Is It Normal For Kittens To Bite And Scratch
This is generally regarded as mock aggression.
Is it normal for kittens to bite and scratch. A young kitten will pounce chase stalk wrestle bite and scratch its siblings and mother. Biting and mouthing is a normal behavior in kittens. This is especially true when your kitten s playmate is a young child. All toys should be a distance from your hands so the kitten has no opportunity to bite or scratch you even by accident.
But kitties can learn to inhibit the force of their bites and to use soft paws without claws. A nip or scratch from an 8 week old kitten may seem cute but the same behavior from an adult cat can be very painful. Never use your hands or feet as playthings for your kitten to bite on. When they are around 8 weeks old part of their social development is to interact with their littermates by mock fights mini grappling and other rough playing matches.
It is accepted behavior within the litter and it takes time for mom to teach them otherwise. Because cats mouth and paw objects to explore their world it s natural for them to bite. This is all normal behavior for a kitten. If your kitten is becoming overly aggressive and biting or scratching you it is important to stop this behavior as soon as possible.
The kitten is not intending to hurt anyone it is just intent on having a good time. It turns out that kitten biting is part of the play behavior kittens learn when they are with their littermates. This behavior is natural to kittens and is not a sign of hostility or fear most of the time but if left unchecked it can become a serious problem. Kittens love to play but when they become overexcited they often scratch and bite.
Biting is normal for felines while they live with and socialize with their littermates and mom. Before you can understand which type your cat is exhibiting it is important to remember that biting and scratching are perfectly normal behaviors for cats. It is an important part of their early development as kittens because it is their only means of defense as well as their natural way of killing prey in the wild. Bite and scratch inhibition can be taught to kittens the same way you teach your puppies.