Why Do Cats Bite Each Other When They Play

During a play session biting is often minimal and does not cause any harm.

Why do cats bite each other when they play. Some cats will do this because they like to and will do it to other cats stuffed animals dogs etc. Young kittens will bite or scratch each other or their owners as part of play and this is normal. The longer you own your cats the easier it will be to stop a fight. But most common reason why this type of bite happens is because they play too roughly with you as it is their natural behavior.

Rough play is normal in kittens and cats up to about 2 years old and that includes biting each other under the neck. The cats will chase each other tackle and resume aggression. At this stage a cat will play with its siblings from a litter. While some play fighting can get a bit too rough there is still a stark difference between the two types of behavior.

If your cat s don t get along start by doing individual sessions so they don t have to compete with each other. The reason is that cats that do not like each other will not groom each other. This kind of behavior usually happen when your cat is scared or something. It may also because they can sense other cat in their territory.

However if you notice one cat biting the other in order to cause harm then your cats are probably fighting instead of playing. Cats are predators who were born to move. Screams and squeals are often the vocal byproducts. Cats often bite during play because they are expressing their natural hunting instinct.

This is a quick way to kill prey so your cat is likely keeping his hunting skills sharp. If they start out with licking chances are they are playing. Cat biting when playing. Make sure the cat doing this behavior has plenty of playtime toys and stimulation.

If a cat is separated from littermates too soon it will not learn this lesson. Whenever your cat engages in play that uses their paws but not their claws or teeth reward them with plenty of affection and a reward or treat. You can discourage the behaviour by praising them for gentle play during bonding sessions. For example if one of the cats yelps out in pain and hisses or growls then your cats may be engaged in a fight.

Biting is a big part of this play. Usually by about four months of age play biting and scratching should subside. The cats teach each other how hard biting can be before it grows painful. As american zoologist explains cats play together most between the ages of 4 weeks and 4 months.

If a kitten spends time around other kittens or their mother these behaviors may subside faster as they learn more quickly by first hand experience from their furry family members that biting and scratching hurt. In some cases the reason cats may turn on each other is because they have no other outlet for their energy. If it doesn t bother your other cat then maybe it is not worth worrying about.