Why Do Kittens Bite And Scratch

Learn more about why your cat is biting you.

Why do kittens bite and scratch. For adult cats there may be a few reasons for biting. Kittens are naturally very playful. Biting and scratching usually occurs as a result of the owner s actions. It could be to assert dominance or respond to a threat.

One minute your beloved kitty is enjoying a scratch on her favorite spot and the next she s giving you love bites. 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. Why do kittens scratch and bite. Occasionally though scratching and biting can be a sign that your kitten is frightened angry or in pain.

She graduated from the university of glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. My kitten bites and scratches me when i pet him but i think it s supposed to be playful. Elliott bvms mrcvs is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. It is as they grow with their litter mates.

Kittens can also bite as a way of communicating a need as a way of exploring their environment or because they are teething. When new and unusual behavior problems arise in your cat including aggressive biting and scratching it could be a sign of an underlying illness. This is how they learn to socialize with their siblings test boundaries and just have fun. 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.

In most cases kittens scratch and bite in play. How do i make him stop. Pippa elliott mrcvs veterinarian dr. If left untreated or not given proper first aid care cat bites can lead to infection cat scratch fever or in rare cases rabies.

A well socialized adult cat that knows the rules of cat play teaches the best lessons to kittens. Cat bites can be dangerous if not taken care of properly. If your kitten s biting and scratching is uncharacteristic of them it may be caused by illness or injury. Ways to discourage your cat from scratching biting.

If you suspect that your cat may be acting aggressively because they are in pain then you should contact your vet immediately. Most cats and kittens who are biters and scratchers were either separated from their litter mates too early or were only kittens and weren t socialised. Bite and scratch inhibition can be taught to kittens the same way you teach your puppies.