Ahh, kittens. They are cute, bouncy bundles of joy. Many people adopt kittens because their sweet faces emotionally manipulate us into wanting to care for them. Some people also see kittens (or cats in general) as being an easier alternative to a dog.
Kittens are not easy puppies. Because of the myth that cats are easy to take care of, many unsuspecting folks are surprised when kittens exhibit completely normal kitten behavior and require a lot of attention.
While kittens can be very playful and fun, normal kitten behavior can drive us bananas. It’s a good idea to know what you’re getting into before you adopt a kitten or you may quickly find yourself extremely stressed out. Here’s what’s normal and what’s not.
Don’t Feel Bad If You’re Overwhelmed
Before we dive into normal behavior, you may be here because you’re struggling with your kittens. You might have had a particularly easy kitten in the past or have recently lost an older cat whose behavior was much calmer and more predictable.
Know that even though your kitten is exhibiting normal behavior, it’s okay to be stressed out by it. Normal behavior can be frustrating if you’re caught off guard by it and don’t know what to do. It can take a lot of time and energy to keep your kitten happy. Being frustrated doesn’t mean that you don’t love your kitten and that there isn’t hope. It also doesn’t mean your kitten will be like this forever.
When Is A Cat A Kitten?
Kittenhood lasts from birth (duh) until around a year of age. After your cat turns one, they still have a period of social development after this, but they are generally slightly calmer than they are as kittens.
During the beginning of their life, kittens are just learning how to navigate the world and their senses are still developing. Their mother often does a lot of the work during this period of development. Kittens also do a lot of learning from litter mates in the first couple weeks and months of life so it’s recommended to wait to adopt a cat until they are 12 weeks old. If you adopt them earlier, you’ll have to do that work yourself.
Kitten Behavioral Development And Play
Once the kitten is mobile and has begun exploring their world, they often begin showing behaviors that people don’t enjoy. Kittens are still learning how to interact with other cats and humans so it makes sense that they’d do a few annoying things.
Some of the most important developmental tasks kittens need to complete is figuring out how to hunt. Normally, a queen will teach her kittens how to catch prey and litter mates will help with social development. They provide an outlet for all of that excessive energy that a kitten can have while learning how to be a cat.
It’s normal for a kitten to spend a lot of time playing… and I mean a lot of time! Even if you play with your kitten regularly, it may feel like they don’t ever settle down. Your kitten likely doesn’t quite understand how you want them to interact with you, either, because they haven’t had much time to interact with any humans. Sometimes their lack of understanding can result in attempts to play with you in less than pleasant ways.
Biting And Nipping
One behavior that may be a kitten’s attempt to play is nipping or biting. Kittens are especially prone to play aggression. Play aggression looks different than other forms of aggression in cats. They may sneak up on you and latch onto your leg with their paws and then bunny kick you or bite you. They may do the same thing to your arm or hands or silently follow you around and then pounce.
The bites that a kitten gives in these cases are usually not going to be very deep and they are less likely to injure you. The kitten will often release their bite quickly and they may also run away and an attempts to get you to play. They can still hurt, cause serious infections, and are distressing even if they’re just a misguided attempt at fun.
Preventing Bites
To prevent nips and bites, it’s very important that you don’t encourage the behavior: never use your hands or feet as toys. Make sure that, everyone in your household, including kids, roommates, and your partner, do not play with your kitten with their hands or feet, either. If some people go rogue and others stay the course, the kitten will think that it’s worth trying this method of play even with people who don’t use their body as toys. Consistency matters.
Instead, pick a toy that your kitten will love instead. It’s normal to try a few different toys before you get things right. The Cat Dancer or Cat Charmer are great toys to try.
Make Play Satisfying For Your Kitten
Playing with your kitten in a way that meets their need to play can help reduce the risk of a bite. If you have a particularly playful kitten, be cautious with the idea of “wearing a kitten out” because this can accidentally teach them to build stamina and keep playing longer. Focus on making plays satisfying. While I have a full guide on how to play with a cat, some quick suggestions for satisfying play:
- Play with the kitten in short bursts of 10 to 15 minutes over multiple sessions spread throughout the day. This is better than a single power session of play.
