You are helpless in front of your kitten getting aggressive and you ask how to punish a kitten who attacks for no reason ?
Usually, kittens don't get aggressive for no reason. And before punish an attacking kitten, we must first find the cause or causes that generate his aggressive behavior. So you can find solutions to what triggers your kitten's attacks.
In this article, I will therefore help you:
- understand why your kitten is becoming aggressive,
- find solutions to calm your kitten who becomes aggressive,
- understand how to deal with an attacking kitten.
In order for your kitten to stop attacking you for no reason, it is essential, before punishing him, to understand why your kitten is getting aggressive.
Kitten attacking hands - Instinct reflex
If when you play with your kitten he starts kicking you, nibbling on your fingers or the back of your hand, this doesn't have to be aggressive behavior. Indeed, some kittens (often those who have been removed from their mother too early) have not understood how to control the urge to bite or scratch. Indeed, it is an apprenticeship that he acquires with his mother between the age of 7 to 12 weeks.
If no one stops her from continuing like this, then as she grows up your kitten's behavior can escalate and become aggressive.
How to punish a kitten who attacks by reflex?
In order for your kitten to stop attacking your hands or biting your fingers, it is essential that you never use your hands or fingers as bait when playing with them. Always use toys and never use your hands.
If your kitten continues to attack your hands like this while playing, you should always stop his gesture telling him a NOT in a firm and authoritative tone and stop playing. By renewing this reaction to his bites, your kitten will quickly understand that he must no longer attack you if he wants to continue playing with you.
Kitten attacking the feet - Boredom
In some cases, it may happen that a kitten is bored, needs to let off steam, or doesn't have enough toys to keep busy. The kitten will therefore seek to interact with you. For this, he will jump in front of you, attack your feet, your ankle, jump on you or kick you with his paws ... In this case, your kitten becomes aggressive just to get your attention and shows that he needs to let off steam.
How to punish a kitten who attacks out of boredom?
To stop your kitten attacking you out of boredom, make sure they can play on their own and let off steam when you're away.
Leave him enough toys, especially interactive toys as kong or a fish that moves like a real one (see below). Thus, your kitten will evacuate its aggressiveness on the toys it will take for prey because it retains its natural hunting instinct.
In addition, so that it gets its claws elsewhere on your feet or your hands, install a cat tree (see recommended model below)!
Kitten that becomes aggressive - To attract attention
Often, kittens will “attack” you just to get your attention and get a message across. This may be the case if, for example, you forgot to give it its kibble, if it has no more water in its bowl or if its litter is dirty ... To let you know, your kitten uses the means of which he disposes and will therefore give you a kick, scratch your ankle or leap in front of you.
How to punish an aggressive kitten for attention?
No need to punish your kitten for attacking you to get your attention. In fact, all you have to do is anticipate so that your kitten does not need to let you know that it is hungry, thirsty or that its litter needs to be changed! See how to take care of a kitten?
Kitten getting aggressive - Anxiety and stress
Be aware that kittens do not become aggressive towards you out of spite, provocation, or for revenge. If your kitten is getting aggressive, it may be because he is feeling stressed, threatened, scared or distressed. Indeed, aggression in a kitten is a way of expressing its state of discomfort or stress.
How to punish an aggressive kitten because it is stressed?
You shouldn't punish a kitten that becomes aggressive just because it is anxious or scared. In fact, we must rather find what anguishes or stresses him and which generates his violent behavior.
In the life of a kitten, there are a lot of factors that can generate stress: Moving, arrival of a baby, other pet in the house, unusual noises, roadworks in the street…).
In case of aggression due to stress or anxiety, to calm your kitten, here are two effective tips:
- Calm a kitten's anxiety with pheromones : Synthetic pheromones that are found in the form of collars, sprays or diffusers have a calming power on kittens and make them less stressed and less nervous.
- Calm a kitten's anxiety with valerian or lavender : Based on essential oils, this collar continuously releases active ingredients that calm kittens throughout the day.
Attacking kitten - True aggressive behavior
As we have just seen, an attacking kitten is not necessarily a sign of aggression. On the other hand, it happens that a kitten becomes really aggressive. Here are some telltale signs of genuinely aggressive behavior:
- Spitting kitten
- Hissing kitten
- Growling kitten
- Kitten with a round back
- Kitten opening its mouth showing its teeth
- Kitten sticking out its claws
- Kitten bristling its hair
- Kitten stiffening its body
- Kitten wagging its tail frantically
If your kitten shows these signs of aggression, you will have to quickly find out what is causing it to be in this state so that you can remedy it quickly and see below how to punish a kitten who becomes aggressive. If these behavioral problems persist, you will need to talk to your veterinarian and maybe get help from a behaviorist educator specializing in cats.
How to punish a kitten that becomes aggressive
Facing a kitten getting aggressive, who is showing signs as above, you should not give too much importance to his gestures or postures and make sure to divert the problem.
To do this, it will take distract him et redirect your attention to something else. You can show him a treat or a toy he is particularly fond of, offer him a game or see if he wants to go outside or change rooms.
A kitten who shows aggression must be able to let off steam. For this, it is recommended to install a scratching post or a cat tree so that he evacuates his aggressiveness on a place dedicated to this purpose. Here is a cat tree that I recommend for your kitten:
How to punish an attacking kitten?
If you berate your kitten by yelling at him or hitting him, he won't understand why you are punishing him. This will confuse him and suddenly he may become anxious and suspicious of you.
However, when a kitten is afraid or stressed, he behaves aggressively. Suddenly, punishing him will make him even more violent towards you. And since kittens have good memories, your relationship is likely to break down very quickly.
For punish an attacking kittenyou have to know stop him et make him understand that he must not start over. See below how to do this.
Punish an attacking kitten - Tell him NO
In order for your kitten to understand punishment, you have to act when she is in the act. Indeed, it is as soon as he attacks you that you will have to tell him strong and firmly NO!!! then pull it away from you.
Then by repetition, as soon as your kitten starts attacking you again, you authoritatively repeat NO !!! and go push him away.
Thus, by the association of the NO linked to his aggressive behavior and by the repetition of the NO followed by the isolation, your kitten will quickly understand that his gesture is not appreciated. And since kittens are smart, they won't do it again.
How to punish a biting kitten?
It is important to always take a toy to have fun with your kitten. Never just play with your hands… In fact, when your kitten bites your hands, it means that it is playing with your hands as if they were prey for it. See as well : How to stop a kitten from biting?
Punishing a nibbling kitten
To punish a kitten who nibbles your hands, you must immediately stop the game and say in a firm and authoritative tone: "NO"!
When resuming the game, if he starts biting your hands again, use an even lower intonation and repeat "NO" again, stopping playing with him.
By renewing these refusals, your kitten will eventually stop biting you. And as soon as he gets to play with you without biting you, consider praising him and rewarding him with a treat or a caress.
Punishment or positive education?
Rather than punishing your kitten for its bad actions, it will be more effective to dissuade it and know how to encourage it for its good actions.
Indeed, scientists who have done studies on the best way to educate kittens have revealed that this education based on reward and deterrence (positive education) achieves better results than through punishment.
In fact, if you reward your kitten for good behavior, you will be more successful in the long term at stopping his aggression than if you scold or yell at him.
Find out now: How to make a cat obey?