The appearance of a furry baby in the house is a joyful event. But what if the kitten scratches or bites, leaving bleeding marks on its arms and legs? Some cat owners simply find this behavior of this charming little creature amusing. They specifically try to tease the pet so that they can play “fight” later. This is a big mistake.
Firstly, bites and scratches of even a small kitten are dangerous: they can cause infection, even serious forms. Secondly, before you know it, the young pet will turn into an adult cat. An aggressive cat in the house is a big problem, especially if there are children in the family. Therefore, you should not indulge your pet’s manifestations of anger, but rather correct his behavior from an early age.
Why does a small kitten bite and scratch?
There are several reasons why a baby may show claws and bite, and they are not always related to play.
Game or communication
The game is one of the likely reasons. If a small pet is bored, then it can choose the owner’s hands or feet as a play object, thus encouraging him to communicate. In this case, the solution is obvious: avoid contact with your hands, take a suitable toy and spend some time with your baby.
It's good if you can work out with him long enough for him to lose pent-up energy and get tired. After the game, treat him to something tasty, and most likely he will go to bed.
Aggression
A fluffy growing up at home may exhibit play aggression at the level of instinct. For this reason, the kitten often bites the hands and feet of the owner, following its innate characteristics. These are natural traits of the cat family, which manifest themselves even in an environment where the young creature does not have to hunt and get its own food by attacking the prey.
Sometimes aggression can be a manifestation of certain character traits in accordance with the breed or characteristics of growth and upbringing. Teenage kittens often get into a playful frenzy and seriously injure a person, simply forgetting themselves. In any case, the owner should think about options for weaning his pet from such games.
Illness or fright
It happens that a usually friendly and affectionate pet begins to show a bad character. In this case, you need to rule out possible health problems. Show your baby to the doctor and get the necessary tests.
It happens that the baby is simply tired and does not want to play - there is no need to disturb him, otherwise he may react with an outburst of anger. The same situation is possible if you accidentally hurt him, for example, by stepping on his tail.
In a situation where a pet is frightened by something (a sudden change in the situation, the appearance of an unfamiliar animal on the territory), it can instinctively use its teeth and claws. This is a defensive reaction. Try to calm the baby down.
The feeling of protection is very important for a cat. It’s good if he has his own house in which he can hide and feel safe.
Teething
Teething is another reason for uncontrolled biting. Kittens change their teeth between the ages of 3 and 5 months – it is at this time that they are the most biting. In such a situation, special toys with catnip, which can always be purchased at a pet store, will come in handy. The kitten bites them and thus scratches the itchy gums.
Manifestations of unwanted behavior in kittens
If you take a kitten, hoping that this cute furry little ball will obediently allow itself to be squeezed, obey all your commands and give only reasons for affection - the reality may disappoint. However, this is not a reason to give up on loving cats, but rather a motive to study their behavior, understand the reasons for unwanted habits and inclinations, and develop tactics that can retrain a kitten to behave in an undesirable way.
One of the most common problems is the teeth and claws of the animal used against the owners. But here it is important to understand that almost all kittens love to bite and scratch - for them it is a game, absolutely normal behavior.
There is also such a thing as play aggression. There may be several reasons for its occurrence:
- early separation from the mother or disruption of her lactation,
- negative experiences of socialization before the age of two months,
- incorrect actions of owners who encourage undesirable behavior.
For example, in the process of natural weaning from feeding on milk, a kitten learns an important life lesson from its mother cat - not all of its desires must be fulfilled. If this lesson is not learned, then in the future the animal may show aggression if the owner does not perform the desired action. In addition, kittens that are deprived of breastfeeding or weaned too early have a much stronger hunting instinct, which can also manifest itself in the form of play aggression.
It is important to understand the reasons why a kitten does not behave as we would like, and immediately work to correct its behavior.
What in a kitten’s behavior needs to be corrected?
