How to Get a Cat to Stop Nipping

For kittens, nipping is just a natural part of growing up. Play for cats is really predatory behavior--when a kitten catches something, including a human hand, it practices its hunting skills by hanging on with claws and teeth. Although no one is sure why some adult cats nip when petted, there are several theories. One is that too much petting is painful for some cats, another suggests that some cats feel trapped and frightened when being petted, and a third is that the cat is simply bored and wants to get away. While you may not be able to train your cat to stop nipping, there are ways to avoid getting bitten.

Things You'll Need

  • Large toy or sock stuffed with soft fabric
  • Treats
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Instructions

  1. Kittens

    • 1

      Adopt two kittens instead of just one. Kittens need to grow up with other kittens to be well-socialized and learn to play gently with people and other cats. When you have two kittens, they̵7;ll practice their hunting skills on each other instead of you.

    • 2

      Provide an alternative to your hands. When your kitten starts nipping, offer it a large toy to nip and kick instead. A sock filled with soft fabric makes a great nipping and wrestling buddy for a very young cat.

    • 3

      Hiss at the kitten the way a mother cat would. You̵7;ll be showing disapproval in a language the kitten understands, and it should stop nipping.

    Adult Cats

    • 4

      Learn to read your cat̵7;s body language. Flicking ears, a twitching tail, and turning the head quickly to look at your hand are all signs the cat has had enough and is about to nip or bite.

    • 5

      Count the number of times you can pet the cat before it nips. If the cat nips on the fourth pet, stop petting at three.

    • 6

      Avoid touching places that irritate your cat. Some cats will tolerate being petted and scratched around the head, ears and under the chin but no place else.

    • 7

      When your cat nips, say ̶0;No!̶1; or ̶0;Ouch!̶1; Stop petting the cat immediately.

    • 8

      When the cat nips, hold your hand perfectly still until the cat lets go. Moving your hand just makes the cat think you want to play and will encourage it to try even harder to catch its ̶0;prey.̶1;

    • 9

      If the cat is on your lap when it nips, toss some treats on the floor. The cat should get down to chase the treats, so you won̵7;t have to risk getting nipped again while removing the cat from your lap.