Why Do Cats Bite Between Their Toes
If the mere act of licking doesn t do the trick freeing what s lodged in their claws while grooming healthy cats will sometimes bite gently on their toenails to get what s stuck out.
Why do cats bite between their toes. Some cats bite to stop unwanted action or behaviors by humans or other animals especially if this was effective in the past. An injury or infection is causing the cat to pick at her paw or the cat is suffering from anxiety. Whenever your cat engages in play that uses their paws but not their claws or teeth reward them with plenty of affection and a reward or treat. You can discourage the behaviour by praising them for gentle play during bonding sessions.
Cat biting when playing cats often bite during play because they are expressing their natural hunting instinct. I can t say i blame them. It acts as a barrier against the harsh temperatures of winter and the searing rays of the summer sun. When outdoor cats walk across frozen patches of ice or hot pavement the fur on their paws helps to deflect these temperature extremes from making direct contact to the skin as she walks.
Some cats bite as a form of communication or a demand for attention. When we see a cat cleaning its paws it may chew on its nails or around its paw pads to get rid of dirt litter or other debris. These gaps are very vulnerable to injury from things like thorns or broken twigs for example and the fur is prone to matting when it becomes wet. Carlo siracusa states for petmd.
I can t say i blame them. If a cat nips you and then tries to lead you to an activity such as playing with a toy this could be the reason. There s more of a chance your cat is trying to communicate just that one thing with a bite to any of foot adjacent body part so it makes more sense to start with the assumption that the most common reason is the explanation for your kitty s bite. Like many of the people who compulsively chew their nails excessive nail chewing behaviors in cats are often related to anxiety dodman says.
The fur also provides a measure of defense against minor skin trauma such as insect bites cuts from brush that covers the ground and contact exposure to irritating substances. When cats bite feet ankles legs or toes however chances are much higher your cat is gnawing at you due to one very common reason. My cats seem to find the act of being rubbed between the toes and having their claws gently extended to be quite relaxing. For example if they previously bit while having their nails trimmed and then the nail trimming stopped they may have learned that is an effective tool.