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Russian Blue cats can be loveable family pets. Their timid nature and ability to mix with other cats make them an excellent pet to have in your home. But in certain situations, your cat can become aggressive and bite.
Knowing the behaviors or situations that can cause your Russian Blue cat to bite can help you prepare to mitigate the problem. Read on to discover some of the reasons why your cat may be biting or showing aggression.
| Feline Socialization | Potential anxiety from social interactions. |
| Cat Reaction to Medication | Some medications may affect your cat’s behavior. |
| Cat is Very Protective | Sometimes cats can be aggressive when being protective. |
| Aggressive Cat Behavior | As cats age, they may become more aggressive. |
| Male Russian Blue Cats Are More Likely to BiteMale hormones generally cause them to bite more. | |
| Cat Seeking Attention | Neglected cats may bite for attention. |
| Cats in Pain Might Bite | Cats in pain may bite since they do not feel well. |
| Some Cats are More Sensitive to Pain | Less of a pain tolerance may cause them to bite. |
| Overexcitement | Cats may bite when they are overstimulated. |
Feline Socialization
When Russian Blue Cat’s face an unfamiliar situation, they can become anxious, causing them to bite. If your cat is meeting new people, this can be a possible situation that leads to biting. Faced with an unfamiliar person, your Russian Blue Cat may feel threatened or protective.
The Russian Blue Cat is a very social and loveable animal when it is around people and situations it knows. But if your cat is forced into a social situation of unknowns, it cannot get the distance and comfort it needs.
To solve this problem and ensure no biting, make sure your Russian Blue Cat is introduced to a new person slowly and allow them to have an escape route if the anxiety gets too much. Eventually, your cat will become social and like to be around your guests; they just need to feel comfortable in the situation.
Another socialization trick is introducing your cat to new people, animals, and situations at a young age. This will help them feel comfortable in different positions from a young age, reducing biting and anxiety.
Cat Reaction to Medication
If your cat is placed on steroid medication for underlying health issues, it is essential to pay attention to your Russian Blue Cat’s behavior. Medications can affect a cat’s behavior by changing the chemical composition of the cat.
Aggression is a common side effect of steroid use in cats and can force the cat to become more protective and anxious, causing the biting. The cat will mainly lash out at other cats, but it is possible to affect humans.
If you notice aggressive behaviors in your cat after giving them a new medication, contact your veterinarian. They will be able to evaluate your cat’s levels through blood work or examination and decide on the best course of action for your cat, which may require environmental, behavioral, or even medical modifications.
Cat is Very Protective
If a Russian Blue Cat is in a home with other cats, it can become aggressive towards others, causing the biting. The protection of its territory can cause aggression towards others. This is an important reason why socializing your cat from a young age is essential.
Male cats are more prone to protective behaviors and biting. Pay close attention to how your cat looks when meeting a new cat. Snarling behavior is a common form of protectiveness and needs to be monitored for safety.
Most of the time, this behavior will occur when a new cat is introduced into the home. The Russian Blue may need to be separated from the other cat for a little while to help refuse the tension and create a better environment for both cats.
Older Cat Behavior
Once a cat reaches adulthood, around age two, they may show more aggressive behaviors. Around adulthood, your cat will feel in control of its environment and have reached maturity. They may begin to feel annoyed about changes around them, which can cause biting.
Your Russian Blue Cat may need a break and time to adjust to the new environment. So do not be alarmed and allow your cat to adjust. If you still notice aggression in your cat over a more extended period, contact your veterinarian; they can do an examination and bloodwork to determine if it is a more severe issue.
To learn more about aging cats and when they become less playful, check out our article on the subject: Click Here.
Male Russian Blue Cats are More Likely to Bite
Male Russian Blue Cats are more inclined to bite compared to female cats. That is because their hormone levels make them more protective and make them feel the need to be the alpha in an inter-cat relationship.
If there is more than one cat in the home, it is essential to make sure that they have the proper socialization, so the male cat will feel more comfortable and not bite your other pets.
Cat Seeking Attention
If an owner tends to be busy, a Russian Blue Cat may feel neglected, but they can often entertain themselves. But if aggression occurs, the reason behind this is because they are friendly animals with a lot of love for their owners. If they feel neglected by their owners, they may claw and bite their owner(s).
