Kittens are natural predators, and it’s completely normal for them to exhibit behaviors like attacking, chomping, and gnawing. As early as four weeks old, kittens begin to visually track moving objects that resemble prey and practice their pouncing skills. If any part of your body is in motion, it can easily become a target for these tiny hunters. While biting is an acceptable behavior for a kitten, it’s crucial to redirect this instinct towards appropriate toys rather than human hands or feet. Fortunately, kittens are adaptable and can learn quickly with proper guidance.
The Need for Appropriate Play Targets
Kittens bite us because they instinctively want to practice their hunting skills on a moving object. They are biologically programmed to attack things that move, making it essential to teach them from a young age to play with toys, not fingers or feet. Engaging in active play sessions multiple times a day, especially before meals, is an excellent way for kittens to develop their motor skills, learn suitable play habits, and expend pent-up energy.
The Significance of Interactive Play
A toy that remains still holds little interest for a kitten eager to practice its hunting prowess. Select toys that you can actively use to mimic different types of prey. Wand toys, crinkle balls, felt mice, and kicker toys are excellent choices for engaging your kitten.
Move these toys in an enticing manner, encouraging your kitten to stalk, chase, pounce, and capture. Once the kitten successfully catches the toy, allow it to bite and “bunny kick” it before resuming play. Conclude play sessions by rewarding your kitten with a treat or meal, simulating the satisfaction of a successful hunt and reinforcing their proper hunting behaviors.
Even when you are not actively playing, it’s beneficial to keep a few kicker toys within easy reach. If your kitten begins to bite you, avoid scolding. Instead, calmly redirect their attention to a kicker toy. The goal isn’t to forbid biting, but rather to guide them towards biting the right things.
Avoiding Hand and Foot Play
While it might be tempting to wiggle your fingers or tickle your kitten’s belly, doing so teaches them that biting your skin is acceptable. Even if you don’t mind these playful nips now, future adopters likely will, especially as the kittens grow larger. A 12-pound tabby stalking an ankle is far from cute! Therefore, caregivers have a responsibility to help kittens develop good biting habits early on, as it is far easier to establish a positive habit than to break a negative one. When a kitten attacks your hands or feet, simply disengage and redirect them to a more suitable play object.
Quick Tips for Managing Kitten Biting
- Ample Stimulation: Ensure your kitten has a variety of toys, including plush toys, wand toys, crinkle balls, and tunnels, to keep them enriched. Offer toys that mimic different prey animals. You can even create your own DIY cat toys!
- Daily Active Play: Engage in active play sessions with your kitten multiple times a day using toys that flutter and wiggle. Do not expect the kitten to entertain itself entirely! If you do not actively move toys and entice hunting behaviors, your kitten’s only practice targets will be your hands and feet.
- Reward Positive Behavior: Allow your kitten to catch the toy, then provide an opportunity for biting and bunny kicking. After playtime, reward your kitten with a treat or meal to signify a job well done and reinforce that they are a great hunter.
- Consistent Redirection: Always redirect biting behaviors towards an appropriate target. It is crucial to offer an equally or more attractive alternative whenever you discourage a behavior. Instead of focusing on punishment, recognize that your kitten is seeking a specific type of stimulation and provide a suitable alternative. By doing so, your kittens’ natural urges will be satisfied, and you will soon be free from unwanted biting.
Consider a Companion Kitten
Finally, if you have a single kitten, consider getting a second one. Kittens are happiest and best behaved when they have a companion to interact with. They will play-hunt together, expend energy collectively, and even teach each other important boundaries regarding biting. Learn more about the benefits of kittens in pairs!
You can also watch a video on how to stop kittens from biting: how to stop kittens from biting you.
