You're enjoying a lovely moment with your cat, stroking their soft fur, maybe even having a little play session, and then suddenly… ouch! Out of nowhere, they've scratched or bitten you.
It's easy to feel hurt or confused when this happens, especially if your cat seemed to be enjoying the attention just moments before. But don't worry, it doesn't mean your cat doesn't love you. In fact, this behaviour is often a sign of overstimulation, not aggression.
What is overstimulation?
Just like people, animals experience emotional highs and lows. You can think of each cat as having an "emotional sink" that slowly fills up over time, with both positive and negative stimulation. When that sink overflows, we may see behaviours like scratching, biting, or suddenly retreating.
Overstimulation happens when something in the environment causes your cat's arousal levels to rise too much, too fast. Common triggers include:
- Being patted for too long
- Intense or prolonged play
- Excitement before meal times
- Too much noise or movement in their environment
But I thought they liked it?
That's the tricky part. Cats often do enjoy the attention or play, until it becomes too much. Overstimulation isn't about disliking what's happening; it's about not being able to regulate how intensely they feel it. And because cats can't say "that's enough" with words, they communicate it through behaviour.
Signs your cat may be overstimulated
Reading your cat's body language is key. Here are some subtle warning signs to watch for:
- Tail starts swishing quickly or thumping
- Ears flick back or flatten
- Skin twitching along the back
- Sudden grooming or licking (displacement behaviour)
- Pupils becoming wide and dilated
If you notice any of these signs, it's may be time to back off. Give your cat space and time to calm down so their emotional sink can "drain" and reset.
How to prevent overstimulation
The best way to manage overstimulation is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Here are some simple strategies:
- Keep patting sessions short and sweet. Stop before you see signs of agitation.
- Adjust your play style. Avoid using hands to play. Use toys instead, and keep sessions brief and more frequent so your cat can go through natural cycles of excitement and calm.
- Be mindful of triggers. If your cat becomes overstimulated around mealtimes or during noisy moments in the home, try to create a calmer environment during those times.
