Shelburne Veterinary Hospital

What can I do with my cat who nips me to tell me he’s hungry?

There are many reasons cats bite or nip, and it’s important to be aware of what your cat is trying to communicate. At an instinctual level, cats know if they want to eat, they need to catch and “kill” something when they are hungry. It sounds like your cat is good at communicating what he wants!

You can try putting pieces of kibble out in a line so he has to “hunt” for them. Talk to your vet about free feeding, or always making kibble available to him, so he doesn’t have to let you know he is hungry.

Generally, if your cat is young, this may be a behavioral issue. However, in older cats, it may be a sign of an underlying medical concern.

We’d be happy to discuss your kitty’s behavior with you. Feel free to give our office a call at (802) 985-2525.