Preventing Cat Biting

Every cat has limits to what they tolerate before becoming aggressive. Even a sweet, mild-tempered cat can become aggressive under certain circumstances. A kitten that is taught that aggression toward the cat owner is not allowed is more likely to respect that boundary throughout its life than a cat that is left to make its own habits. When choosing a kitten, the prospective cat owner may test the kitten’s tolerance and aggression by petting the kitten’s stomach.

While being held in a reclined position on their backs, many cats will fight having their stomachs petted. This may induce clawing or biting, so the prospective cat owner should be cautious. A kitten that allows the person to pet its stomach with minimal resistance is likely to have a high tolerance for human interaction and be less inclined to be aggressive.

Socializing a kitten is a step towards preventing aggression and cat biting. Socializing involves exposure to a variety of people. The kitten should learn that times spent interacting with people and other pets are positive experiences. The cat owner should set up some positive interactions for the kitten. A kitten that has been socialized is going to be more accepting and less aggressive towards people.

The cat owner can use playtime to reinforce boundaries against aggression. During play with the cat’s owner, the cat should not be allowed to use its claws or teeth. The cat should be praised for being gentle during play. As play, such as play-fighting, gets more intense, the cat may be more likely to use its claws or bite. If the cat bites or uses its claws, play time should end abruptly at that instant. The cat owner should stop and either walk away or ignore the cat. Once the cat has calmed down, the play-fighting can resume.

This boundary should be strictly enforced. If the cat owner starts training the cat not to use claws or bite during play then allows it during a play-fighting session, the cat will be unsure of the boundary. Consistency is important when training any animal. The cat should learn that aggressive behavior ends the attention and playtime most cats crave.