Should I Let My Kitten Play So Rough?

Play behavior comes naturally to kittens and allows them to develop their physical coordination and their survival, problem-solving and social skills. If your furry pal is playing too rough and bites and pounces on you, immediately nipping his behavior in the bud is essential to avoid having him grow up into an aggressive adult cat who doesn't know right from wrong.

  1. About Rough Play

    • A kitten who starts out as part of a litter might not have aggressive tendencies similar to a kitten who's an orphan. This is because kittens learn how to inhibit their bite and retract their claws from their littermates and mother when they're between 3 and 7 weeks of age. Early removal of a kitten from his litter might not allow enough time for this and can result in unintentional rough play -- your kitten doesn't mean to hurt you, he just doesn't know better.

    Unacceptable Behavior

    • When your kitten starts playing rough and treats your fingers and hands like prey, squirting him with a water bottle or a can of compressed air can startle him and stop him in his tracks. Alternatively, apply a commercial taste aversive on your hands. When your kitten tastes the unpleasant flavor, he'll think twice about putting his mouth on your hands. Never allow rough play and be consistent in your corrections.

    Acceptable Behavior

    • Simply stopping undesired rough play won't teach your furry pal what acceptable play behavior is. To do this, always redirect him. Provide a variety of toys for him to play with. Drag a cat toy on a string across the floor so he can chase it, or give him a stuffed toy to wrestle with and pounce on. If your kitten disregards the toys and continues to play rough, walk out of the room so he can calm down. With consistency, this teaches him boundaries -- he learns that playing too rough stops all the fun.

    Considerations

    • Touching your kitten when he's aggressive is not recommended, because he might enjoy the attention and physical contact, motivating him to continue his rough play. Don't hit, slap or push your furry pal, because he might get even more aggressive or he might start fearing you. Also, don't exclude medical conditions, such as a neurological disorder, stress or pain from an injury as the cause of your kitten's rough play behavior. A trip to the veterinarian might be in order.