How to stop a cat from biting and scratching is one of the problems that any owner may face. Every person wants his pet not to show anger, to be affectionate and gentle. If dogs often fool around, run after a ball, chase birds or fetch a stick, then people expect docile behavior from cats.
Pets do not always show care and affection. Animals can react aggressively not only to new guests, but also to their owners.
Why does a kitten bite and scratch?
There are several reasons to explain this behavior.
A game
By attacking the hands of the owner and other family members, the kitten is trying to show that he is bored and asks for attention by playing with him for a while. To wean people from encroaching on people's fingers, special toys on strings are suitable. Playing with them imitates the process of hunting, which is very important for the development of the pet. Catching up and catching such a “tease”, the kitten will get tired after a while and will no longer have time for its owner’s hands. After this fun, you can give him a treat, because he tried and hunted.
Teeth cutting
This is another reason for this behavior. When teething, kittens' gums itch, which makes them want to chew on something, and the most accessible object is the hands of the owners. Special chewing sticks will help you cope with this; pet stores offer a wide range.
Fatigue
A cat may bite when it is tired, and the owners pester them with games or affection. Thus, the pet tries to “ask” to be left alone. It can also bite if it is hurt, for example, if its tail is stepped on.
Fear
This is a very strong emotion, sometimes turning into aggression. Such situations very often arise when there are other pets and small children in the family, but the kitten does not have a separate place. With such behavior (biting and scratching) he tries to protect himself.
You definitely need to give him a space where he can rest and calm down, for example, buy a special house and put it in a secluded place. The pet will relax and stop showing signs of aggression.
Smells
A person can bring odors that are unpleasant for the kitten on their clothes and shoes, which will irritate it and provoke bad behavior. Since they are perceived as an encroachment on the territory, and the animal begins to defend itself. To combat this, use special sprays sold in pet stores. They are sprayed in several places in the apartment.
Adult reasons
Sometimes a cat after giving birth to kittens begins to show signs of aggression. This is due to the fact that she is trying to protect them, because the owners pick up and stroke newborn babies. Therefore, it is worth understanding this behavior of the mother and not provoking her again.
The cause of bites can also be unpleasant games for them. For example, if you stroke against the grain or be very intrusive in communication. They are freedom-loving animals and, in response to any excessive attention to themselves, they can bite or scratch their owner.
Conclusion
Exactly what methods and means to stop kittens from biting is a personal matter for each owner. It is only important to remember that cats are touchy and capricious by nature, so any excess can cause psychological trauma to the pet, and this is not a joke! Treat the problem with understanding and find out the cause of its occurrence.
Now comes the hard part: be patient and show all your ingenuity to become not only a strict “pack leader” for your pet, but also a loving friend.
How to properly stop a cat from biting and scratching
Bites and scratches are unpleasant, often painful and take a long time to heal. Therefore, few people will like such aggressive behavior of a cat. It is important to consider the age of the pet, as the reasons for bad behavior will differ depending on this.
How to wean a kitten
When a baby arrives in the family, you need to show it to a veterinarian, who will conduct an examination and give an opinion on its state of health.
If a change of teeth occurs - this is the reason for biting, it is worth switching his attention to toys.
Often at an early age, pets perceive people's hands and feet as objects that they can play with. Special teasers and balls will also help solve this problem. You can buy them in a store or use the “old-fashioned” method - tie a paper bow to a thread.
If, when playing with a pet, he bites his hands, you need to remove them immediately, then the cat will understand after a while that this should not be done. Otherwise, the grown animal will continue to gnaw people's fingers.
How to wean yourself as an adult
Sometimes aggression is associated with health problems. If this is ruled out based on the results of a consultation with a veterinarian, then it is necessary to begin weaning off aggression. At the same time, all family members must adhere to the same tactics in behavior, otherwise the cat simply will not understand what they want from him.
If he behaves aggressively, it is necessary to stop it sharply. Say the word “no” loudly, clap your hands, or drop something.
Sharp sounds are unpleasant for your pet and this will help in weaning them from improper behavior. After some time, he will understand what they are trying to get out of him and will stop behaving like that.
Every time the cat tries to bite, you can spray it with water, which will help in learning the correct behavior.
Throwing a towel or other dense fabric over its head helps a lot in weaning a pet from aggression. It is important to remember that the animal has a short memory and punishment should be given immediately at the moment of aggression or immediately after.
