Why does my cat bite me while petting, then immediately want more?

Question

So here is the situation: I would be petting my cat, she then bites me. I stop petting her. I bring my hand close to her so she smells me and know that this is me and that everything is okay. She stares at me (no fear stance or backward ears, its a normal standing cat stance). She then bites me again. Looks at me. Then 5 seconds later walks and rubs her body on my leg and stands while turning her butt to my leg. Why did she bite me then ask me 5 seconds later to pet her? Why so confusing? Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Mediumhair | Female | spayed | 10 months and 20 days old | 9 lbs

Makenzie Kurth, DVM · Accepted Answer

Thanks for using PetCoach. This is a normal play behavior. (So is reaching out to claw your pants as you walk by or trying to catch your hands with her claws while you pet her.) There are two ways I handle this. One is to stop petting and leave so that she knows play time is over. Honestly it hasn’t really worked yet (she still does it sometimes) and my cat is now 18 mos. What seems to work better is to get up and grab her favorite toy and start playing with that. That is something she CAN bite and claw at and get those natural play behaviors out- without chomping my hands. My girl is OBSESSED with one very similar to the one in the link below. https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/leaps-and-bounds-caterpillar-cat-teaser?rrec=true Hope this helps and best wishes to you and Raven!

Why does my cat bite me while petting, then immediately want more?

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