by Pia Silvani, Director of Pet Training
and Behavior Counseling
Your cat is nestled comfortably in your lap, purring contentedly and appearing to enjoy your petting. You snuggle up next to your dog, who is curled up in a tight ball on the sofa and begin to massage him behind the ear. Your thoughts center on how much you adore your pet. Suddenly, the object of your affection turns swiftly and bites you. You feel betrayed. What happened?
It is common for pet owners to blame themselves or look for excuses when a pet snaps, swipes or bites when being touched. What did I do wrong? Perhaps I startled her; perhaps I hurt her with improper petting...The key is not to blame yourself or feel insulted or betrayed, but to try to understand the behavior and learn to avoid or correct it.
FELINES
Why cats bite or swipe at their owners when being stroked is really an enigma. There are many hypotheses, but none are proven to date. Theories suggest that some cats:
The key is to anticipate when the bite is coming in order to avoid it. Pay attention to your cat's body language. Warnings may include: tail twitching, flattened ears pulled back, sudden and quick head movements and restlessness.
Do Not Exceed Your Cat's "Touch" Limit
The simplest way to eliminate this behavior is to take care not to exceed the cat's threshold. For example, if your cat becomes agitated after three minutes of petting, stroke her for two, and remove her from your lap. Gradually increase the time and perhaps offer a few special treats when your cat is on your lap.
If your cat does not enjoy being touched near her hindquarters, avoid that area. If the biting/swiping is a new behavior, you may want to rule out any medical problems by taking her to your veterinarian. Perhaps it wasn't you at all—maybe your cat is really ill or injured.
Keep in mind that stroking is typically done for our own satisfaction. If your cat is not enjoying the contact, perhaps you should respect her wishes and enjoy her company in other ways.
Finally, the "don't pet me cat" typically gives a mild bite. If your cat has broken skin, you should seek the help of an experienced feline behavior counselor.
CANINES
As with felines, there are many reasons why your dog may not like to be touched. Dog bites can be very serious; seek professional advice immediately if your dog is showing any signs of aggression. There are many observations you can make about your dog that will help your behavior counselor. After all, who knows your dog better than you do?
Be prepared to answer these questions: WHO is your dog biting or threatening to bite when being touched? While some dogs direct their bites only to members of the immediate social group (your family), others threaten strangers or children.
WHEN or WHERE? In what context is your dog biting when being pet? When resting in a favorite spot? When touched on certain parts of the body? When tired? Answers to these questions will help your counselor understand WHY your dog is biting when you touch her.
As with cats, be aware of the warning signs that a bite might be on its way. Some signs include: dilated pupils, growling, curling of the lips, snarling, tongue flicks, barking, becoming stiff, raised hackles (fur on back), air snaps (people think the dog missed or they were quick enough to get away ), and avoidance behaviors such as ducking or backing away.
Again, if there is a sudden onset of biting—particularly when you touch your dog in certain areas of her body (most commonly the head or hindquarters), it is recommended that you have her checked by your veterinarian to rule out any possible physiological problems (i.e. ear
