The play mimics how cats will later pounce on, grab, and bite prey. Insufficient rough play with kittens may lead to rough play with humans, so be careful. It’s very common for kittens and young cats to engage in rough, active play because feline play can consist of mock aggression. Even if kitten play sometimes can get a little "too rough" in the eyes of spectators, the interaction still is very crucial for nurturing the growth of well-rounded and socially adjusted cats. To tell if cats are playing or fighting, listen for aggressive sounds, like hissing or growling, which cats only make in a fight. Kittens learn a lot about proper social behavior by rough playing. A kitten who isn't raised with littermates or playmates doesn't always develop this tit-for-tat retaliation sensitivity. In this way, the kitten learns to inhibit his bites and scratches so that play fighting doesn't damage playmates. In older cats, there may be other reasons for cat aggression and attacks, such as redirected aggression, or when a cat lashes out at its owner because it senses something is wrong. Also, look to see if their ears are pointed backward and are flattened down on their head. When littermates are playing, they teach each other how to use their teeth gently, reigning in their bite. In kittens, most aggression is caused by fear or curiosity. The play sessions begin the socializing process -- helping kittens learn vital lessons about how to properly interact with their siblings, and in the future, with other cats and even human beings. Kittens who donât receive adequate socialization, are played with improperly and roughly by humans, or not given appropriate objects or opportunities for play may also develop play aggression behavior. Although rough play and miscommunication may happen as kittens play with each other, this is an important time of learning. This time spent together helps them develop healthy play skills as they take turns being the mock aggressor and learn to control the intensity of biting, scratching and wrestling. She starred in the Animal Planet UK series Psycho Kitty, and is one of the most popular and sought-after cat behavior experts in the world. If the other kitten appropriately stops playing because of a painful bite or a severe scratch, for example, the "aggressor" will learn that she did something wrong. This is a kitty time-out. So, if your two cats are not on the same page it is likely a good idea to distract the one that is in the playful mood or separate the two cats as to not let things escalate. However, some cats and kittens also show enlarged tail while playing (when with spouts of high energy and playfulness), so things should be assessed case by case. As well, most of us can appreciate the enjoyment of watching two tiny kittens stalking each other on either side of a curtain or darting out from under a bed just as though they were hunting prey in the wild. These cats may be less inclined to keep claws sheathed or control biting intensity. However, big kitty seems to keep play fighting (claw free … They will probably take turns with most play-fighting behaviors. I am gone for long chunks of the day, so I thought getting another kitten for him to play with throughout the day would be a good idea. I think it's fine to break it up if you think it's getting too rough, but I don't think carrier cool-down time is a good strategy -- kittens need to get that crazy energy out somehow, so, you'd be better off distracting & redirecting when you think the fight is getting too … Kittens who had the benefit of being raised around littermates, learn these valuable lessons in order to keep the activity well within friendly play mode. According to UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, kittens begin playing in earnest with their littermates when they're around 1 month old, or slightly older. The other thing we tought was the face was a definatly off limits. They're kittens, they like to play and get themselves completely wound up. In addition to playtime,â¦. Discussion in 'Cat Chat' started by LittleEms, Oct 22, ... just little meows I guess when one is a bit too rough. Is this normal? Don’t expect your cats to wrestle and tackle each other with finesse and gentleness. How Long Do Kittens Need to Have Their Mother's Milk?→, Is It Normal for Male Cats to Play Rough?→, How Soon Can I Cuddle My Newborn Kittens?