Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

My affectionate cat suddenly bites my throat. What can I do?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Bombay | Male | neutered

Male bombay cat, 11 months old, very recently neutered. Prior to operation began developing very vicious behaviour patterns, including stalking, attacking my limbs and lunging for my throat. Prior to this, he was an exclusively affectionate cat. Is still very affectionate but this affection can become very aggressive, very suddenly. Yesterday, for example, he was nuzziling me and then latched his teeth into my throat. Whenever he does, I gently remove him from the room. Is there any advice?

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Jessica Desrosiers

Veterinary Technician

Published on August 27th, 2019

That is not normal for a cat to be attacking your throat and biting it. If he is this aggressive I would look into seeking out a veterinary behaviorist that can work with you to determine why he is acting so (health issues, behavioral issues, overstimulation, etc) and work on a training and medication routine together. In the meantime, if he is that aggressive, stopping betting before he gets too excited and not having him near your face or neck is best.

http://www.dacvb.org/about/member-directory/

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Elizabeth
Veterinarian
Published on March 16th, 2020
Without being able to examined Psycho it's impossible to know if he has fleas. I recommend to get a flea comb and comb the kitty around the lower back, the hind legs and the belly between the hind legs. Look for fleas or black pepper flakes.
You can also treat for fleas. If you must stick with an OTC product, use Frontline. You should see results within a few days. Lastly, your best option is to have Psycho examined by the veterinarian. I recommend this option because it will get the answers the fastest. I hope this helps.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Megan, DVM, CVA
Veterinarian
Published on December 1st, 2017
There are several reasons for sudden onset of aggression including pain or infection somewhere, an increased thyroid hormone, or anxiety. If you want, you can try some feliway which is feline pheromones to help calm him. If This doesn’t work or if he stops eating or starts showing any other abnormal behaviors then I would have your vet take a look at him. Your vet will be able to ensure he doesn’t have an infection and they can even check his thyroid hormones of needed. If everything is normal, then talk to your vet about putting him in an anti-anxiety meds if needed. I hope this helps!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Leigh, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on March 26th, 2019
It sounds like your cat has petting-related aggression. Below is a link to an article on this condition. Try to identify warning signs that he has had enough petting and stop before he reaches his threshold.

https://www.petcoach.co/article/petting-related-aggression-in-cats/
3Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

Why is my senior cat biting me and drawing blood? What can I do?

If this is a recent change in behavior I'd recommend having your veterinarian perform a thorough physical examination as a first step. Some common diseases in older cats like hyperthyroidism can make them much grumpier than usual. Pain from arthritis can also make cats react in an aggressive way. If your veterinarian feels there is no medical reason for the behavior change I would then recommend talking to a feline behavior specialist to see if there are changes you can make at home to address this behavior. Cat bites are no joke - veterinarians have lost fingers due to infected cat bites and cellulitis! But it sounds like there could be some other things to look into before deciding on euthanasia.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Training & Behavior

Why does my cat suddenly bite and latch on to me so painfully?

This is extremely concerning since cat bites are very serious. You can end up in the hospital for multiple days because of them. I would make sure you have a place for him to hide in, climb on and look out the window. I would also make sure you really wear him out. Playing with him with toys only (not your hands) and seeing if that helps. You can also talk to your veterinarian about trying behavior medication. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Training & Behavior

My cat suddenly attacked me viciously. Why is he so aggressive?

That must have been very scary for you! Yes, I would be very concerned about Boo Bear attacking you viciously, especially if this is out of character for him. I'm not sure what his vaccination status is, but (not to scare you but to put the fact out there), sudden aggressiveness can be a sign of rabies. If he isn't vaccinated against rabies and is allowed to go outdoors, then I would be concerned rabies is a possibility. I would take him into a vet immediately if he isn't vaccinated and allowed outdoors, and you should see a doctor as well as soon as possible. Cats have a lot of nasty bacteria in their mouth, and you can get a terrible infection from the bite. You need to be on antibiotics now to prevent this. Other causes of his sudden aggression could be hormone related (I see he isn't neutered and he could be acting territorially), or a medical illness such as pain, an injury, or systemic illness. If he is up to date on his rabies and isn't allowed outside, then I would take him to the vet first thing in the morning. He should be examined by a vet to make sure there isn't a medical cause behind this sudden aggressive behavior. If it is hormone related, then I would have him neutered to help with that.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Training & Behavior

