Why kitty bites

This behavior is natural to kittens and is not a sign of hostility or fear most of the time , but if left unchecked, it can become a serious problem.

This is especially true when your kitten's playmate is a young child. Fortunately, in most cases, it's fairly easy to train kittens and avert this behavior. In most cases, kittens scratch and bite in play. This is how they learn to socialize with their siblings, test boundaries, and just have fun. Occasionally though, scratching and biting can be a sign that your kitten is frightened, angry, or in pain. To be sure this is not the case:.

When kittens scratch and bite, it's likely that they've been encouraged to do so at some point in the past. This is especially common if you or your children thought the behavior was cute when the kitten was very small. It is very important that you do not "roughhouse" with your kitten and allows them to bite or scratch at any age. This teaches the cat that hands are toys, a lesson that will be harder to break later on.

Try substituting cat toys for your fingers when you're playing and save your fingers for gentle petting. Make sure all family members and visitors are aware of these guidelines so the cat will receive a consistent message. You've checked and are sure your kitten's biting and scratching is not a sign of any physical problem, you've minimized rough-housing with your bare hands, but you're still winding up with kitten scratches and nips. Here are some tips for managing the problem and training your kitten to stop this behavior.

Claw trimming , unlike declawing, does not injure your cat and should be done regularly. Kittens that mouth or love bite their owner are showing affection through facial marking, rubbing their pheromones on their human to claim them as their own. Demand for attention: When a kitten is young, almost everything they do is adorable, including little nibbles, scratches or even full-on bites.

Response to a threat: Some bites are playful, but others are aggressive. Interactions with strange people or unknown animals put cats on edge, and they often nip as a defense mechanism. An immediate nip when petting can indicate that your kitten is hurting or that you were too aggressive.

Providing other options to nip at besides your fingers and toes teaches them proper play habits. Toss small balls and toy mice, or play with dangling toys to encourage them to play away from your hands. But cats are often protective of those places on their body and can respond defensively. As you get to know your kitten, you will learn which areas to avoid. Reviewed for accuracy on May 1, by Dr.

Help us make PetMD better Was this article helpful? Yes No. Share this article. What did you find helpful? What was not helpful? Say more It is best to check for region-specific information if you are unsure about a specific animal and have been bitten.

Travelers to developing countries, where vaccination of domestic animals is not routine, should talk with their healthcare provider about getting the rabies vaccine before traveling. The rabies virus enters the body through a cut or scratch, or through mucous membranes such as the lining of the mouth and eyes , and travels to the central nervous system.

Once the infection is established in the brain, the virus travels down the nerves from the brain and multiplies in different organs.

The salivary glands are most important in the spread of rabies from one animal to another. When an infected animal bites another animal, the rabies virus is transmitted through the infected animal's saliva.

Scratches by claws of rabid animals are also dangerous because these animals lick their claws. The incubation period in humans from the time of exposure to the onset of illness can range anywhere from 5 days to more than a year, although the average incubation period is about 2 months.

The following are the most common symptoms of rabies. Symptoms may include:. The symptoms of rabies may look like other conditions or medical problems. Always see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis. In animals, the direct fluorescent antibody test dFA done on brain tissue is most often used to detect rabies. Within a few hours, diagnostic labs can determine whether an animal is rabid and provide this information to medical professionals.

These results may save a person from undergoing treatment if the animal is not rabid. In humans, a number of tests are necessary to confirm or rule out rabies, as no single test can be used to rule out the disease with certainty. Tests are done on samples of serum, saliva, and spinal fluid.