Why does a cat bite kittens? Cat psychology

Cats 73029

Childbirth is quite stressful for cats, as it is for absolutely any woman giving birth. Often, cat psychology, already poorly understood by people, changes significantly after the birth of offspring. You can often observe how a pet bites its babies, hits them with its hind legs or drags them by the scruff of the neck, while the kittens squeak.

The owners, alarmed by this behavior of their pet, begin to sound the alarm. However, not every mother cat nibbling on her litter is a danger signal. In this article we will try to understand when the behavior of a new mother is within the normal range, and when it is worth worrying about.

Bites as a method of raising offspring

A cat who has become a mother faces a difficult task: she needs to teach her litter everything she knows in the shortest possible time. This is required so that the kittens are ready for independent living. Moreover, in the wild, such activities would ensure their survival. At the same time, cats have much less time at their disposal than people have to raise their children.

You don't have to worry if your pet bites the kittens without leaving marks on their skins. As a rule, educational biting lasts until the baby makes a loud cry. With his voice, he lets his mother know that he understands everything, and, satisfied with this signal, she lets him go.

How to reduce the risk of aggression and raise an affectionate animal

An affectionate animal can only grow up in a caring and loving family. Never, under any circumstances, use physical punishment. Your hands should only be associated with affection.

Try to talk with your pet often and study its habits. If dissatisfaction appears, accompanied by warning signals, do not test his patience, but immediately stop the unpleasant actions.

If a cat grows up next to a child, make sure that the child knows how to handle it carefully. Stop sudden grabbing and squeezing.

Calm down or protect from danger

The psychology of the cat family is radically different from that of humans, and yet, in some ways we are similar. These animals, just like people, have their own methods of raising and protecting babies from danger.

Where a human mother would slap a naughty fidget on the butt, a cat mother will in the same way tell her baby how not to behave by biting the scruff of the neck. She can punish the kitten if it gets too excited and runs around, ceasing to notice everything around it. And also if the baby, being in a playful mood, climbs up to her, and in the meantime she tries to take a nap and replenish her strength.

A cat is capable of biting the skin of kittens that are trying to get out of the nest if she thinks that it is too early for them to do this. She will definitely claw her by the scruff of the neck or even hiss threateningly, not letting her onto the balcony, which, in her opinion, can be dangerous for furry fidgets.

You don’t have to worry if you notice how the mother stands over the baby and then takes his scruff in her mouth, then lets go. There is a high probability that at this moment she is not trying to harm him, but, on the contrary, wants to move him to a safe place. She just can't do it for some reason. Probably, the pet cannot figure out how best to lift it so as not to harm it. This sometimes happens, however, after several attempts, as a rule, the cat copes with the task.

School of the right owners

It is generally accepted that a kitten is aggressive if it scratches its hands or attacks from around the corner. But in fact, he develops correctly according to his cat laws: not because he is angrier than others, but because he has a brighter temperament. There is nothing wrong with this, you just need to teach him to live in the human world, then he will stop biting.

Translated from cat

Cats communicate with each other using smells, marks, body language, sounds and various touches (biting, scratching, pushing, throwing). A person can master cat speech at the level of sounds and touches. Watch two kittens playing or watch a video and note for yourself:

From time to time, the kittens change roles - each must be the hunter and the hunted;
When the “hunter” crosses the limit of pain acceptable for the “victim,” he makes a low, drawn-out sound similar to “Meow” and hisses or snorts. The “hunter” in response either stops “killing the victim” or does it even more violently;
If the “hunter” does not accept the warning and is too assertive, the “prey” responds rudely and uncompromisingly: it rushes at the enemy and bites hard, while simultaneously scratching its hind legs. And then we already hear two “meows” and a double snort, scattering in different directions, and we think: “We quarreled.” But in reality, they measured their strength and stopped the game.

The Art of Hunting

Don’t let it come as a surprise to you when your pet begins to teach her offspring to hunt. At the beginning of classes it will look something like this: the mother cat firmly grabs the kitten with her front paws and beats on him with her hind paws. At the same time, she alternates between biting and licking him. In addition, it can purr loudly, encouraging it to learn.

