To help nix the pinch, we ’ ve asked Mary Molloy, an animal behavior counselor at Nirvana Trails in New York City, to offer some advice. here ’ s how to stop a kitten from biting so you can enjoy playtime with your kitty .
It ’ s second nature. If you ’ re worry that the rescue pool you ’ ve institute home is only out for blood, remember that it ’ randomness wholly normal behavior for your animal to nip, notes Molloy .
“ Kittens, like babies of many species, explore their worldly concern by mouth, ” she explains.
But fortunately for you ( and your fingers ! ), kitten biting naturally decreases as your cat ages and normally disappears by 12 months of historic period, she adds .
“ Kittens sting because they ’ re teething, which happens when they ’ rhenium 2 weeks old, and then again around 4 months, ” she says .
Biting is learning. The other big cause kitties use their teeth so much is because they ’ re play, says Molloy .
“ And playtime with littermates helps to teach a kitten bite inhibition, which means if you bite your sibling excessively hard, you ’ ll be avoided at best—or bite right back at worst, ” she points out .
If your guy was taken from her litter excessively early, she may have a harder bite than those who remained with their brothers and sisters for at least 8 weeks, she adds. The bottom line : Whatever your kitten ’ sulfur morsel inhibition level, if she sees your hands and feet as playthings—watch out .
“ You ’ re likely going to get bite, ” says Molloy .
so, it is crucial to teach your kitten which objects are appropriate to bite and play with.
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No fingers (or toes). “ It ’ s cunning as heck to see a kitten jump and try to catch ahold of something to play with, but it ’ s not funny when she decides one of your soundbox parts is a toy dog for her use, ” says Molloy. If you ’ re ready to play with your kitten, offer an object that ’ mho designed for it, she suggests. There are a variety of toys you can use to engage your kitten in some playtime. One option is an LED Laser toy that can keep your kitten bouncing and pouncing away alternatively of swatting and biting at your hands. Or if your kitten prefers being able to chase and actually catch their toys, a set of Hartz Just for Cats Midnight Crazies balls might be just the ticket .
Use playtime as bonding time. Try to steer your darling in the right direction by keeping a variety of allow computerized tomography toys on bridge player. But, as Malloy warns, “ Make certain you don ’ t leave your kitten unsupervised with a miniature that can be destroyed and/or swallowed. ” Playtime should besides be bonding prison term between you and your kitty. Try using a baton plaything that gives your kitten the opportunity to grab and bite something other than your hands, she adds.
Teach gentle play. With a few simpleton steps, you can create a safe and fun playing period environment for you and your guy. According to Malloy, here ’ s what to do when your kitten bites you :
How to Stop a Kitten From Biting:
- Say “OW!” in a loud but not overwhelming voice
- Gently remove your body part from your kitten’s grasp. “It may feel counterintuitive, but try to remove her slowly, as quickly snatching your hand away just makes you an even more intriguing target,” she explains.
- Place her carefully on the floor and/or redirect her attention to a toy.
- If she doesn’t come back and nip again, reward her with play. “But don’t pet or snuggle her at this time, because when a kitten is in play/prey mode, anything that comes her way is fair game to be pounced on and bitten.”
- If she does try to bite again, simply repeat the procedure.
Stick to your guns. Consistency is key when you want to curb kitten barbed .
“ Your big cat can ’ metric ton be expected to understand that it ’ mho okay to nip sometimes or with sealed people, and not with others, ” says Molloy .
finally, your kitten will learn that “ OW ! ” means, “ Let go. ” And she ’ ll soon realize your body separate isn ’ t truly a playfulness toy dog. Your finish, of course, is to adopt a zero-tolerance policy for teeth on hide, but this does not mean getting physical with your positron emission tomography, points out Molloy .
“ Physical punishment precisely makes cats frightened of people and is rarely connected with what they see angstrom absolutely normal behavior, ” she notes.
so, if you are dealing with kitten bite, just remember that patience is key, along with lots of fun toy !
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