In the middle of a play session, without warning and seemingly out of nowhere, your cat clamps down on you for a quick, painful nibble. First thought: "Ow! Aren't we friends?" Second thought: "Why do cats bite when I play with them?"

One of the most common reasons why cats like to sink their tiny — but mighty — teeth into our skin is play aggression. But the good news is that with this information, you'll not only understand why cats nip, but you'll also have tools you need to help redirect or, ideally, prevent this unwelcome behavior.

Why Do Cats Bite While Playing?

Essentially, if your cat nips at you during playtime, it's their way of saying, "This is fun, but let's take it to the next level." Engaging in play with your fur baby is a terrific bonding experience, but if your cat's playfulness turns aggressive, they'll bite you or, perhaps, use your entire arm as a chew toy.

Cats play in a way that "involves typical predatory and play behaviors," notes the ASPCA: stalking, attacking, clawing and biting their perceived opponent. It's not unusual for them to act this way with their pet parents, and once they're in the throes of roughhousing, they may have difficulty pulling back.

Sometimes cat parents don't realize they're actually encouraging the biting. As International Cat Care points out, when people play a little too "rough and tumble" with young cats, "they often reinforce the highly excitable behavior, and encourage kittens to grow up biting and scratching in the name of play with an intensity that can cause injury." But keep in mind, roughhousing isn't a good idea with cats of any age.

How to Prevent Cat Nips

The best way to stop aggressive biting is to shut it down before it becomes a habit. It's not always easy, but your skin will thank you later.

For starters, understanding your cat's body language can go a long way toward curbing play biting. It's easy to get distracted while playing together, but you'll want to pay careful attention to your cat's stance, ear and tail positions, and eyes.

Remember that the reason cats play bite is that they are acting like you're prey. And why do cats nip? They're giving you a warning. If their eyes are dilated, back away slowly. And if they're crouched and shaking their rear end, you're about to be ambushed!

You can still goof around and be very active with your cat pal, but there are ways to do so without ending up on the receiving end of their fangs. For example, don't use your hand or arm as a toy; instead, employ a real toy, such as a catnip mouse or bird on a wand, as the go-between. If you still find yourself under attack, redirect your cat's attention by tossing a beloved toy in the opposite direction so they'll dart after it.

If your cat does bite you while playing, don't react in a way that'll break the bond of trust between you two. "Never physically punish or even touch a cat during these times," emphasizes the Cornell Feline Health Center, "as this may cause a cat to become fearful of people or may be interpreted as play, which may inadvertently reward the aggressive behavior." So if redirecting doesn't work, simply walk away and ignore your kitty — they'll eventually get the hint that this isn't appropriate behavior.