At the initial stage of training in the art of hunting, the cat demonstrates with its kittens how to properly capture and subdue the prey. In addition, the ability to suppress will be needed by the young when they grow up and begin to defend their rights to territory and dominance. And believe me, in a couple of weeks you will already be watching kids practicing these techniques on each other.

When the litter grows a little more and begins to crawl out of the shelter, a slightly different picture will open before you. In addition to the training activities described above, demonstration hunting jumps and pursuit will be added. Mommy, by personal example, will show the children how to sneak, wait and suddenly jump on the victim. Everything will remain the same with the squeak: if you meow, you understand. As before, the young animals will continue to practice the techniques both among themselves and on the mother.

Features of the manifestation of cat aggression

Knowledge of cat psychology will help you understand the reasons for bad behavior. Most cats are not prone to unmotivated aggression.

A mentally healthy animal never attacks, scratches or bites for no reason. As a rule, such behavior is a reaction to some external stimulus.

The most common causes of aggression in cats are:

desire to protect oneself and one’s territory;
sexual arousal;
painful sensations.

Aggressive behavior is also sometimes observed in kittens that have suffered abuse.

The owner should understand the reasons for the animal’s anger. If a cat is constantly stressed, over time its psyche will become unstable, and it will truly become inadequate.

Rejection of foreign odor

In the case where a cat bites its offspring, and at the same time was previously picked up on the street or has access there for walks, this is a very bad sign. The fact is that such animals always remain semi-wild and their natural instincts are more acute than those of fully domesticated pets. Here, the reason for aggression towards one’s own offspring can be a foreign smell on the kittens. Unlike people, who recognize others visually, animals are identified using smell. Do not touch the kittens while the mother cat is nursing them, otherwise she may abandon them completely.

Other reasons

In addition to natural instincts and the educational process, there are other explanations why a cat bites its kittens:

In order to stimulate their physical activity. Young animals must quickly build muscle mass, and for this, kids must move actively.

The cat is unhappy with the nest, it is too hot, or it is located in a noisy place.

The onset of heat. In this case, the female is aggressive towards the offspring and can bite her cubs.

Foreign odors from kittens. Babies should not be touched with hands, as cats communicate using their sense of smell, and other people's smells can cause inappropriate behavior in the mother.

Genetic abnormalities or hidden pathologies in kittens. Cats instinctively sense disturbances in the development of their young and can, by biting, check the viability of the offspring or try to get rid of them.

There are many reasons why a cat bites her kittens - from the manifestation of natural instincts to a serious illness. The owner of the animal must observe and control the behavior of his pet. If educational techniques are playful and do not cause harm or injury, then such behavior should not cause concern. In case of aggression or injuries, it is better to consult a veterinarian. The kittens may have to be separated from their mother earlier than planned.

Disease

There are times when a pet suddenly begins to show excessive aggression both towards its own babies and towards its owners. It is not uncommon for cats to develop eclampsia after giving birth, and this can be a reason for sudden hostility.

Eclampsia is a disease that should only be diagnosed by a specialist. It is not recommended to make a diagnosis yourself, because the cause of aggressive behavior may be simple fatigue or pain in the mammary glands (mastopathy). And yet, given that this disease occurs quite often, let's talk about it in more detail.

How to distinguish a fight in a game from a real conflict?

Many cats that have a close bond enjoy playing together. They fight, rush around the apartment, roll around in a ball and hit each other with their paws. Play wrestling often takes place silently with breaks during which the participants change positions. Such fights do not bring pain, because... the animals retract their claws and strike carefully. At this stage there is no need to separate the pets. In some cases the struggle may intensify; Hissing and squealing indicate that the animal’s partner’s actions are beginning to cause discomfort. After joint activity, the cats quickly return to their normal state, and there is no tension in further relationships between the participants in the play fight.

Eclampsia in a cat: what are the signs and what to do?

Eclampsia (aka milk fever) is provoked by hypocalcemia - a disorder of calcium metabolism in the body, in which it begins to be sorely lacking. Milk fever usually develops in the first 2–3 weeks after lambing. This is due to the active leaching of calcium from the blood, due to the fact that it is involved in the formation of milk. Most common in mothers with multiple births.

