Skip to Content

Why does my cat lick me then bite me?

If your cat licks you then bites you, this post will show you a number of possible reasons why and what you can do about it.

So, why does my cat lick me then bite me? The most likely reasons why your cat licks you then bites you are deciding that it no longer wants you to pet it or that it is actually showing you affection.

There are actually a number of possible reasons why your cat might lick then bite you 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 lick me then bite me?

Below are possible reasons why your cat licks then bites you and what would make each of them more likely.

Your cat is showing affection

Sometimes, cats will bite when they are being affectionate. The reason why your cat has been biting you could actually be that it is showing you affection. This would be more likely to be the cause if it does it when it is showing positive body language such as by purring and kneading.

Your cat changed their mind

Another possible reason why your cat does it is changing its mind and deciding that it no longer wants you to pet it. This would be more likely if your cat’s body language changes when it bites you and it starts moving away from you. It would also be more likely if your cat does it while you are petting it. This would be especially likely to be the cause if it starts biting when you start petting it differently.

Related: Why does my cat lick my feet?

Your cat is playing

It could also be the case that your cat is actually playing. This would be more likely if it also grabs your hand and if it does not seem to be showing other negative signs such as scratching, hissing or pulling away.

Related: Why does my cat lick me when I’m sleeping?

Your cat is grooming you

Sometimes, cats will bite when they are grooming. They usually start biting when they get to a piece of fur that is stuck in a lump. The reason why your cat licks and bites you could be that it is actually grooming you. This would be more likely if it does it when it is licking your hair or when you are not petting it.

Your cat likes the taste

The cause could also be that it likes the way you taste. This would be more likely if your cat does it when it is licking things such as your hands or your hair. It would also be more likely if your cat does it more after you have been cooking or when you have food on your hands.

Things to consider about your cat licking then biting

Below are some things to consider about your cat licking then biting you.

If your cat has always licked then bitten you

If your cat has not always licked then bitten you, 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 it has been doing it due to a change in the way that you pet it.

What else is different when your cat licks then bites you

It would also help to consider if there is a certain time that your cat does it. For example, if it does it when you are petting it, the cause would be more likely to be that it is either showing you affection or it decides that it no longer wants to be petted. Whereas, if it does it when you have just been cooking, it would be more likely that it likes how your hands taste.

The body language your cat shows

It would also help to consider the body language your cat shows when it does it. If it shows signs of being agitated such as wagging its tail and moving away, it would be more likely that it bites you because it wants you to stop. Whereas, if it does things such as purr and rub its head into you, it would be more likely that it likes the way you are petting it and it is showing affection.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzuhuaeS0aQ&ab_channel=JacksonGalaxy

What to do about my cat licking then biting me?

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

Watch its body language

It would help to observe the body language your cat is showing. If your cat starts doing things such as flick its tail or stop purring and kneading, it would be a strong sign that you should stop petting it and that it is likely to start biting.

Pet it differently

Since your cat could be doing it because it wants you to pet it differently or because it doesn’t like how you’re petting it, it would help to make sure that you have petting it appropriately. It would help to pet it gently, and cats often do not like it when your stroke their entire backs. Often, cats prefer to be rubbed below the chin.

Why does my cat bite then lick me?

The reason why your cat bites then licks you is likely to be that your cat is grooming you which would be more likely if your cat does it when showing signs of pleasure such as by purring. This is because cats will sometimes bite when they get to tough parts of fur.

Other possible causes are that your cat bites then licks you are that your cat is playing with you or that your cat likes the way you taste.

Why does my cat bite me when she’s being affectionate?

If your cat bites you when she is being affectionate, the cause could be that she is playing with you. This would be especially likely if your cat also does things such as roll onto her back and hit you with its paws.

If your cat bites you when you are also petting it, the cause would also be likely to be that your cat wants you to pet it differently. This would be more likely if your cat also tries to move away from you when it does it.

Your cat might also be biting you as a way of showing you affection. This is because the biting could be its way of inviting you to play with it.

Another possible cause is that your cat is grooming you since cats will sometimes bite when they get to rough patches of fur.

Why does my cat lick me then attack me?

Likely reasons why your cat licks then attacks you are that your cat is playing with you or that your cat does not like the way you are interacting with it. It would help to consider the other body language signs your cat shows when it starts attacking you.

If your cat does things such as hiss and try to move away from you, it would be more likely your cat does not like how you are interacting with it. Whereas, if your cat rolls around and hits you, it would be more likely that your cat is playing with you.

Why does my cat bite then lick my hand?

Likely reasons why your cat bites then licks your hand are that your cat is showing you affection by grooming you, your cat is playing with you or that your cat likes the way you hand tastes.

To prevent the behavior, it would help to try to touch your cat differently with your hand and to try to recognize when your cat is likely to start biting.

Why does my cat bite then lick me when I pet her?

Likely reasons why your cat bites then licks you when you pet her are that your cat is showing you affection by grooming you, your cat is playing with you or that your cat likes how your hand tastes. It might also be the case that your cat initially does not like how you pet it but does like how you pet it after it bites you.