How To Stop Kitten Biting Behavior
Play aggression is common in kittens, but those adorable nips at your fingers and ankles can quickly turn painful when they develop into adult cats. Biting is a natural prey instinct that could potentially evolve into a behavioral issue - so read on to find out how you can help your kitten curb his mouthy behavior.
And well… reduce the number of future trips to the first-aid kit.
How To Stop The Biting Behavior
Kittens usually learn bite inhibition during playtime with their littermates, but early intervention on their human’s part can help prevent future complications down the line. A common reason that cats bite is because that behavior was unintentionally (and wrongfully) reinforced when they were kittens, and since prevention is better than cure, here are four easy tips and tricks:
1. Provide a variety of toys for playtime.
Never use your bare hands or feet when playing with your kitten as this sends the message that he is permitted to pounce and gnaw at them. Instead, consider getting a wand toy or handy LED laser pointer. These will provide your kitten with plenty of exercise and help him get accustomed to relieving his biting urges (on something that’s not you).
2. Enforce a kitten “time out”.
Got a bitey kitten on your hands? Refrain from touching him and hold your hands well out of striking range. If he doesn’t calm down within a few seconds, walk away and ignore him until he has achieved the desired behavior. By mimicking what a mother cat would do in the same situation, you are teaching him the social boundaries of acceptable play.
3. Signal your displeasure.
Discipline is a tough lesson in love, so avoid soothing your kitten right after he has bitten you. A stern “NO” will be counterproductive if you intend to keep pampering him after falling victim to those sharp little teeth. In a worst-case scenario, this may actually mislead him into thinking that biting earns him cuddles - which is a definite no-no.
4. No food within the next 20 minutes.
Deny your kitten of any tidbits within the next 20 minutes that follow a biting incident as this may be taken as a reward instead. Redirect his biting behavior by offering him a catnip mouse (or similar toys) to play with.
Like small children, kittens respond best to positive reinforcement. When he plays nice, reward that behavior with a tasty treat. When he bites you, halt all play and walk away. Do this a few times and he will quickly learn that teeth-on-skin is unacceptable behavior. Never respond with shouting or physical punishment as this will only make your little one anxious around you. Just remember, patience is key when you’re dealing with kitten biting.
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With all that said, let’s wrap up with a short quiz.
What’s the first thing you should do when your kitten bites you?
A. Yell at him.
B. Soothe him.
C. Take your hands off him.
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If your answer is anything but C, we strongly urge you to read the article again.