Behavioral signals of developing eclampsia:

Increased excitability and anxiety or lethargy and complete apathy;
Aggression accompanied by lack of recognition of offspring and owners;
Refusal to sit with own kittens;
Avoidance of droppings feeding and biting, leaving marks on their skins;
Frequently moving babies from place to place.

Physical signs of milk fever:

Pointed muzzle with stretched skin and exposed fangs;
Rapid breathing;
Pale mucous membranes;
Movements become abrupt;
The animal has difficulty rearranging its “stiff” hind legs due to muscle spasms;
Convulsions (intensity depends on the severity of the disease);
Increased body temperature;
Shiver;
The pet often falls on its side;
Uncontrollable salivation appears.

In a cat with eclampsia, the temperature rises to +41 °C. Carbon dioxide accumulates in the body, making it difficult for the animal to breathe. The pH in the blood increases and the calcium level decreases.

Milk fever is not so much dangerous for others as it is for a sick pet. If help is not provided in time, death from hyperthermia - due to depressed breathing and brain damage - will occur 12 hours after the onset of the attack.

If your pet has an acute attack of eclampsia, call your veterinarian immediately. Sometimes time passes by minutes, especially when an attack is not detected immediately, the doctor may simply not have time. It is in this case that, while waiting for the doctor, you will need to provide first aid to your pet yourself.

In case of an acute attack of eclampsia, it is necessary to inject subcutaneously:

Fospasim or any other sedative - 1 ml;
Gamavit - 1 ml;
Calcium borgluconate (heated to 39°) - 2-3 ml at intervals of 45 minutes until symptoms disappear;
No-shpa - 0.3 ml;
Prednisolone - 0.5 ml.

After injections, place the cat in a dark, noise-free room until the attack stops. To prevent relapse, calcium (1 ml) will need to be injected 2 times a day for about two more weeks.

As the disease progresses, the kittens are taken from the mother cat and fed with an artificial formula, then returned. If the babies are more than 3 weeks old, introduce complementary foods; formula alone will no longer be enough for them.

Certain cats are more prone to milk fever than others. If your pet is predisposed to eclampsia - if such an attack has occurred at least once - it is necessary to pay special attention to her after lambing. In addition, it is worth worrying about the issue of prevention in advance by consulting with a veterinarian. As a rule, a diet with a high calcium content is prescribed. Cats at risk always have a fairly high chance of relapse. For such pets, the intervals between lambings should be as long as possible.

The kitten often bites people around him, what to do?

If a kind attitude does not help, the kitten gnaws or bites all family members without exception, then you should take the advice of specialists.

When buying a purebred kitten, you should definitely visit the nursery and find out the behavior of the kittens kept there. If a hand flashing in front of the kittens does not make any impression on them, this means that the animals are properly and well raised. But if this becomes a signal for kittens to attack, this means that they are not raised here.

The kitten bit your hand, don’t pull it out, but, on the contrary, crawl closer. This action should surprise the pet and it will weaken its jaw.
If the kitten attacks and bites, and there is nothing suitable at hand to distract it, then you can blow hard on the pet. From unpleasant sensations, the kitten will immediately change its intentions.
If a kitten bites a child, you should first find out why he did it and then punish the culprit. Adults should be aware that children themselves often provoke an aggressive reaction in animals by teasing them or hurting them. You can't do that!
Often a kitten bites during play, so you should play with animals using specially made devices. They are sold in veterinary stores, are inexpensive and very easy to use. You can build a toy for a kitten with your own hands and from available materials.
The kitten bites and with this action attracts attention. Take a closer look, maybe your pet is hungry, his tray is full, or something hurts.
Young animals are easier to train than adults. You should systematically adhere to the chosen methodology. Soon the whole family will feel positive changes - the kitten does not bite or scratch!

In the process of raising an animal, you should not beat or torture an animal; these actions will lead to anger and deterioration of relationships. Only patience, consistency and affection will give a positive result.