Owners are given a lot of trouble by such manifestations of cat behavior as excessive biting and scratching during games, hunting for legs, a love of climbing up pants legs, and aggressive hissing in response to an attempt to stroke them. These and similar actions of kittens can and should be corrected, otherwise in adulthood the animal will continue to behave according to established behavior algorithms.
It is important to understand the reasons for the kitten’s unwanted behavior and to prevent or suppress them. The kitten does not perceive the experience received negatively; it learns to act in response to external circumstances. And if a human hand or leg itself provokes him to play, and even does it in an aggressive manner, biting and scratching in this case will be an instinctive behavioral reaction. And if, after each painful bite, the kitten receives an unpleasant reaction - a hiss, for example, or stopping playing - its behavior will begin to change.
Remember that the only correct method of raising a kitten is to reward the behavior you want, and ignore or punish the unwanted behavior.
Character or bad habit
Even if you don't play with the kitten, that doesn't mean it doesn't play with you. However, no one has canceled the character: while one animal bites gently and practically does not release its claws, another will bite and scratch much more strongly. In the second case, the kitten will not consciously wish you harm - he does not realize that he is hurting you, but with your reaction you can tell him that this is not necessary.
There are also animals with a truly aggressive character, the reasons for which lie in psychological trauma from a very early age. Yes, cats have character, and it can be bad. It is necessary to act with such animals in the same way as with all others, but for a positive effect it will require much more patience and perseverance.
What goes away with age on its own
Usually, by the time of puberty, a cat has already formed basic behavioral reactions. He gradually becomes less active, games, and with them the desire to bite and scratch, take less and less time.
But contrary to popular belief, it is still possible to influence the character of an already adult animal, and using the same carrot and stick method. But it’s better to do this in the cat’s childhood, of course. At this age, it is easier to influence the behavior of an animal, and the effect of such influence is better.
How to stop a kitten from biting and scratching during play
Whatever the reason why the kitten scratches during play, the owner should think about how to wean the pet from dangerous games without harming the animal or causing even greater aggression and mistrust. Cats are known to be very touchy animals. And it is necessary to look for a more careful approach to kittens so as not to negatively affect their further development and worldview. There are several ways to stop a kitten from biting and scratching during play.
Switching attention
At an early age, kittens’ attention is very easy to shift to other, more interesting objects. Such objects can be rustling, rattling or glowing toys: rattles, balls, lumps of paper, bows on a string and other similar things. The furry baby will very quickly switch to a new game and stop biting your hands or feet.
If this option doesn't work, you can try audio distraction. As soon as the kitten begins to show aggression, you need to sharply and quickly say: “No” or “That’s enough” and loudly hit the table or any hard object. This should distract the pet’s attention and transfer it to the toy - or at least cool down the play ardor.
Often, sound techniques are enough for the kitten to understand that they can only bite toys - and not your hands. For some, it is necessary to repeat the techniques many times - it all depends on the pet’s temperament.
Developing bad associations with the bite
When using this method, it is important not to forget about humanity.
Bad associations in cats are usually caused by water, a light slap, loud pops, screams, etc. As soon as the kitten has bitten you, try gently spraying it with water from a spray bottle, making a loud unpleasant sound, slapping it on the back of the body with a rag or rolled up paper .
In order for the method to work well, it is necessary to deliver unpleasant sensations only after a bite and in no other cases - otherwise the pet will become confused and will not understand the true reason for the punishment. After several times, the animal will associate the bite with unpleasant consequences, and this will quickly become a habit of behaving more calmly.
Stopping the game
Kittens perceive the end of play as the end of fun. This way you can show the kitten that he did something wrong. While the pet is frolicking without biting or other signs of aggression, you should play with it according to its rules and not stop playing. As soon as your pet begins to show aggression, you must immediately end the game and go to another room, leaving the prankster alone.
This is how the kitten will understand that after a bite, the fun and games stop and the owner leaves, therefore, there is no point in biting. This method will only work if the game is stopped precisely after the manifestation of aggression - otherwise the kitten may incorrectly assess the situation, and the educational aspect will disappear.
