Kittens are wide-eyed little creatures that bring a lot of love and happiness into our lives. But these cute bundles of joy often tend to get excited and leave their parents with bite marks owing to their sharp teeth. This is, however, a natural behaviour and is not associated with hostility or fear. But if this practice is left unchecked, the kittens may carry it to their adulthood which might get concerning. Fortunately, it is easy to train kittens to control this behaviour.

In this article, we will take a detailed look into the possible reasons behind this phenomenon and the ways to keep it in control.

Why do kittens bite?

Your kitten may bite due to various reasons. Most commonly, these tiny creatures bite their fellow hoomans to explore the world around them similar to what human babies do. Teething is also a common reason for kittens to bite their parents’ fingers as it comforts their growing teeth and painful gums.

Another reason which often encourages kittens to bite people is their nursing instinct. If they are not wholly weaned, it’s a good idea to let them nurse on their mother or offer them a feeding bottle until they grow up and reach the age of 4 to 6 weeks. Finally, the natural hunting instincts of kittens contribute to their biting habit in many cases. From 4 weeks of age, kittens begin to track and hunt objects that look like prey which in many cases happens to be our hands and feet.

How to stop kittens from biting?

Let’s take a look at some of the effective ways to stop kittens from biting.

• Redirect your kitten’s attention

Kittens often bite your hands or feet out of boredom and looking out for something to play with. Allowing it a playing session with appropriate toys can help redirect its attention. Our top picks include Trixie Cat Teaser With Plush Fish & Catnip Toy, Trixie Set of Catnip Mice for Cats and Trixie Wriggle Up Mouse Toy for Cats. These toys keep your feline baby busy and keep them away from your fingers and toes.

In addition to these toys, you can introduce your pal to scratching posts and scratching boards for it to explore, play and relax.

• Teach Proper Play

It has been found out that kittens that tend to bite have been encouraged to do so at some point by their family members because they thought the behaviour was cute and unknowingly motivated the pet to continue doing so.Therefore, as a cat parent, you shouldn’t ever inspire your kitten to bite you or others at home. Substituting cat-specific toys for your fingers can help your kitty get hooked onto other objects to bite instead of your fingers and toes.

• Yell “Ouch”

When your kitten bites you, loudly and clearly say “ouch” and move your hand away once you have their attention. Don’t withdraw your hand quickly or your kitty will think it’s a game and try to grab you again.

• Encourage socialisation with playmates

If possible, consider adopting kittens in pairs so that they can play together. This helps them interact with their fellow animals and deters them from biting and scratching their human family members.

• Do not get angry or frustrated

At any cost do not get angry or display aggression towards your kitten as it can make matters worse. You will need to be firm while speaking with them with clarity and calmness. Make sure to walk away from unwanted behaviour and reward your pet for obedience and good behaviour.

• Get professional help

If you’ve consistently tried the abovementioned techniques and still haven’t succeeded in controlling your kitten’s biting habit, it’s time to seek medical help. Get in touch with a veterinarian, who can examine your pal and diagnose the issue that is bothering it.

If you need assistance with consulting a vet, you can always try Pawsandpaws.com’s 'Consult a Vet' service for quick solutions to your problems from the comfort of your home.

Concluding Note

Always remember that in order to be a good pet parent, you’d always need to see things from your furry companion’s perspective. Putting yourself in their shoes can help you understand their behaviour and rectify them if they’re going wrong. You will need to be patient and consistent to contribute to a happy household for your kitties.