Kittens are all about play and prey, and playtime is an essential part of your kitten’s early learning and socialization. But that tiny hunter in your home may need to learn what proper play behavior is all about. Here are some tips for teaching your kitten good manners:
- Don’t let your kitten play with your hands or feet. Allowing your kitten to play with your fingers teaches them that body parts are acceptable forms of prey.
- Use distraction. If your kitten goes for your hands, use a toy to draw their attention away. Dangle a feather from a fishing pole toy or toss a small fleece toy for your kitten to chase. During a lively play session, your kitten may enjoy thumping their back feet on a plush stuffed animal.
- Be consistent. Make sure all your family members are on the same page. Your kitten can be easily confused if one human family member tells them not to bite while another encourages this behavior. Be consistent in redirecting your kitten when they chew on hands, feet or clothes. A mouthy kitten may be adorable, but a mouthy adult cat can easily cause injury. Consistency throughout their lifetime is super important.
- Set your cat up to succeed. Give your kitten a variety of toys, and provide scratching posts and climbing structures for scratching, climbing, perching and relaxing.
Regular play with your cat is a great way for you to bond with your feline friend. It will help them learn the rules of play and expel some of their excess energy!
Notice other “mouthy” behaviors in your kitten, such as chewing or sucking? Find out more about how to stop these habits while they‘re still young.