Burst of energy
Sometimes kittens become aggressive due to lack of activity. This happens especially often in animals living in apartments or other cramped spaces and not having the opportunity to express their energy and instinctive impulses.
In this case, the owner needs to provide the active pet with a large number of toys and buy him a scratching post - or better yet, a whole play complex. In this case, the fluffy will devote more time to playing with them and will stop showing aggression towards the owner and other inhabitants of the house.
When you come home from work or after a long absence from home, try to give your pet the maximum jog and play with him using his toys. This will help solve the problem of attacks on arms and legs.
What to do to prevent a kitten from biting
A kitten in a new home - everything is unusual and interesting for him, scary and curious, different smells, strangers, new sensations. All this frightens the animal and excites the imagination, so the kitten bites. If a pet bites often, it can develop into a bad habit and it will be difficult for the owner to wean the pet from it.
The kitten bites - what to do:
- A sharp clap or other loud sound will distract the animal's attention from the attack and change its behavior.
- Apply gentle pressure to your pet without causing pain if he has already bitten and is constantly biting and lunging at people.
- Splashing water will scare away a cat, which is known to be afraid of water. If you spray the kitten every time it bites, you can develop a conditioned reflex in it. The kitten will draw an analogy between biting and receiving water as punishment, and over time it will stop behaving this way.
The kitten bites due to excess energy, so you need to come up with games for it and have fun with your pet. You can bring a laser pointer or a mirror and let the kitten hunt for a light or a sunbeam. For fun games, a rustling ribbon or a toy on a string will help. After such an energetic pastime, the animal will not have the strength to bite and scratch.
What should you do if your kitten bites and scratches due to aggression?
If you manage to find out that the kitten scratches or bites precisely because of aggression, it is necessary to find out its reasons, and only then select methods of education. The most common form is play aggression, and in this case it is necessary to choose easy and unobtrusive methods of education - switching attention or stopping the game.
It is much more difficult to deal with aggressive behavior in cases not caused by the game. This could be stress, competition with another pet or with a small child, resentment, lack of attention and much more.
In each situation, it is necessary to select an approach in accordance with the reason. For example, in the case of a lack of attention, you need to devote more time to your pet - play with him at every opportunity that arises, show affection and love.
If the reason lies in jealousy, you should show the little owner that the object of jealousy is not a threat to him and your attitude towards the four-legged animal has not changed.
If the kitten has experienced stress, it is important to be patient with its condition and try to help cope with the changes that led to nervous shock. It is very important for kittens to feel safe.
The most difficult case is a wild, untamed animal from the street. The owners will need months of patience for the baby to get used to the person and stop using his teeth as protection against him. The game will be worth the candle: usually street animals grow into gentle, delicate and grateful creatures.
Techniques that will definitely help
Before you start weaning your animal from aggressive attacks towards people, you need to understand a few things:
- The work will not be easy, and it is quite possible that everything will not work out the first time;
- You cannot retreat: as soon as the kitten shows aggression, stop it immediately;
- Conduct a systematic fight, without concessions on your own part: no discounts for the young age of the pet, or for the fact that he has played too much, or for anything else.
Cats are animals that need to clearly indicate the boundaries of what is permitted. That is why working with them is at the same time quite difficult (if you get a wayward pet), but at the same time very interesting!
So, what will help wean a kitten from scratching and biting?
The first assistant in raising cats is water. Everyone knows how much these animals do not like to be wet. Therefore, if your pet starts biting or scratching, simply spray cold water on it. Usually, this procedure calms even the most angry animal. Among the people, particularly aggressive animals could be thrown whole into cold water. Of course it helped. But this method is quite cruel, so it is better to limit yourself to a spray shower.
