likely reason why your cat hits you when you stop petting it is that it wants you to continue petting it.
Your cat might actually hit you, when you stop petting it, for a number of reasons and it might be due to a combination of them. However, there are some things you can consider to help figure out the main cause and there are some things you can do about it.
Why does my cat hit me when I stop petting it?
Below are some possible causes and what would make them more likely.
It likes you petting it
The most likely reason why your cat hits you, when you stop petting it, is that it wants you to continue petting it. This would be more likely if it is happy when you are petting it and it does things such as purr and knead.
It is being affectionate
The cause could also be that your cat is just being affectionate. This would be more likely if it has not been doing it excessively and it is affectionate in other ways such as by sleeping next to you and following you around. It would also be more likely if it does not show signs of being anxious or fearful and it has more relaxed body language such as by purring.
Separation anxiety
It could also be the case that your cat does hits you because it has some separation anxiety. This is where your cat does not like being left alone and being left alone causes it to become anxious. This would be more likely if your cat does it more at a certain time such as when you pet it before leaving the house.
Related: Why does my cat bite me when I pet its belly?
It is playing
It might also be the case that your cat is actually playing. This would be more likely if your cat does things such as grab your hand and roll around.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider to help figure out the main reason why your cat does it.
If your cat has always hit you when you stop petting it
If your cat did not always hit you when you stopped petting it, it would help to consider what else happened when it first started doing it. For example, if your cat started doing it when you got another pet, it could be the case that your cat started getting jealous or anxious around the other pet.
What else is different when your cat hits you
If it does not always hit you when you stop petting it, it would also help to consider what is different when it does not hit you. For example, if it does not hit you when you pet its chin or head, it could be the case that rubbing its belly is causing it to want to grab on to your hand.
What to do about your cat hitting you when you stop petting it
Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.
Pet it differently
The first option would be to pet your cat in a way that makes it more difficult for your cat to hit you or to grab your hand. One way to do so could be to put its head or chin instead of on the belly or back.
Give it a distraction
Another option could be to give your cat a distraction when you want to stop petting it. A distraction you could use could be a toy on a string.
Avoid encouraging it
Another option would be to stop petting it completely, for a while, whenever it does hit you. By doing so, you should be able to teach it that hitting you results in you not petting it.