→. Chasing games aren’t good, either, as the dog will then chase the child and try to catch him by grabbing or biting. Here are my tips on preventâ¦, Cardboard boxes and paper bags can serve an important function in your catâs daily life. In fact, this play aggression is quite common for all young mammals, male and female. Hide and seek games (let the child hide and encourage the dog to find him), find it games (hide toys or treats and encourage kids and dog to find them), and retrieving games are much better than rough games. The biggest thing i recommend to anyone with new kittens is to always keep their nails trimmed and don't get lazy with it. However, from surprise ambush attacks to biting, clutching and chasing, "rough play" is an important part of a kitten's healthy social development. Even between kittens, playtime can look a bit rough. During play with littermates, kittens learn to keep their claws sheathed and not inflict injury. Although rough play and miscommunication may happen as kittens play with each other, this is an important time of learning. Your kitten will learn that when she is too rough, play time ends. |, © Copyright 2021, All Rights Reserved. ; A kitten that's protecting its "territory" from a perceived threat or interloper (such as a small child or another animal) also may become … Kittens do play rough. The Humane Society of the United States: Kittens at Play, Riverside County Department of Animal Services: Managing Your Kitten's Rough Play, UC Davis Veterinary Medicine: Kitten Play - Rough Isn't Right. The problem is that a one year old child isn’t old enough to know how to treat a pet, a child that age grabs at everything to explore it, naturally the kitten grabs at him too thinking it’s a rough game and having sharp little claws, she can’t help scratching. The older cat is going to be terrotorial when there are other cats around, which means your kitten isn’t going to fare well in a situation such as this. Cats stalk, chase, pounce, swat, kick, scratch and bite each other—all in good fun. This is when playful bites, scratches and ambushes become more serious and can actually cause injury. Is my play fighting gonna make my kitten harder to deal with in the future, when he's jaws have become more powerful, ... but even my new kitten is learning what is too much and is starting to come around with knowing what we consider too rough play. This type of aggression is usually seen in kittens and young cats. How often they get to play depends on where they end up. Once kittens grow up and head off into the world, they still like to play even if they don’t need to. Essentially, when kittens get too rough with each other, they learn about the art of fighting restraint. Kittens’ play-fighting got too rough... My 7-week-old kittens Bubble (M) and Squeak (F) were play fighting and then suddenly one of the meowed, and they ran off in different directions. They do this sometimes when one accidentally hurts the other, but this time Bubble was sat on his own repeatedly washing his face, so I went over to check on him. When my cats play they barely even meow at each other. Roughhousing, Naturally As kittens, cats learn how to bite and scratch during play without hurting each other. When you observe a litter of kittens playing around, you may be shocked by how aggressive the fluffy ones can get. Practice petting only when kitten is super sleepy, or eating. Dogs may play-bite, lunge, swipe, and even bark at you or other dogs during play, but it will normally be done in a gentle, friendly manner. I noticed this morning that my mother cat is getting a bit rough with the babies. Kitten aggressive play To decrease the chance that your kitten will seek out human hands and feet as play toys, don’t ever play with your kitten with your hands and feet. Playing Vs. Fighting: What To Look For. Essentially, when kittens get too rough with each other, they learn about the art of fighting restraint. It’s easy to find a playmate when you’re surrounded by siblings, but adult cats … Look for these signs that indicate play: Biting is minimal Kitten play also teaches necessary skills needed for survival and hunting as adult cats. That, or their mother will get involved to break things up. If he sometimes gets too rough on her you can always reproach him at that moment, but most of all I think you can let it be. It's almost as if she's bored with nursing the babies all the time and just wanted to play with them. Itâs something cat parents tend to notice more when the aggression is directed toward them, usually in the form of ankle attacks, ambushes or biting and scratching that break the skin. They met and appear to be getting along. Kittens normally play with their littermates, chasing … This sometimes can pose a big problem in that a cat simply won't understand the concept of mock fighting and biting suppression. |, A Chance to Win $10,000 for Your Favorite Shelter From Arm & Hammer Cat Litter, Tips for Preventing Cat Behavior Problems during COVID-19 Isolation, Some Common Reasons Why Cats Stop Using the Litter Box, The “Must-Have” Checklist for Solving Your Cat’s Behavior Problem, Seven Things That Make Sense to Your Cat… But Not to You, This often looks as if it comes out of nowhere and can leave cat parents very confused. Copyright 2021 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Wrestling and biting ears and neck is normal