If educational measures are carried out after even a few minutes, the cat simply will not understand why he was punished and weaning from the bad habit will not happen.
It is necessary to adhere to regularity - that is, every offense must be followed by punishment. Scolding an animal from time to time is unlikely to produce any results.
Sudden awakening of the pet
It is not difficult to understand whether a cat likes affection. If the pet begins to purr loudly, close its eyes and snuggle closer, it means that it is happy with everything. Why do representatives of the cat family like it so much when their fur is stroked?
According to one version, everything is “to blame” for the mother cat’s rough tongue, with which she cleans her kittens.
This smoothing of fur is imitated quite well by the human hand. And when the already grown-up individual decides that she has had enough of “washing herself,” she bites the owner and runs away.
Another reason that can provoke a cat to aggression is banal fear. Just imagine: the animal enjoys soft stroking and scratching, closes its eyes and seems to fall into “nirvana”.
At a certain point in time, the pet wakes up and with peripheral vision sees something large, potentially threatening. Naturally, the cat suddenly turns around and attacks the threat.
After this, the mischievous animal (as its owner thinks) abruptly takes off and hides in the depths of the living room. But the pet does this not because it is bad, but because its self-preservation instinct is triggered.
If a cat has a weak nervous system, is afraid of loud sounds, and shows signs of anxiety even when clapping, then it is better not to touch it while it sleeps.
How to correct mistakes in parenting
The pet often begins to bite and scratch due to mistakes in upbringing that were made by the owners. To eliminate this behavior, you need to follow simple rules:
- The kitten should not be allowed to play with its arms and legs; it must clearly understand that there are special objects for this: balls, “teasers” on a string, etc.
- When punishing, you should not get carried away with painful procedures. It is unacceptable to hit or kick a pet. Otherwise, they will be perceived as aggressors and the animal will begin to attack them even more, trying to defend itself.
- Using caresses and stroking before unpleasant or painful manipulations, for example, bathing, cutting, combing, will create a negative experience. The cat will begin to perceive any manifestations of affection as a warning factor that something bad should be expected and react negatively.
- You should not often play and pet the animal when it is in the mood for it.
- It is unacceptable to try to break a cat's character or completely change it. Nothing good will come of this.
- There should be a calm environment at home; swearing and screaming from family members does not contribute to the formation of a peaceful nature of the pet. The animal will react accordingly - showing aggression.
Incorrect socialization
Most owners of such cute, proud and affectionate animals as cats do not even try to understand the psychology of their pets. But they never do anything for nothing, including attacking.
And if the purring lump suddenly suddenly froze, its pupils dilated, and its ears or tail twitched, it means that the animal is dissatisfied with something. What can cause a pet’s “anger”:
- exceeding the required level of physical contact;
- unpleasant or even painful sensations;
- desire to regain a leadership position.
In addition, cats can react aggressively to affection even if they were improperly socialized in childhood.
For example, if you bring into your home an adult who has lived on the street all its life, it will almost certainly have a rather “cold” attitude towards its owners.
This problem can be corrected through training. The animal is lured with its favorite “delicious food”, gently stroked (at least several times on the back) and released “into the wild” after the meal.
After repeated repetition of this procedure, the pet will develop a certain reflex: tasty food = affection from the owner. He will become much more loyal to touches, and, perhaps, will love them.
Even the smallest kittens need human contact for at least 10 minutes a day. Otherwise, upon reaching 7-9 months, the animal may become fearful, aggressive and incapable of living at home.
Cult of the master
Some pets love their owners so much that they perceive any stranger in the house as a threat. That's why they rush at guests, scratching and biting them. It is extremely difficult to wean them from such behavior; you will have to try to adapt.
It is often triggered by the arrival of a child in the family. The cat begins to be jealous of him and tries in this way to regain the owner’s favor.
If you decide to get a cat, you should pay attention to breeds with a peaceful and non-conflict character. For example, the Russian Blue or Curl gets along well with children and other animals.
Why do cats behave this way?
Let's conduct an experiment. Start stroking your left knee with your right hand. Preferably in the same place. Now focus on your feelings. While not irritating at first, they will eventually become unpleasant and then painful. And eventually you will want to stop this strange activity.