The second technique is loud screams and sharp sounds. Cats take them well. When your handsome man once again shows aggression, clap your hands and abruptly stop him. Usually this is enough. Repeat the action every time you attack, and the cat will quickly understand that such behavior is unacceptable. But hitting is not recommended. This is retaliatory aggression, which can only make the situation worse. The animal will understand that it is also being attacked - and will be forced to defend itself. Thus, by hitting a kitten, you will take his position, and this is no longer education.
The third option is ignoring. Did an animal attack you? Has it started scratching, biting, and becoming visibly aggressive? You can simply get up and leave, leaving your pet in splendid isolation. Cats, although capricious animals, are very sensitive to the mood of their owners and understand it. Sometimes ignoring is enough to stop the kitten from scratching and biting.
Finally, to prevent your pet from developing aggressive notes in its behavior, it is important to properly organize its accommodation. Remember that a cat is a very active, lively, mobile animal that is created for hunting. It's a sleek, perfectly designed rodent killing machine if you will, and it needs a lot of space and movement. With many kittens, outdoor games are required. After all, this is the only way they will throw out all their energy and instead of attacking you, they will lie down to rest.
In addition, the animal must have its own corner. Usually cats choose such a place themselves, but you can help them in this by equipping a house. These animals have a great love for cardboard boxes, so organize your pet a cozy “apartment” in one of them. The kitten will calm down and rest there.
Buy a scratching post. It will be a great thing for releasing excess energy, and just for the perfect cat manicure. Many animals are happy to scratch only it, without attacking the owners and guests of the house.
In general, when purchasing a kitten, remember that this is a rather complex and characteristic animal, which is not always easy. But with patience and proper upbringing, he will grow into a wonderful furry friend who will rub you affectionately and sing a soothing, gentle song. And it’s worth making a little effort for this, right?
What mistakes should you not make?
In the process of education, owners often make gross mistakes that are not beneficial, but harmful. What needs to be taken into account in the process of weaning a kitten from aggression in play or behavior:
- Under no circumstances should physical punishment be used. This can only aggravate the aggression and intensify it. A small pet may hold a grudge and begin to bite and scratch to protect itself or to show its owner its displeasure.
- It is necessary to be systematic in education. If educational measures are applied every once in a while, the kitten may not understand when and why he was punished, and in the future may not perceive the owner’s actions as educational.
- You should not use physical force to force a kitten to overcome fear and stress. These actions may have the opposite effect. The baby may become more aggressive towards the owner, who forces him to face the fear or stressor face to face.
Always be kind and patient. Even the most wayward animals can be trained if their owners have kind hands and a heart of gold.
When to contact a veterinarian
Sometimes the owner is not able to accurately determine the reason why the cat behaves aggressively.
Be sure to read:
Why cats rub their faces against their legs: reasons, wean or encourage, what the consequences may be
It’s time to go to the veterinarian in cases where the pet behaves strangely, constantly sits in one place and attacks if you approach it. Feeling unwell may be a sign of a serious illness.
Below is a table of the main diseases in cats:
| Sign | Cause |
| The cat sits still in one position, reacts aggressively to touch | Arthritis |
| Lying down, doesn’t want to move, won’t let you get close | Physical trauma |
| Falls over when walking, can crash into furniture, scratches and bites | Brain injury |
| Runs around the apartment, suddenly pounces and bites, meows loudly | Hormonal disbalance |
| Avoids bright light, tries to hide in a dark place, jumps on the owner, bites painfully, can attack at night, the animal has increased salivation | Rabies |
Cats also become aggressive during periods of sexual activity and increased levels of thiamine in the blood. In this case, the veterinarian will recommend medications and diet to eliminate the pet’s aggression.
A month later…
Your pet has grown significantly and turned into a real hurricane, which can be in all rooms at the same time, rattling something and turning something over. But most importantly, he begins to “hunt” for your legs - he suddenly jumps out from around the corner and joyfully pounces on them, using his teeth and claws (which is already very sensitive) - victory! Prey caught! One could be happy for the successful hunter, if not for the painful sensations after his attack. And then you start complaining to your friends that your kitten is constantly biting.
