When Will My Kitten Stop Biting

How To Stop A Bengal Cat From Biting

Cats bite. Its part of their nature. However, Ive been around cats long enough to know that most cats bite humans not because they want to but because they learned to. This guide is to share my experience of how I trained all 4 of my cats, including my Bengal cat, to stop biting from beginning to end.

Kitten Teething: 5 Tips To Stop Kitten Biting

Do kittens teethe? Kittens start losing their baby teeth around 9 weeks of age, and from that time until their adult teeth are fully grown in at 5 to 6 months, you can count on lots of chewing action. In fact, like teething babies, teething kittens will bite and chew on anything including human toes and fingers to ease the discomfort they feel. This is why kitten teething is a perfect time to teach your kitten to stop chewing on things she shouldnt. Here are a few tips to help kitten teething and stop misdirected kitten biting.

When Is It Aggression Or Fear

• If a cat is feeling fear, its ears would be the sign it is flattened on its head with dilated pupils.
• If a cat is actually aggressive, most cats would be vocal and start to warn you by growling, hissing, or meowing.

However, there are times when it is legitimately aggression or fear. This would be a bit more obvious as the cat wont even respond to play or food because it doesnt feel secure in its environment. In these cases, I would do a more careful investigation and make a thorough inspection of its whereabouts for the whole day.

It could mean several things. Such as sightings/smell of a foreign cat within its territory, health issues, or trauma.

Recommended Reading: What Are Taylor Swift’s Cats Names

Choose Better Targets And Rewards

Dont just wonder, Why is my kitten biting me? Offer your kitten a legal object to bite. Use;cat plush toys;or a;cat feather wand;to wear out all that energy. Encourage the kitten to bite and chase the toy . Praise them for bunny-kicking the stuffing out of the toy! But if they nail you again, end the game immediately.

During the crazy kitten times, carry a stuffed toy with you to offer as a positive interruption/distraction. When you see Junior Kitten revving up to zoom out and grab your ankle, offer a preemptive toss of the toy and redirect the attack.

In the case of my own cat who arrived when she was about 5 months old, the hiss didnt work on her. The yelp interruption was very effective, although at that age, she easily got wound up with play-aggression and sometimes forgot herself. The bite = no games cured her of all biting, because she wanted so badly to be with her people.

Kitten biting may be cute in the beginning, but it can become a bigger problem later on by encouraging the behavior. It may take trial and error of different techniques, but in the end you will help your new kitten to learn how to play nice.

Read more:

How Do I Stop My Kitten From Attacking Me In A Timely Manner

As we said, kittens are at their prime learning phase, so you should be able to curb this behavior more quickly than you might with an adult cat. But still, lifestyle changes take time! Some kittens will learn in the matter of a few days, while others may not fully understand that your shoe is not something to hunt until youve been working on the behaviour for a few weeks.

So, stick with your consistent play schedule, make sure to stock up on exciting cat toys, and remember to give your kitten plenty of praise when they stop treating you like live-in hunting practice!

Read Also: How Long Can A Cat Live Without Food

Ease That Kitten Teething With A Binkie

Chew toys arent just for dogs anymore. A number of manufacturers make toys designed to provide an appropriate target for all that kitten teething. These include cloth toys that can be chilled to ease tender gums, firmer chews that will exercise the jaw muscles and nylon-based toys for kitten teething.

Related: What to Know About Kitten Behaviors

What Can I Do When My Kitten Bites During Play

If your kitten bites with no serious cause, you must do something about it. Biting and scratching are behaviors you dont want to continue no matter your kittens age.;

If you let it go on at the kitten stage, it can continue well into adulthood and as you probably already know, their bites and scratch become more painful as they grow older. Below are some things you can do if your kitten bites or scratches you and others during play.;

Recommended Reading: What Did The Cat Do In Rick And Morty

Have You Received Medical Treatment For A Cat Bite

This article is accurate and true to the best of the authors knowledge. It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.

Why Do Cats Bite Us

Cats are predators and therefore need stimulation that at least simulates killing by pouncing or biting something.Therefore you should make sure early on that your kitten trains her “killing moves” on something other than your hand;or foot.

If a feline is biting a person, the reasons can be very different depending on whether it’s a cat or a young kitten.Kittens usually have trouble socializing when biting but for adult cats, there may be different reasons.

To be able to stop or at least reduce the biting, it’s important to distinguish between these several cases.

For kittens, it is important to learn how to behave well by interacting with other kittens or their own mother.It isn’t unusual that young cats switch homes before having learned these necessary lessons.

