It’s always an exciting time when your family cat has kittens. Sometimes, you may notice strange behavior from the momma cat where it seems she may act aggressively towards them. Sometimes, momma cats can take things too far and start biting their kittens. While this sounds concerning, I’ll explain why this happens and what you can do about it.
In most cases, cats usually bite their kittens while grooming and cleaning. They do this to gain their attention and stimulate a playful response. They can also bite them when trying to discipline or teach them a lesson. However, depending on their personalities, a cat may bite her kittens because she’s uncomfortable or feels threatened.
Understanding the reason behind your cat’s behavior is essential for correcting it. Let’s see what you can do about it.
Biting Behavior Break Down
As stated above, I’ll go over each of these behaviors in detail.
Good Hygiene and Playing:
The most likely answer to your question is that the momma cat is biting her kittens while grooming them or initiating playful behavior. Biting is a common way that cats can communicate with each other. While this form of biting is not inherently bad, the solution is to ensure that the momma and kittens have plenty of playtime, toys, and stimulation.
Trying to Discipline Them:
If your cat is biting her kittens to discipline them, it’s essential to understand that this is normal behavior. Cats are natural disciplinarians and will often use biting as a way to get their point across. However, if you feel like your cat is biting her kittens too hard or too often, you may want to intervene.
Teaching Them a Lesson:
Another reason your cat may be biting her kittens is that she’s trying to teach them a lesson. For example, if a kitten bit too hard, the mother cat may bite back to show them that it hurts. This is another normal aspect of feline behavior and shouldn’t be cause for concern. This behavior acts as a “real-life lesson” because she is showing how to defend themselves and potentially dangerous situations.
Communication:
The momma cat may simply be communicating to her kittens throughout the day, such as keeping them from dangerous situations or keeping them from misbehaving and running too far away from her and getting lost. She will also often use biting as a way to move her kittens, such as grabbing them at the back of the neck to move faster with them in tow.
She Feels Threatened:
In some cases and depending on the momma cat’s personality, a cat may bite her kittens because she feels threatened. This can happen if there are other animals in the home or if the mother cat doesn’t feel like she has enough space. If this is the case, you’ll need to provide your cat with more space and security.
How do I get my cat to stop biting her kitten?
There are a few things you can do to get your cat to stop biting her kittens.
Try Understanding The Reason:
First, try to understand the reason behind the behavior. If your cat is biting her kittens because she’s trying to discipline them, you may want to let her continue. Try redirecting their playtime towards toys or puzzle feeders to give them a positive outlet for their energy. However, if she’s feeling threatened or doesn’t have enough space, you’ll need to take action. This may mean getting another litter box or creating a safe space for her to retreat to.
Conclusion:
Biting is a normal part of feline behavior, but that doesn’t mean you have to tolerate it. If your cat is biting her kittens too hard or too often, take action to correct the behavior. With a little patience and understanding, you can get your cat to stop biting her kittens for good.
