What Does It Mean When Your Cat Chews on Your Fingers?

Kitten Age Relic

• If your cat chews on your fingers, it could be because she was never trained not to as a young kitten. Wee kittens, just like puppies, are extremely wide-eyed and inquiring creatures. They use their mouths to check things out, from peoples' fingers to household furnishings. If your precious feline doesn't know not to employ your poor hand as a chew toy, she just doesn't know not to do it, plain and simple. If she was allowed as a kitten to play with your hands using her teeth, she'll continue doing so as a mature cat -- but with sharper chompers. Although it's a playful act on your pet's part, it can still hurt your fingers.

Pure Enthusiasm

• Some cats chew on peoples' fingers out of unbridled enthusiasm. If your cat can barely contain her happiness regarding the attention you're giving her, she might just start chewing on your fingers. Perhaps she was waiting all day for you to come home from work and give her attention, and now you're back and she's joyously overwhelmed -- voila, finger chewing.

Utter Annoyance

• Cats can occasionally get a little aggressive when they're feeling testy. If your cat's finger chewing is a bit sharper and could pass as a bite, it might actually be one. If you're petting your cat and don't pick up on her cues of "enough is enough," she might feel no choice but to resort to biting to get you to cut it out. When cats feel overstimulated, they want nothing more to do with the petting they were often so sweetly requesting mere minutes ago. Cats frequently express their "stop" signals through thrashing their tails, pushing their ears down and acting in an antsy manner. Never let a cat with biting tendencies close to children or other pets. Talk to your vet about solutions for eliminating your cat's biting tendencies immediately. She might suggest a professional cat behaviorist in your area.

Classic Tedium

• If your cat doesn't get sufficient exercise or interaction with humans, she might have a lot of pent-up energy inside. If she chews or bites on your fingers, she might just be using them as an outlet for her frustrated feelings. If your cat is chewing on your fingers out of boredom, it's time to take action, whether through participating in extended nightly play sessions or getting her some fun interactive toys that get her brain going.

Oral Fixations

• Oral fixations in cats are sometimes associated with lack of time spent with their mothers as kittens. If a kitten was weaned prematurely, she might grow into an adult cat who continues displaying baby-like actions, whether suckling, licking or nibbling. These things often serve as self-soothing actions for cats, and some turn to them as modes of dealing with unpleasant emotions and situations such as sickness, fear and nervousness. A veterinarian can determine the source of your cat's finger chewing and then proceed in getting rid of the issue, whether it involves managing a medical ailment or using a feline behavioral expert.