You should start training your cat as soon as you get her.Kittens don’t know that they hurt you by scratching;or biting you and;as there is no mother kitten around anymore, it’s you – the human cat parent – who has to teach good manners to her.

Mouthing and biting can be very versatile in their;meanings of communication.Next to exploring their environment, kittens may also use biting to express their needs or simply because they began to teeth.

For adult cats, the reasons differ rather heavily from those for kittens.They could bite because they feel threatened or to demonstrate their dominance.This might be a possibility if the cat doesn’t back down after having bitten.

Don’t Miss: Why Do Cats Lay On Your Chest And Purr

How To Get A Kitten To Stop Biting

Our kittens are adorable and watching them play is always a delight. However, like our other fur babies, they can become overly excited at play, which could cause them to bite and scratch. While it seems cute and fascinating to watch, it can become a completely;different story as they grow bigger. They become swifter, more agile and their bites and scratches naturally become more painful.;

So, why do cats bite? What can you do to stop this behavior if you have a biting cat? ;Well discuss how to get a kitten to stop biting and more in this article.

Dont Punish Your Kitten For Biting

Its tempting to punish cats for hurting us, but it rarely works. What happens instead is that they become fearful or develop other behavior problems as a result.

In the end, itll only damage your relationship with your kitten as they begin to associate you with the punishment you enact.

This is especially true if you hit or otherwise injure your catthis is abuse and should never be done.

Instead of punishing, ignore your cat when they misbehave by biting you. Stop playing with them immediately, and theyll soon learn that biting does no good and gives them the opposite of what they were hoping for, which is attention.

If you practice this consistently and pair it with rewards when your kitten behaves well, then your kitten will learn not to bite quicker than you may expect!

Recommended Reading: What Are Cat Years Compared To Human Years

Teach Your Cat That Your Hands Arent Toys

Cats love to play with toys. You know this if you ever catch your cat fidgeting with electrical cords or leaping after balls.

However, you want to teach your cat early on that your hands and fingers are not toys. Cats play with their claws, paws, and teeth, so they will naturally want to give you a nibble if they think you are romping around.

Always have a toy to offer them instead of your fingers, ideally one that allows for hands-off play . This sends a clear message that you are off-limits when its time to play.5

Biting And Scratching: Natural Forms Of Cat Communication

Heres the scenario: Youre relaxing on the couch and petting your furry feline when all of a sudden you receive a bite on the hand or a swat from their paw.

Should you be alarmed? Chances are you dont need to worry. Your cat probably isnt acting out of aggression. Instead, theyre using their bites as a way to play or communicate with you.

Cats learn their biting and scratching habits early on in the litter. A kitten biting another kitten is a way to play and show affection.

Its much easier to shape playful habits with kittens than with older cats.1 Learn more about the specific tricks below.

You May Like: How To Train A Dog To Like Cats

How Do I Know When A Cat Will Bite

Look for universal signals in the cat world that indicate your kitten is about to bite:

• Excessive purring: While purring and receiving love, your kitten may become overstimulated while you are petting them. Cats can only stand so much petting until it starts to hurt, which prompts them to give you a warning bite or scratch.
• Tail flicks: Tail flicking back and forth quickly indicates the beginning of over-stimulation; your kitten may be preparing to give you a warning nip soon.
• Flattened ears: When your cat flattens their ears, it often indicates that they are irritated. It’s time to walk away.
• Dilated eyes: Dilated eyes are seen during times of play, but if you notice this while you are trying to pet your cat, it’s best to wait until they have calmed down. Now is the time to stop petting them and to walk away.

Did You Know?

A cat wagging its tail means the exact opposite of what a dog is communicating when it wags its tail.

Your kitten might be overstimulated.

Kitten Might Be In Pain

If your cat bites and scratches whenever you touch a particular part of her body, it might indicate that she might be in pain.

That part of er body might have a swelling, some wound, or some skin condition, which is causing her pain and discomfort.

For older cats it could be inflammation of joints or some internal conditions.

While you are petting and grooming her, you will notice these changes in behavior.

Check for visible signs of discomfort and if the problem still persists you must visit a vet immediately.

Don’t Miss: How To Make A Cat Feel Safe

Six Reasons Your Cat Bites You

Give Your Kitten Their Own Room At Night

Cats are naturally nocturnal/crepuscular, meaning that they are most active at night or at dawn and dusk. Unfortunately, that means that a sleeping human is a prime target of their nighttime play.;

You can avoid your feet being attacked by a playful kitten by giving them their own room to spend the night. Make sure that this room has access to their water bowl, litter box and plenty of toys, and your kitten will be free to romp around while you rest.

