Why do kittens bite and scratch?

Question

My kitten is 8 months old and ever sence I brought him home he will attack my hands and feet.He thinks they are toys and wont take no for an answer.What do I do?

Answer 1

My cat does the same thing--and he's almost 2. He loves to attack my feet, legs, the bottom of my pants, and especially my fuzzy slippers. I'll be attempting to make the bed or change the sheets and he'll hide under the bed and eventually pounce on my feet :) I haven't done anything to stop him so I'm not sure what to tell you, lol. But like the users before me said, its natural...He's going to be very playful for awhile :) Make sure he has lots of toys available and spend lots of play time with him. Perhaps then he won't go after your feet as much :)

Good luck!

Answer 2

This is normal. I had a black kitten that would terrorize my whole family, but if you spend enough time with him and teach him correct behaviors, he may tone it down a bit.

This is weird, but whenever my kitten would get all scratchy and bitey, I would take a mango and show it to him, like right in his face as if it were a toy. He would get confused by the odd object and actually calm down and smell at the fruit instead.

Since your cat is energetic and likes playing rough, throw him a couple curve balls too and create you own odd toys because it sounds like he is bored with normal cat toys and would rather play with your hands (probably because they are always moving).

A few ideas:
*Build him a cardboard house with places to hide and things dangling that he could grab at
*Feathers are perfect, find a feather wand
*Any old stuffed animal- let him take out his energy on the stuffed animal instead, maybe get one that you can fit over your hand like a puppet, so you don't get scratched.

I hope this helps and have fun with your cat, don't be afraid of his wild side, embrace it and turn it into another way to play more.

Answer 3

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.
It is as they grow with their litter mates that they learn not to bite and scratch so much.
You didn't say at what age you got him, but he has formed the habit of playing rough. Has he been neutered? If not start with that and then when he starts playing rough, pick him up and put him in time out. Leave him there for a while to calm down, then let him out with everyone.
If you keep this up he will learn.

Answer 4

don't get upset it is just an 8 month old, it thinks everything is a toy, once it gets a year old it will still be play full but it will play more with toys that your hands.

Answer 5

He's practicing the skills he would need in the wild. Get him a soft wind-up toy to attack, a ball of yarn to bat around, and make time to play with him daily. You can also get sprays which will discourage him from attacking your shoes or furniture as long as you provide alternatives.

Answer 6

It's natural. He's playing. He could be just an ornry cat like mine, but he's still just playing and happens to be rougher than others. He still deserves the attention and love. The one harmless thing that you can do to deter the biting and scratching is to have a squirt/spray bottle of water nearby all the time. Just squirt him once and he'll stop and get the message quickly. Just out of curiosity, is he a black cat? Mine is.

Answer 7

Buy toys for him, he's just doing what a normal kitten does, he is practicing hunting. Just buy a couple toys and spend time with him.

Answer 8

Get him toys and things to play with.

Answer 9

Use a small paper like a ball. He will attack it and your hands and feet will be saved.

Answer 10

maybe your cat is trying to learn defense by it toys so it learn on them.