Do kittens bite a lot when teething?

It’s all fun and games with your sweet, adorable kitten—until her tiny teeth sink into your skin, that is. After a play session that’s left your hand scratched up, you might wonder whether you can deter this behavior with kitten training. Fortunately, learning how to discipline a kitten is possible, as long as you’re consistent with your method.

To help nix the nipping, we’ve asked Mary Molloy, an animal behavior counselor at Nirvana Trails in New York City, to offer some advice. Here’s how to stop a kitten from biting so you can enjoy playtime with your kitty.

It’s second nature. If you’re worried that the rescue kitty you’ve brought home is only out for blood, remember that it’s completely normal behavior for your animal to nip, notes Molloy.

“Kittens, like babies of many species, explore their world by mouth,” she explains.

But luckily for you (and your fingers!), kitten biting naturally decreases as your cat ages and usually disappears by 12 months of age, she adds.

“Kittens bite because they’re teething, which happens when they’re 2 weeks old, and then again around 4 months,” she says.

Biting is learning. The other big reason kitties use their teeth so much is because they’re playing, says Molloy.

“And playtime with littermates helps to teach a kitten bite inhibition, which means if you bite your sibling too hard, you’ll be avoided at best—or bitten right back at worst,” she points out.

If your cat was taken from her litter too early, she may have a harder bite than those who remained with their brothers and sisters for at least 8 weeks, she adds. The bottom line: Whatever your kitten’s bite inhibition level, if she sees your hands and feet as playthings—watch out.

“You’re likely going to get bitten,” says Molloy.

So, it is important to teach your kitten which objects are appropriate to bite and play with.

No fingers (or toes). “It’s cute as heck to see a kitten jump and try to catch ahold of something to play with, but it’s not funny when she decides one of your body parts is a toy for her enjoyment,” says Molloy. If you’re ready to play with your kitten, offer an object that’s designed for it, she suggests. There are a variety of toys you can use to engage your kitten in some playtime. One option is an LED Laser toy that can keep your kitten bouncing and pouncing away instead of swatting and biting at your hands. Or if your kitten prefers being able to chase and actually catch their toys, a set of Hartz Just for Cats Midnight Crazies balls might be just the ticket.

Use playtime as bonding time. Try to steer your pet in the right direction by keeping a variety of appropriate cat toys on hand. But, as Malloy warns, “Make sure you don’t leave your kitten unsupervised with a toy that can be destroyed and/or swallowed.” Playtime should also be bonding time between you and your kitty. Try using a wand toy that gives your kitten the opportunity to grab and bite something other than your hands, she adds. 

Teach gentle play. With a few simple steps, you can create a safe and fun play environment for you and your cat. According to Malloy, here’s what to do when your kitten bites you:

How to Stop a Kitten From Biting:

• Say “OW!” in a loud but not overwhelming voice
• Gently remove your body part from your kitten’s grasp. “It may feel counterintuitive, but try to remove her slowly, as quickly snatching your hand away just makes you an even more intriguing target,” she explains.
• Place her carefully on the floor and/or redirect her attention to a toy.
• If she doesn’t come back and nip again, reward her with play. “But don’t pet or snuggle her at this time, because when a kitten is in play/prey mode, anything that comes her way is fair game to be pounced on and bitten.”
• If she does try to bite again, simply repeat the procedure.

Stick to your guns. Consistency is key when you want to curb kitten biting.

“Your cat can’t be expected to understand that it’s okay to nip sometimes or with certain people, and not with others,” says Molloy.

Eventually, your kitten will learn that “OW!” means, “Let go.” And she’ll soon realize your body part isn’t really a fun toy. Your goal, of course, is to adopt a zero-tolerance policy for teeth on skin, but this does not mean getting physical with your pet, points out Molloy.

“Physical punishment just makes cats frightened of people and is seldom connected with what they see as perfectly normal behavior,” she notes.

So, if you are dealing with kitten biting, just remember that patience is key, along with lots of fun toys!