Bites as a health check and detection of weak litters

A cat bites kittens not only when raising them or in an attack of some disease. Remember the main law of animals: “survival of the fittest”? So, animals, unlike people, do not care for young animals with congenital diseases; on the contrary, they can behave very aggressively towards sick litters.

Cats, although domesticated, still have innate instincts that they cannot escape. Sick kittens will be detected by the pet just by biting. As already mentioned, by biting lightly, the cat checks the reflexes of the offspring, and if something does not suit her, she will abandon the sick baby. Be careful, there is a high probability that the mother will try to kill the baby who is unfit for life.

If you notice that one of the kittens stands out from the general heap of brothers or the mother cat is more aggressive towards one of them than towards the rest of the litter - sound the alarm, the kitten is sick. If you are going to keep him alive, take him to the vet. As a rule, after the sick baby is cured, the cat accepts him back and no longer shows hostility towards him.

It is better not to wait for your pet to attack the kittens, but to periodically examine them yourself, showing them to the doctor if necessary. The health status of furry babies can be determined “with the naked eye” by a number of signs.

Healthy kitten:

It looks round and knocked down;
Skin pink;
Warm to the touch;
If you gather the skin into a fold and let it go, it will straighten out immediately;
On the palm of your hand, the baby stretches out and swings energetically.

Sick kitten:

Lack of energy, barely moves, constantly lethargic;
Hyperactive, but exhausted, falls asleep away from his brothers and mother;
He sleeps with his limbs spread to the sides, his head tilted to the side;
Noticeably cool to the touch;
Skin has a bluish tint;
When trying to eat, the nipple spits out;
While awake, he continuously screams pitifully.

If, according to your observations, all the kittens are healthy, but the cat still shows obvious aggression towards one (or several) of them, she probably does not have enough milk. She may try to compensate for the lack of milk by weaning someone off the breast so that others can get enough. As a rule, the weakest descendant, even if not the sick one, is selected for this purpose.

Video: cat raising kitten

How to stop a kitten with mental problems from scratching and biting

Cats have a rather complex psyche, combining heredity, reflexes, and acquired behavioral stereotypes. Much like humans, they have mental problems and disorders.

There are several recommendations on how to stop a kitten with psychological complexes from biting and scratching.

Respect the animal's personal space. Sometimes the cause of suffering is the inability to retire and relax. A cat dozes in a noisy environment, but does not sleep, being in constant readiness for danger. Thus, chronic overwork leads to irritability and aggressive behavior.
Provide the kitten with the opportunity to hide somewhere high. This could be a special house or just a place on a shelf where he can reach. Cats feel safe observing their surroundings from above. Remember the yard cats that, at the slightest danger, climb high into a tree.
The place where the kitten eats should also be quiet and isolated.
Let the kitten have his own things. It can be not only toys. Give him an old sweater, a towel, a blanket - something that used to belong to you, but now can be a bedding for an animal.
Follow your daily and nutritional schedule. The established regime is a psychological support for the animal.

There are times when it is almost impossible to cope with cat aggression. If there is a “cult of the owner,” then all that remains is to adapt and follow the general recommendations for handling a pet. This problem especially often arises when a new family member appears, for example, a child. The cat lives in an already established hierarchy and aggressively perceives strangers. The solution here may be the behavior of the owner himself - he must let the pet understand that the new family member is important to him and biting him is unacceptable.

Sometimes so-called idiopathic aggression also occurs. It can occur in both kittens and adult cats. The previously affectionate pet suddenly begins to attack people, including its owner. It is not always possible to determine the cause; most often this happens after suffering severe stress, illness, or hormonal imbalance. If the cause cannot be found and eradicated, and the animal’s behavior does not change, then it is euthanized. Such mental disorders, unfortunately, cannot be corrected. But such a pathology is very rare; in most cases, a kitten can be successfully weaned from biting and scratching, especially if this is done immediately from the moment it appears in the house.

I can’t figure out if the cats are playing or fighting?

While they are playing. If they really grappled, the fur would fly in clumps, the screams would be heartbreaking, they would bite each other on the neck, muzzle, near the ears. One of the cats who is terrified will piss (sorry) on the other.

