Why is my kitten so hyper and biting? Should I be concerned?

It sounds like you have your hands full! For better or for worse, this is typical kitten behavior. He will mellow out as he grows up, although he may always have a rambunctious personality. For right now, schedule some time every day to play with him using a laser pointer, balls, feathers on a string, or any other toys he loves. Aim for 10 minutes three times a day. Try your best not to scream and move quickly when he runs underfoot because he will think it's a game and do it more. If he's an only animal, instead of feeding him in a bowl a few times a day, hide kibble around your home for him to hunt - start really small with this to make sure he gets the idea. Try to enjoy his antics and reach out for a consultation if you need more ideas!

In reality, unless what you are describing is truly a vicious attack (obviously I am not there to see it), a young cat exhibiting this kind of behavior is simply trying to play. When Abigail attempts to engage in this type of activity, you have a couple of different choices on how to address it. You can simply get up and walk away completely disengaging from the activity. Do not try to punish or reprimand as this sort of training method simply doesn't work at all in cats. The other thing you can try is instead of walking away, you can try to play with your cat in another way. Use toys, strings, balls, whatever makes Abigail the happiest. Hopefully this takes her mind off of your arms and feet and on the item you are wielding. If you truly feel there is an actual behavior problem that is continuing as she gets older, this would be something to address with positive reinforcement training and/or assistance of a professional. Hope this helps.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The opening or kneading of the claws when happy or being pet is normal in cats. It DOES hurt if their claws are on your leg. Keep the nails short. You probably are not going to be able to teach him not to do something that is instinctual. If he starts to bite you then stop petting him and watch for clues from him that he has had enough petting: ears turning back, turning to look at your hand, tail flicking and stop touching him before he goes to bite. Try not to yell no at him if that triggers biting. Kittens are full of energy and they grow out of it eventually. Provide lots of toys and play time. Soon enough he will be a sleepy adult cat and you'll miss the hyper kitten! Have a good day!

Hello! Thank you for posting your question! This behavior of biting or teething can be normal in puppies and kittens. Most puppies and kittens will grow out of this Behavior overtime. I would suggest getting lots of toys for your kitten to chew and play with to help deter this Behavior. When you are playing with the kitten and she starts biting you grab a toy to redirect her and see if that helps. I hope this helps! Please feel free to contact me with any other questions or concerns you may have!

Every cat has their own personality, similar to every human is an individual. Some have higher energy than others. There are many cats that don't like to be petted at all! Those people with the sleepy, purring kittens may wish they could play with their kitten. Halley seems to have a rambunctious spirit, which may not last through adulthood. Take advantage of her spirit right now!

Yes he could be teething. This behavior is common in young kittens. Please keep him in a safe place where he can’t chew on electric cords. He should be less bitey as he grows up. Make sure you play with him with a laser light or toy on a string so your hands aren’t available to bite. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Salam.

Harry is still a kitten. It is normal for kittens to be much more "aggressive" in their playing techniques. The key is to get them to play more appropriately. The first thing I would do is to work on environmental enrichment for Harry. This website has a number of good ideas for that. https://indoorpet.osu.edu/cats Kittens need to be kept busy for hours each day and it is normal for them to spend a lot of time hunting. 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. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and gives you some ideas. Thanks for using PetCoach.