If your cat has been rubbing then biting you, this post will show you likely reasons why and what you can do about them.
So, why does my cat rub then bite me? Likely reasons why your cat rubs then bites you are that your cat does not like how you interact with it, your cat is giving you a love bite or that your cat is playing.
There are a number of possible causes and it could be due to a combination of reasons. However, there are some things you can consider to help figure out the main cause and there are some things you can do about them.
Why does my cat rub then bite me?
Below are likely reasons why your cat has been doing it and what would make each of them more likely.
Your cat is done interacting with you
The cause could also be that it no longer wants to interact with you and it is biting you because it actually wants you to go away. This would be more likely if it starts biting you after you have been interacting with it for a while and if it also does things such as push itself away from you, flick its tail and stop purring.
Your cat is giving you a love bite
It could be the case that your cat is giving you a love bite. This is where your cat starts by rubbing against you, licking you and purring and then gradually starts to gently bite you instead. The cause could be that cats will sometimes start biting, when they are grooming each other, in order to deal with tougher patches of fur. It could be the case that it likes then bite you because it is grooming you and showing affection. This would be more likely if it also purrs and kneads when it does it.
Your cat does not like how you are interacting with them
The cause might also be that it does not like how you are petting it or that it wants you to stop petting it. This would be more likely if it starts biting you when you have been petting it for a while or when you pet it in a certain manner. It would also be more likely if it starts scratching or clawing at you.
Your cat is playing
Sometimes, cats will also start biting and scratching when they are playing. This would be more likely to be the reason why your cat does it if it also does things such as roll around at the same time.
Your cat likes how you taste
The reason why your cat rubs and bites you is also likely to be that your cat likes the way you taste. This would be more likely if your cat does things such as lick you at the same time and if it tends to do it more on your hands or feet which are likely to have a stronger taste on them.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider to help figure out the main cause.
If your cat has always rubbed then bitten you
If your cat has not always rubbed against you then bitten you, it would help to consider what else happened when your cat first started doing it. If your cat started doing it suddenly, it might be due to things such as a change in how you have been interacting with your cat or a change in the environment that has been causing your cat to get anxious.
The timing of when your cat rubs then bites you
It would also help to consider what is different when your cat rubs and bites you. For example, if it bites you when you pet it in a certain manner, it might be the case that it has an issue with how you are petting it.
How to stop my cat rubbing then biting me?
Below are options you have when dealing with the behavior.
Avoid intimidating them
One option would be to pet your cat differently and to be calm and gentle with it. Generally, you will find that cats prefer to be rubbed bellow the chin instead of having their backs rubbed strongly.
Observe your cat’s body language
It would also help to observe and to react to your cat’s body language. If your cat does things such as stop purring and kneading and start flicking its tail, it is likely that your cat has decided that it wants you to stop interacting with it.
Why does my cat bite then rub me?
The reason why your cat bites then rubs you is likely to be that your cat is giving you a love bite and is showing you affection, your cat is playing or that your cat likes how you taste. It might also be the case that your cat gets initially intimidated and it would help to consider the body language your cat shows when doing it.