My Cat Is Gnawing on My Fingers

Cats are very physical creatures. They like to touch and taste and press close to humans they trust. Cats have limited means of communication and young kittens have not yet learned the best way to interact with humans. One method a cat has of letting you know what it's feeling is to use its teeth to do the talking. Figuring out what it's trying to say will go some way toward handling the biting and gnawing.

  1. Unintentional Pain

    • Most of the time the cat does not mean to harm. The majority of cats have thick coats and their skin doesn't react to pain like human skin does, which is thin in comparison and full of nerve endings. When a cat latches onto your fingers and starts chewing, it has no idea it's hurting you. Its mother and litter-mates have been biting since the day it was born. For a cat, biting, chewing and gnawing is a natural form of communication.

    Playtime and Affection

    • Cats -- particularly kittens -- use biting to show affection. When stroking or petting your cat, it might grab your fingers and start gnawing on them or pressing its teeth into the skin just enough to sting. The cat isn't trying to hurt you -- it's a way of returning the love. Young kittens will gnaw on your fingers in an act of seeking comfort left over from the time with its mother. Cats also bite fingers when they're feeling playful or mischievous. It will become a game to it -- catching your fingers between its teeth, usually with its paws wrapped around your hand to keep you there.

    Aggression and Survival Instinct

    • Sometimes cats chew on a human's fingers as a sign of aggression or distress. If it's being mishandled or petted too roughly, a cat will lash out with teeth and claws and often clamp down on your fingers to stop the contact. Nibbling fingers can also be a sign of sexual aggression in male cats, especially if they're not yet neutered. Male cats by nature attack other male cats and will bite a female cat during mating. Cats are natural survivors who have hunting and fighting instincts. Biting is an instant reflex of a cat when faced with something it doesn't like, such as a hand poking it in a manner it doesn't appreciate.

    Training

    • You have to train your cat not to bite or gnaw on your fingers. If you start early enough, when the cat is still a young kitten, it will be easier to teach the lesson. Punishing a cat isn't likely to do any good as they are independent and proud creatures; instead, teaching it not to bite through cause and effect will produce the best results. When it bites or catches your fingers between its teeth, immediately stop playing with or petting it. Walk away and have a "time out," and over time the cat will learn that biting leads to the sudden absence of play or affection. You can prevent your cat from biting by recognizing the signs; a twitchy tail, flattening ears and mouth opening are all signs your cat is getting ready to latch onto your skin. Learn to read these signs and stop the biting before it happens.