Eliminate Kitten Biting

Kitten biting is a common complaint among feline owners. And if you’ve ever owned a kitten, you know how difficult a behavior cat biting can be to change. Dealing with a biting cat can be both annoying and frustrating. Kittens especially love to play and nibble on objects. Shoe and curtains can be easy targets for playful and fun-loving kitties.

Some kittens even take to nipping on human toes and fingers as a way to pass the time. Yes, nibbling kittens can look cute gently chewing on your fingers. But, fully grown adult cats can do serious damage to property and people when they gnaw and bite.

So, it’s up to you as a kitten owner to train your little furry friend not to continue this potentially destructive behavior.

Why Do Kittens Bite?

Kittens and cats bite for a wide variety of reasons. In general, biting and chewing are natural predatory activities for kittens. Biting and other predatory behaviors are what cats would do in the wild to catch prey. When hunting behavior is misdirected, it can become quite problematic in the home.

Boredom is a key reason for biting. Imagine having lots of pent up energy, but few ways release it. Kittens feel this way much of the time. Few novel activities equals bored, chewing kittens.

Not having enough toys is another reason for kitten biting. When kittens have few options in term of toys, they turn to the next best thing: your curtains or your feet.

Do you set aside playtime with your kitten? Do you have little time to spend with your kitten? Kittens that have little interaction with their owners may feel neglected and act out by biting and chewing inappropriately.

Often, kittens that have been removed from their cat mom too soon display chewing behaviors. Orphaned kittens or kittens weaned too quickly miss out on crucial socialization time with their siblings and mom cat. Socialization enables kittens to learn how play without causing injury to others.

Hungry kittens and cats will do just about anything to get their paws on food. I once owned a cute kitten that would nibble on my toes every morning to let me know that he was hungry and wanted his breakfast!

Sick or angry felines will often bite, hiss, and spit. If you see a cat in an aggressive posture, back away and give them space.

How Do I Stop Kitten Biting?

While kitten biting is not the easiest behavior to correct, you can train your kitten to stop the chewing. When training your kitten, remember consistency and persistence are key. Cats are notoriously stubborn and strong-willed so keep up the training.

Luckily, most kittens will outgrow biting and mellow a bit as they age. However, some adult cats will maintain biting behaviors. So, it’s best to stop kitten biting as soon as the behavior appears. Here are some important tips to help nix kitten nibbling:

• Don’t reward unwanted behaviors.
• Don’t treat or reward your kitten while it’s biting or after it has already bitten
• Use a spray bottle filled with water to spray your kitten when it bites
• Use objects when playing with your kitten; never use your bare hands
• Mix up kitten toys to prevent boredom

• Distraction works to redirect your cat’s energy away from biting
• Use cat repellant such as bitter orange to discourage object chewing
• If your get bitten, relax your hand while it is in your cats mouth.
• Never remove your hand suddenly once it’s in a cat’s mouth; this may cause injury
• Get two kittens to keep each other company and for socialization
• If all else fails, move the biting kitten to a safe area for a “time out” period

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