Can cat's biting be nipped in the bud?

PAMPERED PETS DR DAVID GRANT Our vet offers his advice

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Our four-year-old female neutered cat was sitting on my mother-in-law's lap being stroked. After a few minutes, without warning, the cat bit her and jumped off. The cat has never done this with me. Do you know why?

This is a relatively common behaviour and there are two main areas to investigate. As with all apparent behavioural problems, a useful starting point is to rule out any sources of pain. This could be dental, arthritic, on skin, or an abdominal problem, for example.

Medical problems are more likely if the cat's response is new and out of character. A full physical examination is recommended as it may result in a good understanding of the underlying problem and, possibly, a quick resolution with treatment.