Biting and mouthing is a normal behavior in kittens because cats’ mouth and cats’ paws are objects to explore their world and it\’s natural for them to bite. But kitties can learn to inhibit the force of their bites and to use soft paws without claws. Your cat can still nibble and play-smack you with a soft paw and enjoy a kitty-correct game without drawing blood.

Cats and kittens may bite for different reasons, and it\’s important to distinguish them in order to help curb the biting. A kitten usually bites for socialising purposes , while an adult cat may bite for a different reason.

Kittens develop good manners through interaction with other kittens and their mother; other cats won\’t put up with being hurt. Too often kittens go to new homes before they\’ve learned these important lessons and their owners need to teach them. Kittens don\’t know that teeth and claws hurt unless you explain it in kitty language the way a mother would.

Begin training as soon as you get your kitten. A well-socialized adult cat that knows the rules of cat-play teaches the best lessons to kittens. Kittens can also bite as a way of exploring their environment, or because they are teething.

For adult cats, there may be a few reasons for biting:

• It could be to assert dominance or respond to a threat. If a cat bites and does not back down, this could be the case.
• Some cats bite to stop unwanted actions or behaviors by humans or other animals, especially if this was effective in the past.
• Some cats bite as a form of communication or demand attention. Instead of meowing, they bite. If a cat nips you and then tries to lead you to an activity, such as playing with a toy, this could be the reason.

Whatever the reason might be, most cat bites insert harmful bacteria into the body and can be dangerous for you and other pets, and should be treated immediately.

While you may not be able to prevent your cat from biting, there are some techniques you may try. Feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments below.