I recently got a kitten. Shes been great around the house. The only thing is that she bites hard. I took care of her scratching but putting caps on her nails, but now since I have done that it seems as though her biting has gotten worse. She mainly does it when I play with her. Is there anything I can do to make her stop?
2007-06-16 05:02:35 · 9 answers · asked by KaitieRose 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
Kittens learn not to bite too hard from their mothers and littermates. If she was taken away from mom too early, she may not have learned that yet. I foster kittens, and typically the group I work with adopts out kittens in pairs so they teach each other things like that.
Her mom would've let her know it hurt and then swatted her on the nose if she kept it up. What you can do, is quit playing if she's being too rough. If she keeps biting, imitate the sound a cat would make if something hurt/irritated them. If she still keeps going, tap her very gently on the nose with your index finger (To imitate the swat her mom would give her). Normally, they'll stop right away, but a minute or two later she may start right up. At that point, give her a timeout in a quiet room.
2007-06-16 05:16:10 · answer #1 · answered by Unknown.... 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Kittens play by biting. If you play with her, or if you respond to her in any way that looks like fun to her (screaming, hitting her, etc.), she will do it even more. Even if you hit her really hard(apart from the fact that it is not right), in a way that you'd think she can't mistake for play but she would be sure it is punishment, well it's fun for a kitten. I have a kitten and an older cat now, and the little one keeps disturbing the old one, who bites her back really hard, well that only gets th ekitten more excited.
Anyway, the only thing you can do is ignore her, don't play when she does that, and if she insists grab her by the neck, like a mother-cat, say No, and put her elsewhere with another toy as an alternative. Be consistent doing that, she must realize that there is no question of playing "bites" with you.
PS. My older cat bites quite hard, but he is lovely and i wouldn't change him for the world. So please don't consider giving up your kitty. Another solution would be tyo get a second kitten now that she's still little, because if the play-bite between them they learn how to interact. the reason my older cat never stopped biting is that he lost his mum and littermates too young, and he never socialised properly. 2 cats is better than one in the long run, and it's easier to introduce them as kittens.
2007-06-16 12:13:55 · answer #2 · answered by cpinatsi 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi i am Carol
buy your cat a scratching pole and ask the vet or buy a book on cat and kitten care or someone how to teach the kitten to use it, for gods sake take the caps of you kitten, you can take your kitten to the vets and get its claws cut , that is just the kitten playing, she also could be teething, the kitten will stop biting, be patient, buy the kitten some kitten toys to play with
2007-06-16 12:33:39 · answer #3 · answered by Shorty 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have two kittens (sisters). One is relatively calm (but plays a lot) and the other one hisses at times and bites. She bites when she plays mostly, but I believe it's just because she's a kitten and she will grow out of it. I've let her actually bite me before since she likes to nip at me when playing and her bite is nothing. She barely does anything. Cats teethe too - she might be teething. Normally they grow out of it. You'll be fine. Get her some toys she can chew that will help her with her biting thing for now.
2007-06-16 12:11:55 · answer #4 · answered by Michelle 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some kittens can be painful to play with. Just say "no" loudly and move your hand away. If the kitten comes after your hand to bite more, have a squirt bottle near by. One spray should get it to stop. Make sure you don't teach your kitten bad habits by having it chase your fingers......always use toys. Kittens usually outgrow biting like that when they get a little older. My kitten was terrible but he never bites anymore. Good luck!
2007-06-16 12:19:28 · answer #5 · answered by eigna728 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Stop playing rough with her. Believe me, I made the same mistake with one of mine, as it was so cute when she was little. But now I've had a really hard time getting her to stop biting! She still does it occasionally, and it's my fault for letting her bite me in the first place.
She may bite more because of the claw caps, as she can't get much of a grip with them on. Honestly ... best thing is to not encourage her to bite at all. Simply walk away when she tries, don't give any reaction, and above all, do not 'fight' back - it will only encourage her.
good luck!
2007-06-16 12:19:31 · answer #6 · answered by Cat 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dont over stimulate her when you play, or change how you play with her. like instead of using your hand as a play toy, maybe try using a real toy that she can bite as much and as hard as her little heart desires.if not, then maybe try doing things that she likes when you play so she doesnt bite her. and if the biting gets REALLY bad then maybe ask a vet if they reccommend anything, and if its just a severe behavioral problem then maybe just think about another cat
2007-06-16 12:12:21 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its normal for kitties to do that. You will have to teach him not to, though. He also might just be playing when he bites you if you are playing with him
2007-06-16 12:06:18 · answer #8 · answered by Whaaaduppp 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you need to get some medicine to get her to alm down if she calms down she migh stop biting like my cat wz biting use but she grew out of it so she might just be biting you uf her age
2007-06-16 12:08:03 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