Why Do Kittens Bite And Scratch So Much

Because cats mouth and paw objects to explore their world it s natural for them to bite.

Why do kittens bite and scratch so much. You can discourage the behaviour by praising them for gentle play during bonding sessions. When new and unusual behavior problems arise in your cat including aggressive biting and scratching it could be a sign of an underlying illness. Kittens are naturally very playful. But kitties can learn to inhibit the force of their bites and to use soft paws without claws.

Biting and scratching usually occurs as a result of the owner s actions. Some owners find it nearly impossible to resist wrestling with a tiny playful kitten they will wrestle the kitten with their hand letting the kitten bite and scratch them. They may be in pain if your kitten s biting and scratching is uncharacteristic of them it may be caused by illness or injury. Bite and scratch inhibition can be taught to kittens the same way you teach your puppies.

It turns out that kitten biting is part of the play behavior kittens learn when they are with their littermates. If they are taken away from their litter when they are still very young then they will be unaware of how much their bite hurts and may consequently bite you too hard. This is the time when each kitten learns how to use an inhibited bite so as not to. Cats often bite during play because they are expressing their natural hunting instinct.

This is especially true when your kitten s playmate is a young child. Kittens love to play but when they become overexcited they often scratch and bite. That s why the common scratching and biting behavior don t seem to resolve with some cat owners because they have the illusion that their cats are untrainable so it is not worth a try. This behavior is natural to kittens and is not a sign of hostility or fear most of the time but if left unchecked it can become a serious problem.

Whenever your cat engages in play that uses their paws but not their claws or teeth reward them with plenty of affection and a reward or treat. Compulsive cat chewing scratching or licking behaviors often develop in cats who are bored stressed or anxious.