Ouch! Your sweet tiny kitten just pounced on your bare foot. These sharp little claws and pointy teeth sink into your skin. It’s like a miniature beartrap clamping onto your ankle. Out of surprise, you jump out of your chair and shake the kitten off you. Don’t worry! You didn’t hurt your kitty but it left some nice long scratch marks on you. That playful little sneak still has that fire in its eyes that say, “I’m coming back for more.”
Oh no! Who knew that this adorable ball of fluff would be such a terror? Although they are endearing, cats are natural predators. They tend to jump on, bite, gnaw, and just attack at what ever they can. There is good news though. Kittens are incredibly intelligent creatures and can be trained to not bite you. Here’s what you can do to get this cute little critter to leave your tender digits alone.
Get some Toys: Kittens need some redirection. So, if you want them to stop attacking your fingers or toes, get them something that they can pounce on. Next time your playful pet attacks direct them to what they can play with. This can be anything from a simple toy mouse to a LED pointer. They might be attacking your fingers or toes because you like to tickle your pet with these as a form of play. Tempting as that is, it is also confusing them into thinking that they are allowed to nip at you for it.
Reward Good Behavior: Encouragement is key when training your kitten. With the new toys you have provided for your sweet little one, allow them to stalk, catch, and pounce on those fun playthings. After the session is over, reward the kitten with one of their favorite kitty treats (i.e., Piece of meat, catnip, etc.). This helps to build good habits and get rid of bad ones.
Knowing Your Kitty: Biting and pouncing is second nature to your furry friend. As a predatory animal, cats have a tendency to bite because this is how they learn about the world around them. So, kittens need to bite because it is their instinct to do so. Now you must readdress them and help them to bite on other things. How do you do that? Well, it’s up to you to get to know them.
Bond With Them: To get to know your kitty you have to spend time with them. Actively play with them, watch what food they seem to gobble down the quickest, and enjoy a cuddle party for just the two of you. Once you learn all of their quirks and eccentricities, the better you can teach them. Besides, there is no better way to spend your time than with a pet that adores you.
Get Them a Friend: If your kitten is a solo one, consider getting them a companion. Because they play together, they can learn together on how to behave themselves. Having another kitten around will teach them some important biting boundaries. With a companion, kittens will play hunt each other, get out their all of their energy, and they will be happier knowing that they are not alone.
Kittens are a lot like our kids. They both need to learn how to behave while also being able to get rid of all that excess vigour. Luckily, as a fur parent, they have you to guide them. Cats bring many blessing with them even if they destroy your sofa. When you hold that little ball of fur in your arms, they curl up on you lap to snooze, or just look at you with those beautiful loving eyes, you can see that every minute you have with them is the best of their lives and yours.
Erika Ravnsborg
Blog and Website Content Creator
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