play. There are a few general guidelines to help you when trying to evaluate whether your cats are playing or fighting: Play between cats can often look a bit more aggressive than we’d expect. Frequent vigorous playing continues in cats until they're around 2 years old. Looks like normal play to me too. Our rescued stray kitten wants to be the alpha male cat and is playing pretty rough with our other tabby cat named Mason. Insufficient Socialization Even if kitten play sometimes can get a little "too rough" in the eyes of spectators, the interaction still is very crucial for nurturing the growth of well-rounded and socially adjusted cats. Play between two cats is a little harder to gauge because one cat may be in the mood to play and the other is not feeling it. If a kitten bites a sibling too hard, that kitten will yowl and swat or bite back, then refuse to play with the other kitten for a period of time. These lessons always depend on the reaction of the other kitten. When play gets too rough, someone will get hurt. When kittens "rough play" together, it can often look as scary as a battle between Roman gladiators -- sans swords, of course. Pam Johnson-Bennett is the best-selling author of 8 books on cat behavior. My cats use to do this, and I always thought they were fighting hard. He will not understand that it’s not okay to chew on or bite people unless you teach him. “Usually, kittens teach each other early on that biting or scratching too hard in play ends the game,” Miller says. As Michael says, your kitten is just being a normal kitten. Here are some tips about how to prevent rough play. If she’s “attacking” you while you are sleeping, or resting, you may need to close her out of those rooms while you are doing those activities, until these steps start helping. The energetic fighting typically consists of biting, scratching, grabbing, clutching, pouncing, ambushing and chasing -- the whole works. When your kitten starts to bite or scratch you, end the play session by leaving the room. If you're trying to enjoy a lighthearted and fun play session with a new kitten but notice that she's starting to get a little aggressive, firmly say "no" to her and then walk away. I had this problem when my cat was 3 years old and he was play fighting our new kitten. She's been a good mother, only noticed this behavior this morning. Few people would confuse the middle-of-the-night growling and screaming of two cats outdoors as being involved in a major cat fight. This will teach her not to be so aggressive. The best answer I found was that playing is quiet and fighting is loud. Rescued her from the park before she gave birth. Mother is a kitten herself. As most everyone knows, cats are hunters and that instinct kicks in at a very young age as kittens play by stalking, chasing and pouncing each other. Many cats retain this kitten-like behavior well into adulthood. Kittens are very durable animals and their bite isn't very strong at 8 weeks, so most of the time you don't have to worry about them being too rough with each other especially if they're not being territorial with each other. When you stop giving your fluff ball attention, she may just get the message -- playing too rough is simply not acceptable. Kittens without this education often grow up play fighting far too roughly and getting into fights when they didn't understand their playmate's signals to stop. Is that normal for play? Play fighting and play hunting are important practice for behaviors that adult cats would need if they were growing up in the wild, and may still need growing up in many domesticated situations. Kittens who are orphaned or taken away from their littermates too early, miss important social lessons and may then develop play habits that include more aggressive biting and scratching. In some instances, the absence of playing can even bring upon future behavioral issues -- both with other felines and with people. Can Kittens Play Too Rough With Each Other? I would say what you describe is simply normal kitten play and behaviour. As most everyone knows, cats are hunters and that instinct kicks in at a very young age as kittens play by stalking, chasing and pouncing each other. So, I ended up bringing home a 5 month old kitten named Cody about a week ago. The older one is obviously the resident cat. However, playful activities can take a turn for the worse if the dog begins to bite or play in a way that harms people or other animals. These are actually play sessions. An orphaned or isolated kitten who cannot engage in the play fight behavior may grow to be rougher with other animals, weak hunters, and anti-social towards other pets. If kitten starts to rough-play with any part of your body, IMMEDIATELY stop playing & walk out of room. In your kitten’s mind, a playful nip is indistinguishable from a painful bite. 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