How to get kitten to stop biting and scratching

gabbyk

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My 6 week old kitten is very playful and likes to bite and scratch. As he is getting older he is starting to hurt and leave teeth marks. I try to stop him but it never works. Ever time he bites or Scratches I put him down and yell. He just comes right back up and does the same thing continuously. He even bites and a scrapes at my face when My hand is hidden and he can't bite it. I don't know what to do. It is very painful and he is very rough but I don't think he means to hurt me
 

lykakitty

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What kind of yelling do you mean? Cats don't respond well to the negative reinforcement of yelling (no animal does, but cats especially). What I always do is make a squealy/yelpy sound like a kitten being hurt and walk away. Ignore him for a few minutes and then try again. It takes some time, especially with more stubborn cat, but it's the most effective way. Kittens learn to be gentle with their teeth and claws from their littermates, who yelp and stop playing if they get tok rough, and mimicking a littermate who's been bitten or clawed too hard is the best way to teach them, since it follows the way their brains are wired to learn.
 

rpandcat

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You could also try and re-direct his attention. If he gets the idea that he can scratch and bite a toy--to get out his urge to scratch and bite--combined with the high pitched squeal (like LykaKitty said) should get his attention to go somewhere and something else. If playing with the toy (cats like lures a lot) makes him satisfied, he'll be super happy because then he gets to stalk, pounce, and bite the toy--and you're helping him, and you're both enjoying it... :)
 
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