The best way to avoid this issue is to make sure there is someone around to give your cat attention. A pet sitter or a close friend may be good company for your cat if you are gone from your home for most of the day. Your Russian Blue will not feel neglected, and the biting should stop.
Sometimes cats might scratch if they are looking for attention. Learn more about if cats will scratch faux leather in my article: Click Here.
Cats in Pain Might Bite
Sometimes the only way your cat will know how to show their pain is through biting and aggression. If your Russian Blue cat seems to be either licking one spot or biting a lot, it may be because of internal injuries.
Biting is the only way cats know how to express their uncomfortableness and need for help. Biting is their way of gaining your attention and letting you know of their pain. If you notice your cat exhibiting these symptoms, you must take them to your veterinarian. They can help your cat feel better and eliminate biting.
Some Cats are More Sensitive to Pain
Under the category of pain, sometimes cats can be sensitive to the touch. This can be because of past actions of abuse (especially if you got your cat from an animal shelter) or just being afraid of the situation. If your cat is suddenly touched without warning, it can cause it to lash out and bite.
When this occurs, let your Russian Blue have its space and de-escalate the situation by making it comfortable and speaking softly to it. Do not try to touch your cat because it can lead to more severe injuries.
Overexcitement Can Lead to Biting
This may be the leading cause of your Russian Blue biting. If your cat is having fun playing, they may be prone to biting to show that they want to continue the activity or their affection for you.
Sometimes the cat becomes overstimulated, becomes hyper-aware of its situation, and may bite. Don’t be too concerned if this occurs while playing because this is an instinct of the cat.
Cats will often display their hunting instincts while playing. Check out my article on if cats like to hunt: Click Here.
Are Russian Blue Cats Aggressive?
All cats can be aggressive in certain situations. Russian Blue Cats can be more aggressive than most due to their timid nature. But mainly, they are loveable, family-centered cats.
Ensure your cat is adequately socialized and comfortable in its environment. This will keep the aggressive behaviors to a minimum.
If your cat does become aggressive, there are various strategies to help you keep order and safety.
- Put a piece of cardboard between you and your cat to block its sightlines.
- Move away and leave the cat alone. This de-escalates the aggressive situation.
- Pheromone sprays can help to calm your cat down.
- Use treats to distract your cat.
- Wear long pants so you will not be harmed.
- Do not use physical punishment with your cat. It may encourage biting behavior.
These strategies will help you if your Russian Blue does become aggressive. It is important to note that a veterinarian trip may help you with aggressive behaviors if this often occurs.
Sometimes when cats get together, they will fight. This may lead you to wonder how serious this could be. Learn more about if cats will fight to the death in my article: Click Here.
Conclusion
Russian Blue cats can be phenomenal friends. However, sometimes they may bite. There are a lot of reasons they may bite. You should look to see if any of these reasons could conceivably be the reason your cat is biting. Additionally, if you are worried about your feline biting, then you should visit a veterinarian so your cat can get checked out and you can get some advice.
If you enjoyed this article, check out these articles too:
- Can Russian Blue Cats Go Outside? (The Best Advice): Click Here.
- Are Cats Popular in Russia? The Best Answers: Click Here.
Here are some of my favorite cat products
In addition to checking out some other More Meows articles, I hope you’ll check out some of my favorite cat products as well. These are affiliate links, so if you end up using them, I’ll get a commission at no extra cost to you. These are the products I really do find most helpful.
Litter Box: I started out with normal, traditional litter boxes for my cat. Then, I tried this automatic litter box on Amazon (affiliate link), which helped reduce the litter upkeep. Finally, I am now a believer in the Litter-Robot 3 Connect on Amazon (affiliate link). This robotic litter box is not for everyone based on the price tag, but for me the benefits (very little upkeep, works efficiently, clean, mobile app) far outweighed the cost.
Cat Tree: I have purchased a couple of this Amazon Basics Cat Tree on Amazon (affiliate link). My cat spends a lot of time on and around this cat tree, which I position near my sofa. She uses the scratching posts on this cat tree multiple times a day, which means she is not scratching the sofa instead.
Cat Water Fountain: I love this cat water fountain on Amazon (affiliate link). There are three main benefits to having a water fountain like this for your cat. The first benefit is that it keeps water running so that your cat doesn’t need to drink still water. The second benefit is that it filters the water. The third benefit is that it will keep your cat hydrated!