Or remember yourself as a child. Mom reads a fairy tale and strokes your head. At first, the touches are pleasant, but after a few minutes you want to wriggle thoroughly so that your mother’s hand slides off the top of your head.
Your cat experiences approximately . At first, these touches are pleasant to him, but then he may stop liking them. Only the pet has no chance to communicate this with his voice, so he acts using his own methods: teeth and claws.
Animal psychologists call this process hyperstimulation and there is an opinion that it is what underlies such sudden aggression in cats in response to affection.
Top How to stop a cat from biting when you pet it?
Many owners ask themselves this question, but not everyone understands that the first thing to correct is their behavior. After all, it is precisely this that can provoke the mustachioed to use teeth, claws, and sometimes all together.
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How to stop throwing yourself at strangers
If your cat likes to attack strangers, biting and scratching, you should put a collar with a small bell on him. Then you will hear him approaching and a surprise attack will no longer happen.
Sometimes animals can't stand one of their family friends. It will not be possible to change the cats' opinion about this person, so you can give them a sedative or lock them in another room.
Often a cat perceives strangers in the house as an encroachment on its territory and defends it. In this case, you can try to introduce your pet to guests, warning them in advance about this behavior. Give recommendations for communicating with animals: you should not impose yourself, excessive attention can provoke aggression. Give the cat a treat. If this does not help, you need to move it to another room.
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The cat is in pain
All animals, just like people, are capable of feeling pain. How does a person react to touching, for example, a hand that hurts? He makes a so-called “cry of pain,” moves away, and in some cases even swears.
Representatives of the cat family can bite the owner's hand for the same reason. What may bother your cat:
- ear infections;
- toothache;
- cervical arthritis;
- joint pain and more. etc.
Accordingly, if the animal tolerates stroking some parts of the body calmly, but touching others causes a sharp, negative reaction in it, then it’s time to consult a veterinarian.
Not only painful sensations can cause a cat to bite its owner's hand. Another reason that can provoke aggression in a pet may be static electricity that occurs between the hand and the fur.
Pay attention to the signals
Perhaps the bite came as a surprise to you, but if you take a closer look, the cat was probably giving you signals that the caresses had become unpleasant to him. Take a closer look, maybe you will have time to notice some of them before it comes to a fight.
- The cat raised its muzzle and looks at the hand
- The cat flattened his ears
- The pupils suddenly dilated or constricted
- The cat beats his tail
- Backing away
- Tries to run away
- Meows
- He tries to bend under his hand so that it doesn’t touch him in any way.
Don't let things get to the point of bites! Observe the signals and stop stroking as soon as the mustache gives them. In this way, you will let him know that you are ready to stop unpleasant actions based on a signal from your tail, not your teeth. Over time, such training will teach the cat to give you correct and harmless signals , because he will know that they work.
Up Improve your technique
Petting cats is an art. This is not playing the drum, but rather playing the cello. Force and rudeness are not needed here, but improvisation is valued. To touch the delicate strings of a cat's sensitive soul, act gently, do not be nervous and do not scratch the cat in the same place for several minutes.
We often pet cats automatically when we are busy doing something. For example, we watch TV. At this moment, our hand makes the same movements along the same trajectory, which can irritate the pet. Pay attention to this!
Learn where the cat enjoys touching and where stroking is prohibited. As a rule, cats love to be stroked on their face, neck, back of the head, and allowed to stroke their back, but touching their belly and paws is a provocation. But remember: your cat may be the exception to the rule. Check it out!
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What to do
If your pet is showing unreasonable aggression, take him to an experienced veterinarian. A detailed examination will help determine whether everything is in order with the baby’s health. He may need urgent treatment.
If the kitten is healthy, then the reason is improper upbringing. The best cure for the remnants of a difficult childhood is love and care. Talk to the kitten in a calm, friendly tone, and do not try to pet him unless he asks. Use as toys something that will bring joy to the baby, but will keep him at a distance: a piece of paper on a string, a fur “mouse”, a pair of woolen socks rolled into a ball.
If the kitten accidentally scratches you, do not punish him under any circumstances! Immediately remove your hand, sternly scold the prankster and leave the room. To be more convincing, you can take him by the scruff of the neck and lift him off the floor for a couple of seconds. This is quite enough for the most stubborn biter to soon come running to make peace.
