Why Do Kittens Bite And Scratch

She graduated from the university of glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery.

Why do kittens bite and scratch. My kitten bites and scratches me when i pet him but i think it s supposed to be playful. For adult cats there may be a few reasons for biting. In most cases kittens scratch and bite in play. It is a precursor for hunting behaviour and helps your kitten develop motor skills as well as explore his environment.

Why do kittens scratch and bite. Kittens are naturally very playful. Some owners find it nearly impossible to resist wrestling with a tiny playful kitten they will wrestle the kitten with their hand letting the kitten bite and scratch them. Bite and scratch inhibition can be taught to kittens the same way you teach your puppies.

Medical causes range from undetected wounds to distress from mites or fleas to a hormonal imbalance such as hyperthyroidism. A well socialized adult cat that knows the rules of cat play teaches the best lessons to kittens. Pippa elliott mrcvs veterinarian dr. Biting and scratching usually occurs as a result of the owner s actions.

It is as they grow with their litter mates. It could be to assert dominance or respond to a threat. If you suspect that your cat may be acting aggressively because they are in pain then you should contact your vet immediately. Occasionally though scratching and biting can be a sign that your kitten is frightened angry or in pain.

She has worked. This is how they learn to socialize with their siblings test boundaries and just have fun. How do i make him stop. Ways to discourage your cat from scratching biting.

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. Cats are actually very predictable creatures and biting and scratching are cause and effect behaviors just as most other undesirable behaviors. Fortunately for siblings and their mother they have a protective layer of thick fur to insulate from most bites and scratches we are not so lucky. Elliott bvms mrcvs is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice.

Kittens can also bite as a way of communicating a need as a way of exploring their environment or because they are teething. That s why the common scratching and biting behavior don t seem to resolve with some cat owners because they have the illusion that their cats are untrainable so it is not worth a try. There are two basic kinds of biting and scratching behaviors in cats and both of them are often caused by our own human failings.