Even when playing, it is better to keep their claws trimmed. One of my claws on his crippled paw were not trimmed in time (the toes were twisted and the claws had to be trimmed regularly), so he hit the second one in the tail so that he tore an artery! It’s good that a veterinarian I knew lived close and was at home at that moment.

An almost 9-month-old cat was brought into company with a 7-month-old cat. The first days were practically a war. Both were afraid of each other, hid, hissed, and pressed their ears back. Then they seemed to become friends. But they played in such a way that the whole body was scratched (especially the cat, because he is afraid to hurt the cat, but she does not know how to stop and bites and scratches painfully). In the end, I trimmed both their claws so as not to injure each other.

Now, 3 months later, their favorite game is fighting without rules. With her ears back, the cat pushes on the cat (sometimes vice versa), bites the neck, they roll around, somersault, and jump. Moreover, no one hisses, no one stands on end. Natural games. True, the cat loves to chew the cat’s tail and grab his thigh. That’s when he cries piteously (but doesn’t dare give back).

So I can say for myself: the only way to keep cats safe is to trim both their claws. Well, castrate in a timely manner so that there are no natural fights for territory.

You can identify a fight by the following signs: - fur standing on end - ears are flattened (but that also happens during games!) - hissing and uterine maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaally

On the link provided above, the first video is a wrestling game, the second is a natural fight.

Source

Training techniques to combat aggression

Educational techniques may be useless if the cat is naturally aggressive and the habit of biting is its individual trait. In this case, you can try certain training techniques. They are based on the formation of an association of bites with unpleasant factors.

All cats cannot tolerate loud, sharp sounds. When bitten, you need to create them. This can be a strong blow with your hand on a wall, a table, a foot on the floor, cotton, etc. If you repeat this technique every time your pet bites, he will stop using his teeth.

Splashes of water also cause a sharp negative reaction in cats. A regular spray bottle will help wean your four-legged friend from the habit of biting. A bottle of water with a spray bottle should be in the room where the pet spends most of its time. If a cat begins to show a bad character trait, bites for no reason, you need to spray water on it. This technique eliminates a bad habit quickly enough.

Source

Mistakes in handling cats

If a cat shows aggression towards strangers for no reason, rushes at them, tries to bite them, the reason most likely lies in mistakes in upbringing. This problem is often faced by owners who tried to isolate the kitten in the first months of its life. When guests or strangers arrived, the baby was locked in the room and was not allowed to meet strangers. It happens that a pet is isolated from the loud sounds of a vacuum cleaner or washing machine.

But for proper socialization, the kitten needs to thoroughly study the environment within 2-3 weeks and make sure that it does not pose a danger. Otherwise, when any unfamiliar factors appear, the kitten will become frightened, and aggression is a means of defense.

There are several other reasons for this behavior:

assertion of your priorities;
ingrained fears, anger;
revenge for an insult.

Sometimes the desire of the owners to assign the “title of king” to the pet has a negative impact on the formation of the cat’s character. The pet begins to consider itself the main one in the house, with the help of bites and aggressive attacks it proves its dominance. Not every cat will behave this way; most calmly experience their most important position in the house. But if the animal has a tendency to dominate, encouraging it will create many problems.

Playful aggression of cats

As everyone knows, cats are hunters, and the hunter instinct begins in them at a very young age, when kittens play, chasing and pouncing on each other.
Although rough play and misunderstandings can happen when kittens play with each other, it is an important learning time for them. This time together helps them develop good and healthy play skills as they take turns becoming mock aggressor or victim, and learn to control the intensity of biting, scratching and fighting. While playing with littermates, kittens learn to keep their claws sheathed and not cause wounds. The game also teaches kittens the skills needed to survive and hunt as they grow into adult cats. Kittens who are lucky enough to grow up with a mother cat and surrounded by littermates learn these valuable lessons. Kittens that are orphaned or weaned too early miss out on important social lessons and may then develop undesirable play habits that include more aggressive behavior during play or aggression directed at their owners. Kittens that do not receive adequate socialization in the owner's home, those with whom the owner plays inappropriately, roughly, with hands and feet or inappropriate objects, may also subsequently display aggressive play behavior. These cats may be less likely to keep their claws retracted or control the intensity of their biting. Play aggression is one of the most common forms of aggression and is almost always directed at members of the human family. The cat takes poses associated with hunting. Its method is stalking, ambush, bites and scratches, and the target is the moving legs or arms of a person.

