Ways to Stop Kittens From Biting

Teething kittens often bite their owners. Though these bites are not intended to be aggressive, they can be painful and make playing with a kitten miserable. Kittens play with their mouths, and a kitten's natural playfulness can lead to bites and scratches without proper training.

  1. Don't Reward Biting

    • Play is intrinsically rewarding to kittens. If a kitten gets attention and playtime after biting, it will learn that biting is an acceptable form of play. Never use your feet or hands to paw at your kitten or you're likely to get bitten. If your kitten does bite, stop playtime completely for five minutes.

    Provide Teething Toys

    • Kittens are most likely to bite when they are teething. The pain in their gums is soothed by having something to chew on. If a kitten is not given proper teething toys, it will use your hand or foot. Provide your kitten with kitten chew toys that will stimulate its gums. When your kitten does bite you, give it the chew toy instead.

    Play Safely

    • Kittens have a predatory drive. Unlike adult cats, they haven't yet learned that human flesh is an inappropriate target for this instinct. You need to provide your kitten with an outlet for its prey drive. Try dangling strings for it to play with or using a laser light for your kitten to chase. When kittens aren't properly stimulated and exercised, they are more likely to bite.

    Reward Good Behavior

    • When you play with your kitten and it does not bite you, reward it with lots of treats. Kittens are smart and learn quickly. If you stop playing when your kitten behaves badly and reward it for good behavior, it will quickly learn that you do not want to be bitten.

    Try a Distraction

    • If your kitten is getting ready to bite you, try sticking something like a treat or chew toy in its mouth instead. This distraction can prevent nasty bites and help your kitten to learn that you are not an appropriate chew toy.