How To Teach Your Kitten Not To Bite

October 27, 2019

How to teach your kitten not to bite

 

If you’ve just brought a fluffy little ball of kittenness into your home, you’re going to notice how much they love to chew and bite. Just like teething babies, kittens need to relieve the ache and discomfort of losing their baby teeth by chewing on everything. So what do you do?

 

Of course you want to play with your kitten, but you also want to avoid encouraging him or her to bite. As soon as you initiate play, the first thing your kitten will do is latch onto one of your fingers (or toes). They love to lick, suck, and nibble on those fingers, but sometimes they can take it too far and those nibbles turn into band-aid-necessary bites. 

 

Nip this behaviour in the bud! Any behaviour that is rewarded with play or laughter or positive vibes will be repeated. This means when your kitten loses their cute baby teeth and grows strong, adult teeth, the biting is going to hurt a whole lot more. Just because they grow out of kittenhood doesn’t mean they grow out of bad habits. 

 

Here are a few tips to teach your kitten not to bite:

 

  1. Instead of using your hands to play with your new kitten, grab one of their toys. When they’re in the mood for play, make sure you keep your hands away from their mouth. This is also good advice when you’re petting them. 
  2. Check out your local pet store for available toys for teething kittens. There are all sorts you can choose from, like soft toys and soothers you put in the freezer for sore gums, and nylon chew toys that they can really sink their teeth into and build those jaw muscles.
  3. If your kitten does happen to bite you during playtime, let out a loud, “Ow!” At this point, it’s a good idea to take a time out and stop playtime for now. This will teach the adult cat in your kitten that hard biting is not allowed. 

 

Kittens are no different from dogs or babies in that they need a little guidance and behaviour modifications to help them grow up into lovable adults. Practice these tips and help your kitty break their habit of biting.

 

Photo credit: Tambako The Jaguar