As cat lovers, chances are good that we’ve all felt the fangs of a feline chomp at some point. That’s especially true when our kitties get annoyed, like the cat in the video above!
When the cat’s human starts moving his leg into kitty’s personal space, the funny furball slowly moves his mouth in for a quick bite! Share the short, hilarious video with someone who could use a laugh today.
The little nip from the cat in the video above doesn’t look like it did much damage, but cat bites can be a real pain! Other than the obvious solution of “don’t annoy your cat,” there are some steps you can take to reduce cat bites and the damage they can cause. Here are a few things to keep in mind.
Tips To Avoid Cat Bite Injuries
(Picture Credit: kiszon pascal/Getty Images)Did you know cat bites are twice as likely as dog bites to become infected? That’s because cats puncture deep with their sharp teeth, injecting bacteria further into the wound. Here are a few tips to prevent injuries.
- Avoid your cat’s sensitive areas. If your cat doesn’t like to be touched on their belly, for example, then maybe you should save the belly rubs for a canine pal.
- Don’t encourage bites during play. Moving your hand under a blanket might encourage your cat to play pounce games, but it also provokes biting. Similarly, don’t use bracelets, shoelaces, or other dangly things that you wear as toys. You might be teaching your cat to go after these even when it’s not playtime, and that can lead to bites.
- Avoid reaching for or picking up cats you don’t know. This is especially true for feral or stray cats.
- Look for signs of stress. If a cat is bristling, hissing, or shying away, do not reach for them and provoke a bite.
- If you get bitten, freeze. Cats are primarily motivated to bite by prey drive. So the harder you pull away or the faster you move, the tighter they’re going to latch on. Just stay still for a moment, say “no,” and gently blow air in their face.
- Treat wounds immediately. Because cat wounds can cause infection, you’ll need to wash the wound with mild soap, apply antibiotic ointment, and put on a clean bandage. Keep the wound elevated, and ice it to reduce swelling. Get it checked by a doctor since the likelihood of infection can be high.
Has your cat ever chomped you like the kitty in the video? What does your feline do when you annoy them? Let us know in the comments below!
