Is It Normal For Kittens To Bite And Scratch A Lot

But kitties can learn to inhibit the force of their bites and to use soft paws without claws.

Is it normal for kittens to bite and scratch a lot. A nip or scratch from an 8 week old kitten may seem cute but the same behavior from an adult cat can be very painful. Biting and mouthing is a normal behavior in kittens. All toys should be a distance from your hands so the kitten has no opportunity to bite or scratch you even by accident. A young kitten will pounce chase stalk wrestle bite and scratch its siblings and mother.

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. If we re lucky their mothers or litter mates teach them to inhibit this behavior. It turns out that kitten biting is part of the play behavior kittens learn when they are with their littermates. This is generally regarded as mock aggression.

Because cats mouth and paw objects to explore their world it s natural for them to bite. This is the time when each kitten learns how to use an inhibited bite so as not to. Despite this behavior it s natural for felines to act this way and isn t a sign that they re mad at you or upset with you. But sometimes they don t learn from their litters that this is not acceptable.

Usually by about four months of age play biting and scratching should subside. Young kittens bite and scratch their parents and littermates as part of normal play behavior. Kittens are cute fluffy and irresistible it is natural to want to caress them and play with them using your hands however doing so is asking for a scratch or a bite. Young kittens will bite or scratch each other or their owners as part of play and this is normal.

Although compulsive cat scratching licking or chewing behaviors can develop in any animal they are more commonly observed in siamese cats and other oriental breeds. Female cats are more likely. It s not about aggression it s about youngsters using their mouths to explore their environments. Kittens love to play but when they become overexcited they often scratch and bite.

This is all normal behavior for a kitten. The kitten is not intending to hurt anyone it is just intent on having a good time. Biting in kittens is similar to biting behavior in puppies.