My cat is aggressive. How do I stop him from biting and scratching?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If he is attacking you and not trying to play then he should be confined, you should always keep him up to date on Rabies, and you should discuss behavior modification drugs with your Vet, like prozac. I would get it in a liquid form you can put in his food. I would purchase feliway diffusers for around the house, one should go in his room. You can play with him but as soon as he gets over stimulated you need to stop and walk away. If he starts to get aggressive and is coming towards you squirt him with a water bottle. It is inappropriate behavior for a cat to attack you and injury you that badly. You need to strongly consider if this is the kind of relationship you want from a pet. This may not be an easy thing to break him of. I hope this helps and i wish you the very best!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Training & Behavior

My cat is aggressively attacking. What should I do after quarantine?

I am so very sorry to hear about your cat. I would definitely recommend a visit with a vet for an exam to be sure there are no medical issues and then they can recommend a veterinary behaviorist for you. This problem is of a very serious nature (it sounds like he is quite aggressive and it has been going on for awhile) and is going to require aggressive behavioral therapy and possibly medication. If you are unable to commit to that line of treatment, then euthanasia might be the most humane option if the behavior is continuing. Cat bites can be very dangerous if they are deep because a cat's mouth contains many bacteria and some people need hospitalization after a bad cat bite! You must consider your own safety and the safety of others who come into your home.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Training & Behavior

My cat bites and scratches when I pet him. How do I make him stop?

I am so sorry that you are experiencing these problems with biting with Count Blackula I am sure it is very upsetting for you. First of all rest assured that this is a very normal cat behaviour. Cats learn through play biting and it is part of our role as pet parents to help them learn limits. I would not attempt negative reinforcement such as striking Count Blackula or speaking harshly as this will potentially create more serious behaviour issues such as anxiety and fear-aggression. Try some calm corrections and positive reinforcement. If Count Blackula bites you, simply say in a calm voice "no" and stop interacting with him for a few moments. This over time will teach him that biting is not a desired form of play. Also try reinforcing him as he starts to play in a good way by not biting, and giver him a small training treat. If Count Blackula does manage to bite hard enough to break the skin be careful of a possible infection. Monitor your wound for heat. Swelling, or discharge. Make an appointment with your doctor if this occurs. If you are struggling with the biting after a couple of weeks of the above suggested training methods, consider a few sessions with a behaviourist. Other games which may be fun with Coubt Blackula are hide and go seek either with you and another person, or you hide his toys and she has to find them. Or classic fetch is surprisingly fun for cats too. I hope this was helpful!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Training & Behavior

Why is my cat suddenly aggressive and attacking me after petting?

The first thing I would do for now is put Attila in a room by herself with a litter box, food and water bowls, comfortable resting places, etc. and leave her alone for the next few days apart from coming in briefly to refill her food and water and change her litter. When cats become upset and aggressive like this, for whatever reason, it can take up to a week for them to fully calm down and return to normal - until then, it's best to leave her completely alone and give her plenty of space. Some cats can have serious aggression issues that are triggered by a strange or scary noise, an unusual smell, or anything else that startles them. It's possible that Attila may have had a scary dream that frightened her, or she could be painful due to a pinched nerve, arthritis, or some other issue that may have been aggravated by petting. If she calms down over the next few days and things return to normal with no further problems, you may not need to do anything else. If she is still acting aggressive a week from now, or if this becomes a recurring problem for her in the future, I would strongly recommend making an appointment with a veterinary behaviorist - he/she can evaluate Attila in person and help you determine what may be triggering these episodes, and will also give you some specific suggestions for managing her when this happens. Prescription medication is helpful for some cats with aggression issues, so this is something that could be discussed also. You can search for a board-certified veterinary behaviorist in your area here: www.dacvb.org

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share