Gentle bites . . .?

It is both. Sometimes cats have sensitive spots, if you hit one she will react. She has also claimed you as her human so it most definitely could be affection. Most cats soft bite to play or stop unwanted activity, just like a mother cat will soft bite to teach, your kitty as long as she isn't hurting consider it playful activity unless that tail is flopping around its aggravation. Cats are great, and underestimated for their intelligence.

Interesting that it just started. I have a cat that has been doing this for several months. She just turned one. My cat, however, gnaws on my hands and arms. It's like she's trying to suckle. And she is not gentle. It hurts so bad. But she's doing it as a sign of affection. . I've tried to teach her to do it easy but she likes to do it most often at 3 am so it's hard for me to teach anything at 3 am. I'm going to have to teach her to stop. I think as long as your kitty isn't hurting you, there is nothing to worry about.

She might be politely asking you to stop with the fussing.

Also some cats, when they are very happy and feeling extremely affectionate toward their owners, will gently take a piece of human skin between their teeth and hold it for a few seconds. Think of it as the feline equivalent of kissing.

I've heard that when your stroking your cat there are small static shocks that we can't really feel but the cat can. I've also heard it's a sign of affection. There's nothing to worry about, I have two cats, they both are 2 yrs old, and they do the same thing.

It's a sign of affection! Your kitty loves ya! Think of those gentle nips as "kitty kisses"

Go to this site it's great for: why do cats..... ?

http://www.xmission.com/~emailbox/whycat.htm

To me it sounds similar to when cats gently "massage" our softer parts of the skin (tummy, lap, which is quite painful sometimes coz of their claws) and this is the instinctive movement that they do to their mommy when she's breast-feeding them. The other one is when they bite the end of your fingers. Maybe it's for the same reason. This means she feels safe with you and is affectionate too, like of her mother.

Cats do strange things and this is one of them. She is showing affection. It is like licking - sort of a bonding. It may be a bit strange, but it is just a cat telling you how much it cares.

she could be hurt or horney. if you rub her by the tail and she sticks her but up in the air ten to one shes horny. other wise she could just be eariable. the reason she gives you a lite bite is cause she dont want to hurt u she just wants to tell you to stop petting her. she cant talk to you so thats about the only way she can. take her to the vet see if shes in heat.

when she does this, do NOT pull away, it will become a game, give her a stern "NO", this needs to stop