10 Jan Second Chance: Ouch! Why Does Your Cat Bite? + Highlights!
For 30 years, the Animal Resource Center and Shops of Second Chance Humane Society have been serving Ouray, San Miguel, and Montrose Counties. Our adoption hours are from Wednesday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. View our shelter pets and services online at www.secondchancehumane.org. Connecting Pets, People, and Community While Saving Lives.
View shelter pets and services online: www.adoptmountainpets.org.
Go here for more options from Second Chance.
When your cat bites you or your family, it can happen quickly and cause injury. There are several reasons why cats get physically aggressive and it’s important to understand them.
When cats are young, their playful behavior can sometimes become aggressive and result in bites. They may bite you as they launch a sneak attack from under the bed or pounce on you from a high place. This is a natural part of their development, but it should be discouraged as it can lead to biting as adults.
Cats may also express their affection through gentle nibbles and love bites, which are typically harmless. Some cats may use love bites to communicate their desire for something, such as food or attention.
When cats feel scared or threatened, they can resort to biting. Signs of fear or aggression include meowing, hissing, crouching down, dilated pupils, raised hair on their back or tail, tail lashing from side to side, and ears pinned back. Recognizing these signals can help prevent biting by giving the cat space and reducing their fear.
Anger or fear biting, or bites from a normally docile cat can be alarming to most cat parents. Cats may attack for various reasons, including anger, fear, irritability, or pain. If your cat shows signs of aggression, try to determine the cause by observing their behavior before the attack. If the cat bites because of fear, irritability, or pain, the underlying issue needs to be addressed.
Cats must learn that it is unacceptable to bite or scratch their people. Even little play bites should be discouraged, as they can escalate over time.
To curb biting, provide interactive toys, scratching posts, and regular play sessions to redirect your cat’s biting behavior and satisfy their natural instincts. Avoid using your fingers or toes as play toys, as this can reinforce biting. Instead, offer toys that keep a safe distance between your body parts and your cat’s teeth. Use positive reinforcement techniques to reward desired behavior. When your cat engages in gentle play or refrains from biting, offer treats or praise to reinforce good behavior. Focus on redirecting and rewarding positive behavior rather than punishing your cat for biting.
Any cat bite that breaks the skin should be thoroughly washed with mild soap and running water. Apply an antiseptic solution and cover with a clean, sterile bandage. Cat bites have a high risk of infection, so it may be important to seek medical attention.
Kit Kat
Kit Kat is one of our older kittens who has been waiting a long time for their people. They have spent their entire lives at the shelter and missed out on being adopted as adorable kittens because they came down with a virus and needed to be isolated. Now, Kit Kat is symptom-free and ready to bccome part of a family.
AND… To continue the Second Chance Highlights section, we want to share the following:
2024 is the 30th Anniversary of Second Chance:
A Milestone to Celebrate
A Challenge to Do More
While we are proud to have served our communities for three decades, we also see opportunities to do more in the coming years. Our goals are always to save more, serve more, and stay true to our belief that pets and people live better together.
From a Cat Castle Volunteer
Sandy shared some loving words about volunteering:
“I love volunteering for SCHS in the Cat Castle. On the last day of December, I spent several hours doing just that. There are currently 25+ kitties for adoption with all types of personalities in different sizes, colors, and shapes. After the holidays, it’s a slow time to adopt pets, but if you’ve been considering a kitty or two, there are some really great furry friends waiting for you.”
Second Chance always need volunteers. Sign up at: https://secondchancehumane.org/get-involved/volunteer-sign-up/
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