Cats are a predator species, so it’s perfectly normal for kittens to express their natural instinct to attack, chomp, and gnaw. Beginning around 4 weeks of age, kittens will start visually track objects that look like prey, and practice their pounce. Biting is a totally acceptable behavior for a kitten, but that doesn’t mean we want them attacking our hands or bare feet! Instead, we want to encourage kittens to practice these behaviors on an appropriate target. Fortunately, kittens are very adaptive and can learn quickly with a little assistance.
Kittens Need to Bite Something
The reason kittens bite us is simple: they’re natural predators and they want to practice their attack on a moving object. In fact, kittens are biologically wired to attack an object that moves, so it’s important to teach them how to play with toys--not fingers or feet--from a young age. Actively playing multiple times a day before meals is a great way to help kittens develop their motor skills, learn appropriate habits, and get out pent up energy.
First Step, Reward Good Behavior
First, move the toys in an engaging fashion, encouraging them to stalk, chase, pounce, and catch. Once the kitten catches the toy, let her bite and bunny kick it before moving it again. When the play session has ended, reward the kitten with a treat or meal to simulate the satisfying experience of eating after a kill.
As tempting as it is to wiggle your fingers or tickle their bellies, this teaches them that it’s okay to practice their hunt on your skin. Even if you don’t mind the playful attacks, prospective adopters may -- especially as the kittens get bigger. There’s nothing cute about a 12 pound tabby stalking your ankle! Kitten caregivers therefore have a responsibility to help kittens establish good biting behaviors from a young age, as it’s easier to build a good habit than it is to break a bad one. When a kitten attacks your hands or feet when you move, simply disengage and redirect them to a more suitable object.
Quick Tips
Plenty of Stimulation - Make sure your kitten has plush toys, wand toys, crinkle balls, tunnels, and other enrichment items to play with. Offer a variety of toys that mimic different types of prey. You can even make your own toys at home!
Daily Play - Actively play with the kitten multiple times a day using toys you can make wiggle and flutter. Don’t expect the kitten to play all alone! If you never make toys move and entice them to hunt, then the only moving targets the kitten has to practice hunting on are your hands and feet.
Reward Good Behavior - Allow the kitten to catch the toy, then give an opportunity for biting and bunny kicking. Let the kitten know she did a great job by rewarding her after playtime with a treat or meal. This tells the kitten that she’s a great hunter!
Remember to Redirect - Redirect any biting behaviors towards an appropriate target. It’s important that every time you give a kitten a ‘no’, you give them an equal or more attractive ‘yes’. Don’t focus on penalizing a kitten with a “no.” Simply recognize that the kitten is looking for a specific kind of stimulus, and provide them with a bitable alternative. If you do that, your kittens will have their natural urges satisfied—and you’ll be bite free in no time.
One More Thing
Lastly, if the kitten is a solo kitten, you may want to consider getting her a friend. Kittens are happiest and best behaved when they have a friend! Kittens will play hunt with one another, get out their energy together, and even teach each other important biting boundaries. Read more about why kittens do best in pairs!
Watch my video about how to stop kittens from biting you:
7 Reasons Your New Kitten Might Not Be Eating
There are lots of considerations to make when getting a new kitten - and what to feed them should be a major thought!
A tasty meal can help your kitty feel settled, happy and give them the energy they need to grow and play all day! When you first adopt your pet, it’s often best to find out what food they are already used to eating, and serve that for a while to minimise changes and stress while they settle into life with you.
But what can you do if your new furry friend seems off their food? There are lots of reasons that your kitty might turn their nose up at a delicious dish, such as stress, illness or otherwise. However, as kittens are so small - and need lots of energy to stay healthy - it’s important to quickly identify why your kitten has lost their appetite and seek veterinary help if they don’t eat for 24 hours or more.
1. They don’t have a routine
Kittens need to eat regularly to support their growth and energy needs! And while some owners may want to leave food out for their cats all the time, having food to graze on won’t help your pet develop a clear routine - or could cause your kitten to under or over eat.
To ensure your kitty is only hungry at the right times, create a feeding schedule and keep to this routine. Kittens of around 8 weeks old should be fed three to four times a day, reducing this at 12 weeks to three times a day - in the morning, middle of the day, and again at night just before bed time.
Keep in mind that kittens will often want to use the litter tray straight after eating so this is a great time to reinforce some litter tray training!
2. They’re not used to the food
You can feed your kitten either dried food, canned food or a combination. However as we’ve mentioned, feeding your kitten the same food that they are already used to will help to limit their stress as they adjust to life with you.
If you do want to change their food, make sure any adjustments are gradual - slowly mix the new food with the old and transition over a few days so that your pet doesn’t have a sudden change, feel stressed, or go off eating altogether. Making occasional changes to your pet’s diet, up to 4 times a year, can also add some variety, help you discover their favourites and prevent any dietary issues or allergies.
If your kitty still seems reluctant, try warming their food for a few seconds in the microwave - heat will release the scent of the food and entice your kitty to eat up! Always make sure that the food isn’t too hot before serving it to your kitty - don’t make the food piping hot, just warm!
Nice Grey Kitty
3. They don’t like the location
Cats and kittens can be particular about where they like to eat their food! Make sure their food and water bowls are positioned somewhere quiet, accessible and away from their litter tray or loud appliances such as the washing machine. To help your kitten adjust to their feeding routine, make sure you always feed them in the same place. That way they won’t be confused or go off of their food.
4. They have already eaten too much!
Knowing how much to feed your kitten at each meal is important to make sure you’re not underfeeding or overfeeding them! If your kitten is still too full from their breakfast, they may turn their nose up at their lunchtime meal. To figure out what’s best for your pet, look at the instructions on your kitten’s food label. There should be a quantity range, dependent on your kittens size. Start by feeding in the middle of this rage. If your kitten finishes their food quickly, and easily eats more at the next sitting, it may be time to increase their serving size. But, if your pet hasn’t finished their food after 15-20 minutes, or struggles to eat again at the next mealtime, you may be feeding them too much and you should cut down on portion sizes.
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