Also Check: Why Is My Cat Acting Strange

Practice Ow And Down When Your Kitten Bites Inappropriately

If that kitten teething does lead to a bite, say Ow! in a high-pitched but not overly loud voice and put her on the floor. When cats play together and the play gets too rough, the victim will utter a high-pitched cry and this will cause the aggressor to back off. Consistent use of the Ow and Down technique will teach your kitten that biting leads to an absence of play or petting.

How To Stop Your Cat From Biting

Its never a good thing when your cat is biting. Its not just painful it can potentially be dangerous if left unattended. Many cat bites require medical attention and can quickly become infected if left untreated.

Cats bite because they are fearful, stressed, or frustrated. They do not act out of spite or anger.

So how do you prevent your cat from biting? First, identify why your cat may be biting in the first place. Cats bite because they are fearful, stressed, or frustrated. They do not act out of spite or anger. There is always a good reason behind the behavior.

Its also important to note that declawed cats are more likely to bite than cats who have their claws, as their main defense mechanism has been taken away.

You May Like: Do Cats Change After Being Spayed

Can Kittens Be Aggressive

Before we discuss how a kittens experiences during its first few weeks might influence its behavior later on, it might be useful to find out what aggression is and whether there is such a thing as an aggressive kitten.

The term;aggressive is often used to describe cats who react in a hostile way towards us and/or other species. But, this label is an injustice to our feline friends. Aggression in cats is an entirely normal emotional reaction to fear, anxiety and frustration. Its also appropriate behavior related to play, predatory behavior and maintenance of territory.

Additionally, aggression may be behavior learned as a kitten to control situations or deter unwanted attention. Your cat is not being spiteful! Ive already mentioned that for kittens, playing roughly with each other comes naturally because they are honing their predatory and defense skills.

Unfortunately, when people play with kittens, we have a habit of reinforcing the more aggressive stuff. When we allow them to grab and hold our hands in their paws and rake furiously with their hind legs, we reinforce behavior;that well want to stop later.

If we allow it, the kitten will continue until exhausted and learn nothing about acceptable behavior. And, we will have unwittingly created a future feline thug who thinks its fun to ambush their owner using adult claws and teeth to target our hands and feet.

What Not To Do When They Bite

When were hurt its sometimes natural for us to lash out. A young kitten is absorbing everything around it though and the last thing you want is for them to form a connection between you and being scared.

When a kitten bites you, it wont hurt just remain calm and slowly remove your fingers whilst replacing them with a toy.

Never take your frustration out on the little kitten, youll regret it and it wont fix anything in the long run.

Read Also: How To Train A Cat To Behave

Play With Your Kitten Every Day

Routine is important for our cats, and daily play sessions of 10-15 minutes, two or three times a day, can help your cat bond with you, feel relaxed and happy at home – and get rid of any excess kitten energy or aggression!

Teaching your kitten how to play calmly is an important part of your journey together, and teaching them not to bite or scratch during play is a key part of that. If you reinforce good play behaviours, and ignore unwanted ones everyday, your pet will soon learn how to behave.

Kittens May Grow Out Of Biting

Kittens are similar to puppies and toddlers in the way that they put things in their mouths. While kittens typically have a much less noticeable teething faze, they are more prone to biting than grown cats.

Many cats naturally stop biting as much before they turn two years old. However, this applies only to cats who havent been encouraged to bite.

If you teach your cat that biting is a good thing, theyre very unlikely to grow out of the behavior because it is rewarded.

Read Also: How Soon Can Cats Get Pregnant

Ways To Stop A Kitten From Biting And Scratching

Does your kitty sometimes get carried away and leave you with a sharp bite or scratch?

Though occasional play biting can be expected, its important to teach your pet not to scratch or bite you while they are young. That way, youll still be able to play with your happy, friendly kitty once theyre grown – without the risk of injury!

What You Shouldnt Do If Your Cat Bites

You want to stop the behavior as soon as possible but you also have to understand that going about it wrongly could have some negative effects on your cat and your relationship with him.

You should not do the following when trying to stop your cat from biting or scratching.;

Dont hit, push, yell or sprinkle water on your cat.

You should avoid hitting, pushing roughly or sprinkling water on your kitten when he bites. Yelling is also something you shouldnt do. While these actions may help to stop the behavior briefly, they do little to help in the long run and cause him to become scared of you. These actions could also cause them to become more aggressive than before, meaning that they could bite or scratch harder than they did previously.;

Make the learning period fun while also sticking to the goal. Your cat will soon learn that the behavior is not acceptable and would channel his biting to other more appropriate outlets.;

Recommended Reading: Why Do Cats Hearts Beat So Fast