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Why does my cat rub against me then become hyper/mad?

0CT4VIA_C4PCUT
0CT4VIA_C4PCUT
03/10/25 6:35pm
So with my cat, she doesn't do this a lot but sometimes when I let her rub against me, she randomly bites me.
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Russell Hartstein, CDBC, CPDT
Russell Hartstein, CDBC, CPDT
Certified Dog & Cat Trainer
05/27/25 11:07pm
Cats are unique individuals and can be hyper-stimulated by petting, rubbing on you or other stimuli. Many times a cat is overstimulated or conflicted when petting/rubbing continues for a certain duration/frequency and/or with a certain pressure, or when petting on a sensitive part of their body.

Sometimes a cat also has trouble modulating how much stimulus they prefer and will rub against their person, overdo it, and become overstimulated. Then, they might offer a behavior to help them cope with that overstimulation (hence they can start biting, become overly energetic, etc.)
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wikiHow Editorial Team
wikiHow Editorial Team
03/10/25 6:37pm
If your cat is biting you randomly after rubbing against your leg, she probably just wants to play. Cats learn to bite when they’re kittens and they play with one another, so it’s your cat’s way of trying to get your attention.

If she’s biting you when you pet her, she’s likely overstimulated. Cats don’t know how to say, “Thank you for the pets, but that is enough for now,” so they just reactively bite.
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