- Give your kitten some tasty treats or a small meal after play sessions. This helps close the hunting cycle like how it would end in nature: with a successful hunt being consumed.
- Kittens are more likely to play with solo play toys than adult cats are you should still play with them using an interactive toy.
- While lasers can appear to provide enjoyment for kittens, they can also be frustrating. Focus on using toys that your kitten can catch.
If you’re looking for more techniques to help make play fun for your kitten, Mikel Delgado wrote a fantastic and enjoyable book on playing with your cat.
Skip The Squirt Bottle
The solution to this type of aggression is never disciplining, startling, or using a squirt bottle on your kitten. In fact, all of these can actually increase aggressive behaviors. The squirt bottle, noise, or whatever else you use can increase arousal and make the cat more likely to want to play. It can shift the playfully aggressive behavior into a fear based aggression.
You don’t want that.
Destructive Behaviors
Kittens also scratch and chew on things as they explore their world. While it may be tempting to declaw your cat because you want to protect your couch, this can create lifelong problems that may show up right away or when your cat is a senior. Your cat may develop a litter box use problem, display aggressive behaviors, or have mobility issues.
Instead of declawing, make sure your kitten has plenty of places to scratch. For other destructive behaviors, ensure they cannot access anything that you do not want them to get into. This may mean having certain rooms be cat free zones or physically blocking your cat from getting into a space or getting thick cord protectors can help protect electronic wires. If you have plants, offer your kitten an alternative that they can chew on or place the plants in a location that the kitten cannot access.
Annoying But Normal
Climbing is a normal behavior for all cats, but kittens in particular are trying to figure out what this big, amazing world they’ve found themselves in is all about. It’s normal for them to jump on your counters and your table. Cats don’t see this is being “bad” because they’re just doing something that they feel a strong urge to do.
Rather than attempting to suppress the behavior, give your kitten an acceptable place to climb. A high quality cat tree is a very worthwhile and will channel the behavior into something acceptable.
Senior Cats And Kittens
If you have multiple cats in your home, whether they are a littermate of your new kitten or a resident cat, the kitten is going to try playing with them. It may be somewhat easier to introduce a kitten to other cats, remember that your senior cat probably isn’t going to enjoy the kitten attempts at play. I strongly recommend against adopting a kitten if you have a senior cat so you don’t need me for a long, complicated reintroduction. A better choice is an older cat that is personality matched or just letting your senior cat enjoy their remaining time.
If you decide to go with a kitten anyway, adopting two kittens at once may keep your senior cat safe as the kittens may keep each other occupied. It could also spectacularly backfire on you and you now have two kittens ganging up on the senior cat. Make sure you really think things through before adding a kitten.
When Will My Kitten’s Behavior Change?
Normal kitten behavior can be tough even if it is normal, but there is an end in sight. Much like with human children, as kittens get older, they will begin slowing down. Their energy levels will likely still be high into early adulthood, but many behaviors tend to decrease in frequency or intensity as the kitten’s brain develops. While many of these behaviors will continue to some degree into adulthood, most folks find them more tolerable when they aren’t constant.
If it doesn’t sound like you have the time, patience, or desire to have a kitten around, that’s OK! Kittens are not for everyone. Before adopting a kitten, make sure you have plenty of time to fulfill their needs. Even if you do have a second kitten, that doesn’t mean you can just let the cats do their own thing without any input.
If you want a cat but don’t feel like a kitten is the right fit, consider adopting an adult or a senior cat instead. You’ll still have a friend that you will develop a deep bond with as you get to know them and will have many years of joyful memories with them and you’ll preserve your own sanity. That’s a win on multiple levels!
Overwhelmed By Your Kitten?
Regardless of if your kitten’s behavior is normal, that doesn’t mean it is something you have to just accept. If you are stressed out, frustrated, and at your wit’s end with your kitten, there is help available. I can help you figure out a solution to help make life more purrs and less tears so you can focus on enjoying your time with that sweet new kitten. It all starts with a consultation and an individualized behavior plan.
