One of my favorite things about kittens is watching them play. It can provide hours of entertainment! It is important to know how to properly play with your kitten in order to prevent future behavior problems. Behavior that may seem cute in kittens won’t be appreciated when your cat grows older.
Biting and scratching during play are typical of play aggression, a behavior most commonly observed in young cats and kittens. Kittens raised with littermates learn how to bite and scratch with reduced intensity, because play that is too rough causes pain to a playmate, resulting in either retaliation or the cessation of play. Consequently, play aggression is usually seen in kittens that were not raised with littermates or playmates, are under-stimulated, or lack appropriate play outlets.
Play aggression can usually be recognized in a kitten’s body posture. The tail lashes back and forth, the ears flatten against the head, and the pupils (the black part of the eyes) dilate. This sort of posture usually develops from normal play and is followed by biting and scratching. Kittens that stalk moving objects, like your hands and feet, are also displaying play aggression. Play aggressive cats often stalk or hide, then jump out and attack as you pass.
Try keeping a record of when this occurs to see if there is a pattern. You may learn, for example, that your kitten tends to hide under your bed and jump out as you’re getting ready to go to sleep. By anticipating this, and encouraging play prior to the attack, you may be able to curb this behavior. A bell on a breakaway collar around your cat’s neck clues you in to his whereabouts. You may need to deny him access to his favorite stalking places in order to stop this behavior.
Another management technique is to use noise deterrents, such as a human-generated hiss, or a blast from a compressed air canister. These must be used within the first few seconds of the onset of aggression to startle, rather than scare the cat, into ceasing his behavior. Do not physically punish your cat, even with a slight tap on the nose. The pain of being struck can lead to more aggressive behavior, and your kitten will learn to fear and avoid you. Additionally, any physical contact may be interpreted as play, which rewards your kitten’s rambunctious behavior. Simply walking away and ignoring your kitten is much more effective; it teaches him that the consequence of rough play is no play.
All of your play objects should be at a distance from your hands, so your cat has no opportunity to bite or scratch you. For example:
- Toss moving objects like ping-pong balls, walnuts, or aluminum foil balls for your cat to chase.
- Provide climbing perches, scratching posts, and ball toys that deliver food when batted about.
- Buy a fishing pole toy with feathers on the end to dangle in front of your cat.
Behavioral problems are much easier to prevent than to cure. Following these recommendations will help your kitten grow up into a well behaved cat.
Content taken from Cornell Feline Health Center