Time in life at an early age

Playtime is important in a kitten's life, but for kittens it is also a time when they learn about their skills and develop balance, speed, accuracy and coordination. Playtime may include solo play where the cat focuses on toys such as fuzzy mice scattered on the floor or an open paper bag waiting to be pounced on. There is also social play, where the cat plays with another companion, another animal or person. When a kitten bites a littermate too hard during play, the opponent's reaction tells him that he has crossed the line. These important lessons are just one of many reasons why kittens should not be separated from their mother cat and littermates before three to four months.

Other forms of aggression

A cat may exhibit aggressive behavior for other reasons. Before you decide that a behavior is play aggression, it is important to rule out other potential causes such as fear, pain, illness, redirected aggression, pet-induced aggression, and so on. Pay attention to the circumstances that lead to aggression to better determine the type. Make sure your cat is checked by a veterinarian to determine if the aggression is the result of pain, injury, or illness. With play aggression, you usually won't hear any hissing or growling, and although biting or scratching will cause wounds and pain, the cat's face won't look like he's fighting for his life. As mentioned earlier, play aggression tends to occur more often in young animals that have been roughly played with by humans or that have been weaned early.

Let's start with what not to do

Never use your hands as toys. Moving fingers may seem like a very innocent and convenient way to encourage your kitten to play, but it sets a dangerous precedent. This method teaches the cat that biting a person is normal! Even if the bites and scratches don't hurt you now, they will when the kitten grows up. You don't want your cat to engage in the same behavior (biting and scratching) with your small child or elderly relative, where the slightest injury could lead to disaster. Messages sent from a person to a cat should always be consistent throughout life, so never use your hands, feet or any other part of the body as toys for the cat to avoid misleading it. If you don't want your cat to bite you when she's upset or scared, then don't teach her that biting a person while playing is okay. Be consistent in your messaging.

Don't back down. If your cat grabs your hand with her teeth and won't let go, don't try to pull your hand out of her mouth because that's what prey does. If you struggle, the cat will clench its jaws even tighter. Instead, gently push your hand toward the cat's mouth to momentarily stun it, causing it to loosen its grip. When she lets go of your hand, either stop moving and ignore the cat for a few seconds or leave the room where the cat is. The lesson you want to teach is that biting or scratching a person will result in an immediate end to the game.

Educational fight against aggressive behavior

There are several proven techniques to wean your cat off the habit of biting. You can get rid of the problem using educational methods or certain training. You need to choose a method taking into account the cause of aggression and the individual character of the animal. Educational methods include:

competent socialization;
limiting affection;
temporary ignoring;
taking into account the pet’s personal preferences.

A kitten will not grow up to be aggressive or fearful if from an early age it has the opportunity to move around the house. It is necessary to allow visiting guests to pick him up and gently caress him, if they know how to treat animals with care. The cat will get used to it and will not consider strangers as a potential danger.

An animal that does not tolerate affection well does not need to be petted for a long time. One or two strokes and affectionate words are enough to prove your love. If a cat wants to be stroked or caressed, she will approach the owner herself.

A cat that likes to bite should be temporarily ignored if this behavior occurs. For half an hour after the aggression, you need to ignore her requests for treats or calls to play. The animal will definitely understand that it is being punished for a bad deed.

Some cats don't like having their tail, paws or tummy stroked. It is necessary to take into account and respect the individual preferences of the pet, and not to irritate him with such stroking.

Owners of small kittens need to buy toys for their pets. They will help babies avoid using their owner's fingers to scratch their gums when teething.

Do not forget that the cause of aggression can be a disease. If such a tendency appears suddenly and is not associated with castration, sterilization, or sexual heat, the cat must be shown to a veterinarian. A timely visit to the veterinary clinic will allow the disorder to be diagnosed and effective treatment to be carried out.