Feature Image: yiamXstoneman/Shutterstock.com

Desexing (neutering or spaying) your kitten provides them with many health benefits and prevents behavioural problems. Our facilities are sterile and use the latest in surgical equipment. Speak with your Greencross Vet about desexing your kitten today.

All kittens go through a teething process – it’s a natural part of growing up. But whilst some kittens deal with teething well, others may need a little reassurance from you. Whatever the case, rest assured that teething is completely normal. Keep reading to find out more about the process of kitten teething.

When do kittens start teething?

Just like humans, kittens do not have visible teeth when they are born. Your kitten’s 26 ‘baby teeth’ only start to appear at around three weeks of age. Once the baby teeth start to break through and pierce the gums you may start to see your kitten behaving differently – for example, they might begin to chew things. Don’t worry, this is completely normal.

By about six weeks of age most kittens will have grown all of their ‘milk teeth’ (or ‘baby teeth’). If your kitten hasn’t grown all of their teeth by this stage, don’t worry. Not all kittens’ teeth grow at the same rate. However, if there are a number of teeth missing once your kitten reaches nine or ten weeks, you may want to contact your vet to check everything is okay.

At around six months of age most cats should have lost their baby teeth to make way for their adult teeth. As the baby teeth are slowly replaced by 30 adult teeth, this is when the majority of kitten teething issues begin. The new teeth that are beginning to poke through will replace the baby teeth and will be the final set of teeth your cat will have, so it’s particularly important to take care of them. If you find your kitten’s baby teeth on the floor during this time, don't worry – kitten tooth loss a natural part of the growing-up process.

Kitten teething symptoms

When your kitten is teething, they may be experiencing some discomfort. The most obvious signs of dental discomfort are:

• Your cat has started to eat less. If they are chewing slower than usual, or more tentatively, it could be a sign their gums are hurting. It may be a good idea to pay a visit to your vet, just to be on the safe side, particularly if they also lose weight.
• Urgency to chew. Another sign that your kitten is teething is excessive chewing. If your cat or kitten is chewing everything in sight including its bed, your furniture and its toys it may be a sign that teething has begun.
• Inflamed or sore gums. As their adult teeth erupt, kittens may experience mild gingivitis, which can lead to inflamed gums and bad breath. If this is down to teeth erupting, it will usually resolve itself.
• Other signs of dental discomfort are drooling, bleeding gums, and pawing at the mouth. These can also be signs of other dental conditions, so see a vet for a check-up.
• Increased irritability. This is most likely due to sore gums and a sign that your kitten is teething.

Although kitten teething is usually nothing to worry about, you can give your kitten extra support while teething by:

• Taking extra care when playing with your kitten – don’t pull toys that they have grabbed in the mouth.
• Avoid brushing your kitten’s teeth during this time – you don’t want your kitten to think tooth brushing is painful.
• Feeding wet food so they don't have to chew – or try softening kibble with some water.
• Removing anything that could be hazardous to your cat’s health. When kittens begin teething, they may try to chew anything and everything in your house. Electric cables may look particularly appealing to your teething kitten, so make sure you hide them. Toxic materials such as plants should also be removed, so if you have any flowers such as lilies or tulips on display it might be time to take them away. If your cat shows an interest in chewing furniture, try to keep them to another room, as chewing wood can cause splinters.

When your kitten is teething, it’s possible for their teeth to erupt too closely together, in the wrong positions, or to have too many or too few. Your vet will be able to tell you if this is the case.

Kitten teething remedies

Teething toys may help ease your kitten’s discomfort, particularly if they love to chew. These toys can be found at most pet shops and are usually made from rubber or soft plastic. These types of toys are ideal for your kitten to chew on as they don’t damage their teeth or break up.

If your kitten is in significant pain, remember that a visit to the vet is the best remedy.

Choosing the right food for teething kittens

As your kitten grows into an adult, it’s important that they get everything they need from their diet. A suitable kitten food supports their health and gives them all the nutrients they need for the development of healthy teeth. As well as being designed to meet the specific nutritional needs of kittens, Purina One Kitten helps support your kitten’s oral care with essential nutrients and a crunchy texture.

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