Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Kittens and cats bite for different reasons, and you must know the reasons why they are doing it before you could discipline them. Research source I was seriously thinking about returning him to the, "I adopted a kitten at 5 weeks old. I have had my fair share of cat bites and scratches in my life. It, "This gave me great insight into the best ways to deal with situations between me and my new kitten. Do not use hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol to clean a cat bite wound as it damages the tissues and delays healing. If this is what you want (at least he doesn't scratch if he doesn't come anywhere near you) that's fine, but it's not great if you want an interactive, affectionate relationship with your pet. POSSIBLE SOLUTION: Buy or create a scratching post, ideally covered in cardboard or sisal (instead of something that resembles carpet or upholstery). Although cats are often domesticated, their instincts disappear. Right! In fact, the cat probably expects a pleasant response if you call it. "I got Toby when he was 6 weeks old. Create a distraction to stop such behavior, never punish your cat. There's no need ever to declaw a cat because ... Say, "No!" Almost! Now at 3 months, I'm, "I really enjoyed your article on how to help your kitten go to sleep, as she had been keeping me up all night. Any recommendations? If you catch your cat scratching, stop it … My kitten bites and scratches me when I pet him, but I think it's supposed to be playful. I've provided her with toys and discouraged this behavior, but she doesn't seem to understand. Next, wash the wound with mild soap and water. There are times when I am in bed, and my kitty will attack me viciously. This article has been viewed 1,653,323 times. If your cat continues to bite or scratch you, tap your cat firmly but gently on the top of the nose. This tip is slightly risky––see if it's possible to do with your cat. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Because cats use their paw and mouth to explore the things around them, it is natural for them to bite on these things. Start training your little pets as soon as you get them. Apart from being painful, a cat bite or scratch can introduce infection and is best avoided. Did you know you can read expert answers for this article? This one is particularly useful for cats that like to climb on top of cabinets and … Discipling an adult cat is difficult but it is not impossible. If your cat gets a different response, it will be difficult for your cat to enact your training. How to Stop a Cat from Biting (And Train a Kitten Not to!) Mother cat will also discipline a kitten for biting too hard. This teaches the cat that hands are toys, a lesson that will be harder to break later on. If you suffer from a compromised immune system due to an existing medical condition, you must seek medical attention if a cat bites you. I have over 30 cats at my house and a lot are, "I was having problems with my kitten, it kept biting and scratching me and my younger siblings. If an untreated cat bite develops a red or brown bump over the affected area, coupled with swollen lymph nodes, this could be a sign of cat scratch fever. Before attempting to discipline your feline, it helps to understand both behaviors. Trim its claws. Transmitted by a scratch or bite, cat-scratch fever, also known as cat-scratch disease, is generally not serious in people with healthy immune systems. Good handling can prevent many problems. ", scratching when it's play time, and it hurts a lot! Thanks! Say "NO!" Your cat gets the idea that biting is an effective tool. I got bitten last winter and my friend Pam, whom Jaeci doesn’t know well, got a deeper “two fanged” bite a couple of months ago. Upstairs and downstairs pooping places is a big plus to avoid nighttime messes! Such cats are indeed more likely to scratch or bite, because they never learned how to moderate their play behavior. Your pet can still nibble and play with you with its soft paw without getting scratches. ", 3 months. The cats have their attention focused on each other, and the "fight or flight" response is in full readiness. Saundra J. Graves is a housewife. Step 1. It was the friendliest of the group when brought in. Why Does My Cat Keep Knocking Over His Water Bowl. Because cat bites — and even scratches — can become serious, it is important to treat a wound immediately after a bite … One of the cat’s behaviors that need to be corrected is biting. It is very important that you do not "roughhouse" with your kitten and allows them to bite or scratch at any age. If not, move the patient to a safe location. What's the first thing you should do when your cat bites or scratches you? My fingernails intrigue him, "When a cat bites or scratches, step away; ignore the cat.It works when I,m awake, and he's acting up . You’d think that if you feed your cat and give her a good home the least she could do is let you pet her at will. % of people told us that this article helped them. Spray him! Although you cannot completely stop your cat from biting, there are some techniques that you can apply to help discipline them. But just like people, cats can only take so much. Getting Ready to Discipline Your Cat Recognize the complications. For tips from our veterinarian reviewer on training a kitten so it won’t bite or scratch, keep reading! Bruce Fogle. She has adapted well to home life, is friendly learns rapidly with your tips. For adult cats some of the reasons for biting include: To assert dominance or to protect themselves from something. Far from being helpful, these are likely to make the problem worse by raising the cat's anxiety levels. When your cat bites or scratches you, the first thing you need to do is put your hands out of its reach. Trimming with claw clippers, unlike declawing is effective in minimizing the scratching tendency of the cat. The pointers are great, it's always good to know alternatives. Cats would love to bite on stuffed animals. 2nd edition. Also, you should treat your clothing as part of your skin and discipline your cat that it is off-limits. If you need to stop a cat from biting and scratching, say “No!” loudly or clap your hands, and stare directly into the cat’s eyes to show your dominance. MISBEHAVIOR: Your cat claws/scratches something she shouldn’t, like curtains or furniture. ", "I did not know this about hand-reared cats. Large pupils don't always mean that a cat will bite or scratch, but it does mean that the cat is full of energy, whereas a calm cat will have thin pupils. When a cat is feeling excited, its pupils actually dilate. Absolutely! He has a lot to learn. BSAVA publications. Cat bites and scratches are not to be ignored. Tests will eliminate the possibility of … It’s simple — when your cat bites or scratches, squirt him with a spray bottle or small … It explains a lot. That gives it a chance to calm down without reinforcing its bad behavior. Slow the bleeding with a clean cloth and apply over-the-counter antibiotic cream if you have it. Also, I want to make sure another person takes caring their cats and kittens. Response consistently and your family members and guests should do the same. React calmly. It is in any cat’s DNA to feel the ability to bite. You should also seek medical attention in this case. If the cat's owner is around, instruct him or her to secure the cat. If your cat is warning another cat that she's ready to bite or scratch, do not try to touch or restrain either of them. The idea is to mentally stimulate your cat with chasing behavior and physically wear it out. Thanks. Redirecting her attention to something else is a great way of reinforcing good behaviors and stopping bad behaviors. Cats need to bite, chew and scratch for fun and practice, just not on you or any other human. Nope! Don't feed your cat for 20 minutes following a biting or scratching incident, as this might be wrongly taken as a reward. These tips were, "I thought this really helped me with my kitten Thunder. Most of the time kittens go to the new homes before they could learn something from their mothers. What to do if a cat bites you First, you want to try to flush out as much bacteria as possible and then irrigate the wound with water. He likes to play, but he also play bites and scratches. How to Discipline Biting Cats | Pets - The Nest. 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