Is my new kitten's aggressive biting and scratching normal behavior?

That is good that Tabitha keeps her claws in, this trait is typically the last thing cats learn to do to avoid scratching their humans. Biting is a natural kitten thing, it is how kittens typically play with each other, which can be very rough. I would try to divert Tabitha's attention to other toys to bite and prey on in the home besides yourself. Cats have a natural hunting nature and this behavior has to be fulfilled with toys, fake mice, moving objects,etc. If Tabitha has the ability to hunt and prey on other things, then she won't be so inclined to bite you as much. However, some biting can be expected, because that is just how kittens play.

I am so sorry that you are experiencing these problems with biting with Baxster. I am sure it is very upsetting for you. First of all rest assured that this is a very normal kitten behaviour. Kittens learn through play biting and it is part of our role as pet parents to help them learn limits. I would not attempt negative reinforcement such as striking Baxster or speaking harshly as this will potentially create more serious behaviour issues such as anxiety and fear-aggression. Try some calm corrections and positive reinforcement. If Baxster bites you, simply say in a calm voice "no" and stop interacting with him for a few moments. This over time will teach him that biting is not a desired form of play. Also try reinforcing him as he starts to play in a good way by not biting, and giver her a small training treat. If Baxster does manage to bite hard enough to break the skin be careful of a possible infection. Monitor your wound for heat. Swelling, or discharge. Make an appointment with your doctor if this occurs. If you are struggling with the biting after a couple of weeks of the above suggested training methods, potentially a few sessions with a behaviourist. Though these behaviours usually diminish naturally as kittens age. Other games which may be fun with Baxster, and can be used to deflect unwanted behaviours are, hide and go seek either with you and another person, or you hide his toys and she has to find them. Or classic fetch is surprisingly fun for cats too! I hope this was helpful!

This sounds like normal kitten behavior actually but I understand your concerns with the children. If the kitten doesn't have other kittens to play with , this type of behavior is often exhibited. I recommend you put some Feliway diffusers in your house and do some environmental enrichment for him. Usually these two things help. ( https://www.feliway.com/us/Products/FELIWAY-CLASSIC-Diffuser ) ( thedrakecenter.com/materials/environmental-enrichment-indoor-cats ) Hope this helps. If you have more questions you can always opt for a private consultation where we can chat back and forth. That way you can ask as many questions as you'd like. Best wishes.

Hello, sorry to hear about your cat. She is very young still, so managing her scratching and biting will be crucial in this stages of life before she gets bigger and her scratching could become more damaging. Here are some tips you can follow to decrease the incidence of scratching. Hope this helps and best of luck. Why do cats scratch? Scratching is a normal behavior that aids cats in the marking of their territories in the form of scratch marks. Scent glands in their paws leave olfactory clues for other cats to alert them to their presence. Cats also find it pleasurable as a means of exercise and stretching. Scratching also allows cats to keep their claws healthy and shortened. Unlike dogs, a cats’ claws do not exfoliate evenly from the end; rather they peel off in layers like an onion. What is inappropriate scratching? Inappropriate scratching is ultimately determined by the owner, but is generally directed at furniture, screens, carpets and rugs and other items that the cats finds suitable. What can I do to prevent this? The easiest way to prevent severe damage is to trim your cats nails every 2-4 weeks. It is best to begin this process when the cat is very young, as they will become more accustomed to this procedure. However, older cats can learn to tolerate it as well. Another excellent method is to provide them with a suitable scratching substrate. As with nail trimming, this is also best started at an early age before the scratching behavior begins, but older cats will also generally accept such items as carpet or sisal fiber scratching posts or corrugated cardboard. For more options, you can visit your local pet store or make your own from their preferred scratching material and a supporting board of wood. My cat is ignoring the scratching post. How do I get him/her to use it? Place the item in the areas that your cat(s) enjoys scratching. You can entice the cat to use the item by rubbing or sprinkling with catnip. If your cat insists on using the wrong scratching surface, guide your cat to the correct site. Once at the post, you can start petting and scratching your cat while placing their feet on the surface for encouragement and stimulation of the natural kneading motion. Remember to reward your cat for its good behavior!

I see that Missy is 2 months old now. The activities that Missy is doing sound normal, but their teeth and nails are certainly sharp at that age. First, I would make sure to learn how to trim her nails and keep them short. I normally recommend trimming kittens' nails weekly because they grow so quickly. That will help quite a bit. Next, I would work on environmental enrichment for her to keep her mentally and physically busy. This website has a number of good ideas for that. https://indoorpet.osu.edu/cats One of my favorite things for cats is a no bowl feeding system like Doc & Phoebe ( https://docandphoebe.com/ ) that requires them to "hunt" for their food. You could also try a feeding ball. I also recommend using laser pointers and interactive cat toys like a Cat Dancer ( http://www.catdancer.com/ ) to get cats to play with you more appropriately. They key is to teach Missy new ways of playing with you that get her energy out, but do not hurt you! Good luck! I hope that was helpful and gives you some ideas. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Aggression is usually associated with negative behaviors such as hissing, growling, swatting, etc. What you are describing sounds more like normal kitten playfulness, if Bella is just pouncing, nipping, or hopping around. Keeping her out of your room if she is too excitable can help keep her form hopping on you when you are trying to sleep. A pheromone diffuser such as Comfort Zone can also help her to relax and settle down some. Making sure she has plenty of toys to play with, including things you can safely play with together such as a feather on a stick or a laser pointer can help get out some of that energy without having her bite you or scratch your hands. If she becomes too excited, getting up and walking away/ignoring her until she has calmed down again can help teach her that the fun ends when she gets too excited. If she is calm and quiet, rewarding her with a treat, a play session or some attention can help teach her that's the behavior you like. If she is actually showing aggression, IE biting hard, hissing, ears pinned, low growling, swatting, etc, then I would highly recommend seeking out a trainer or behaviorist in person to address the issue and try to find the cause such as stress or fear.

Teething causes a cat to bite things so the deciduous tooth can fall out. Once such a tooth falls out, it bleeds. So this is likely normal. Kittens also need play fighting to get muscles, strength and coordination. That said. you can throw lots of paper balls for her to chase, make a toy out of a stick with a long string and tie a few feathers at the end of the string. Play with her often until she is tired. Never tussle with your hands. If she attacks your legs, gently take her off and distract her. She will climb curtains and you , and that is part of learning and normal. Do not punish her, because she will not understand. All this will get less over time.