Love Bites

Hey there, Dot & Jerry Underfoot reporting for meow duty, pawing at the keyboard to mew about one of our favorite topics: love bites. We picked this purrfect subject because, ahem, someone (looking at you, Jerry) decided to give huMom a surprise love nibble this morning. He got her right on the… what’s it called? Oh yes, the columella! Fancy word for that soft bit between the nostrils. There was even a teensy drop of blood. HuMom wasn’t thrilled, of course, but she didn’t hiss or scold. She knows Jerry was simply expressing affection, feline style.

What Exactly Are Love Bites? When we cats give love bites, we’re showing you we’re happy, comfy, & completely smitten. It’s like a cat kiss with fangs! Most of the time we’re gentle, no harm intended but our sharp teeth can catch you off guard. Sometimes we’ll start with a nice lick or grooming session & then, nibble! You might call it confusing; we call it multitasking.

Still, not every nibble is a “love” nibble. Some cats might bite when they’re frustrated, overstimulated, or seeking attention. We might also channel our inner wildcat because, let’s face it, that instinct never fully goes away.

The secret to understanding our bites? Watch our tails, ears, & eyes. A happy love bite comes with relaxed body language, slow blinks, gentle purring, & a calm tail. But when you see dilated pupils, flat ears, twitchy tails, or hear growling & hissing, well, that’s your cue to back off. Those are what Jerry calls our “seriously, paws off” signals. (He even looked up “piloerection,” the fluff-up effect just to sound smart.)

So What Can You Do About It? If our little nibbles are part of a sweet grooming routine & you don’t mind them, purr on! But if they hurt or seem too frequent, there are ways to help both of us out.

Learn our body language. Notice when we’ve had enough, those subtle tail flicks mean we’re done now, human. Keep petting sessions short & skip sensitive zones like the belly or tail. Both of us love belly rubs, but some felines respond with “paws off!” Let us start the cuddles! We like being in control, classic cat behavior. Keep us busy with toys like a Knotty Nip, Knotty Bon Bon, or a Knotty Kitty Kicker. Playtime, food puzzles, cat-safe plants like silvervine, or climbing towers all help us burn energy & feel satisfied. No hand play! If we chomp on fingers, offer a toy or toss a treat instead. That way, we get the message without getting scolded. And if you do get nipped harder than expected, freeze, don’t yank away. Sudden movement can trigger our hunter mode. Clean any bite right away, and if needed, seek care to pawvent infection.

Love bites might seem confusing, but they’re one of our unique ways to communicate. By learning what our body language means, you’ll understand us better which makes your bond with us stronger than a freshly scratched sofa.

So next time your feline gives you a tiny nibble, don’t panic, just remember: it might be their way of saying I love you… with teeth!