Reasons Why Kittens Are Aggressive

It is just but natural for kittens to play aggressively. Most people choose kittens as a pet because they seem to be sweet and cuddly, yet they are not aware of their moods. They can use their teeth and claws most of the time. Keep in mind that they can be rough when playing. Kittens play aggressively as a normal part of their growth as they learn the predatory skills needed by a cat in the wild in order to survive. You can be reassured though that majority of kittens outgrow this aggressive stage and develop into sweet, adorable cats that would never think of hurting you, whether by biting or scratching.

Aggressive Behavior of Kittens during Play

Kittens start to play when they are very young. This involves rough play and tumbling with their mother and siblings. It is normal for young kittens to chase, wrestle, bite, scratch, pounce and stalk their mother and siblings. In general, this is considered "mock" aggression. The kitten does not intend to hurt anyone, but rather wants to have a good time. This is the normal behavior of a kitten.

Kittens learn to interact within their litter as well as reduce their over-aggressive behavior. When a kitten becomes very aggressive with a sibling, the latter usually corrects this action by means of retaliation, a growl or it will just stop playing because it is wounded. The offender only wants to play and so, he discovers that being over-aggressive could stop playtime. When the kitten becomes too aggressive, its mother gives a warning either by a swat or growl. Kittens continue to give signals to one another to show that the interaction involves play and not aggressive behavior. Subconsciously, a kitten learns to control aggression from interacting with its mother and siblings.

How to Prevent a Kitten from Biting and Scratching

The biting and scratching happens as a consequence of the owner's actions. It is almost impossible for some owners to resist the urge of wrestling with their playful kitten. When they wrestle with their kitten, they usually let it bite and scratch their hand. Though this may look cute at first, it will no longer be when the kitten grows into a strong cat and playing roughly with it could cause pain and bleeding.

Try the following tips to prevent your kitten from biting and scratching:

Your pet kitten longs for your attention and often wants to play, but try to turn his attention away from the parts of your body and direct it towards a soft toy or group of toys that are about its size. Wobble or move the toy around in an enticing way. Let your kitten wrestle with it.

When playing gets really rough and the kitten begins to bite or scratch you, it is about time to stop play. Your kitten can learn from you just as it learns from its mother and siblings. Once it starts biting or scratching and becomes over aggressive, the game simply ends. Just tell him "NO" in a firm tone, clap your hands loudly then walk away, ignoring your kitten.

Credit: Matt McWilliam