Boa Bite - Why?

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Originally Posted by Evenstar

He bit you because he's a snake. Not a dog or cat that is trained and loyal. Snake's operate with a very primitive brain and they are ruled by their instincts. Sometimes that means they will bite you for no apparent reason whatsoever.

Having said that, it could have been a result of the cat sniffing him. Not because he was "mad" about it, but because he smelled a warm blooded animal and was likely reacting out of either a defensive or food-driven instinct.

Check your temps and humidity, make sure they are within optimal parameters and watch how often you are handling him. A stressed snake will be more aggressive or flighty.


Btw, that's a good gruesome bite!! lol.... :D

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I really think Kali is spot on here. There are a lot of variables, but the fact of the matter is,,,,,,,, Snakes are as stated, ruled by instinct. They will eat when any opportunity to do so presents itself barring a few situations.

If you look at the time of year, at least in the US, you'll see increasing temps and daylight. Snakes will sense these changes. If your snake has grown, and is hungry and less shy than it used to be it may "catch a whiff" of the cat or even see it and go into feeding mode. Maybe last year the cat seemed too big to eat, but now it's looking like a possibility. Hard to say.

Warm hands and motion in front of the animal MAY trigger a feeding response after smelling cat in the air.

You will certainly know the difference between defensive behavior and feeding behavior once you are able to read your snake.

Everybody that owns a snake usually says "It's not if,,,, but when" they'll get tagged.

Unless there is some terrible mishap with temps and humidity I think this is a feeding response.

Dennis is a 5 foot male. Even if fed 2 days prior, having the cat sniff him is certainly going to stir up his senses. The video I posted of the boa and the cat shows what looks like a fairly small snake trying to constrict a cat.

Spring time leading to summer is when the food supply for these animals becomes abundant and maybe Dennis is on a second growth spurt.

Even after a larger meal, my 4 foot 9" male will stay "turned on" for a day or two after feeding.

How's he doing now? Is he more settled and calm?