Five ways to stop a cat biting and scratching

Our cats may have developed their own special meows just for us, though there are many other ways for them to tell us how they’re feeling. Two of those other methods of communication are biting and scratching.

Whether your kitten is puncturing hands with tiny teeth, or your adult cat is ruining furniture, biting and scratching are undesirable behaviours as far as pet parents are concerned. But, have you ever taken a moment to consider the reason behind your feline friend’s biting and/or scratching?

We’re about to explore the causes of biting and scratching, along with discovering some top tips on discouraging such negative behaviours in positive ways…

Why does my cat bite me?

There could be many reasons behind your cat’s biting behaviour, including:

• Fear – your cat could be afraid of being handled.
• Lack of enrichment – an inability to exercise natural behaviours may cause a build-up of unused energy.
• Stress – some cats can feel anxious about the amount of time you’re interacting with them, or they’re stressed about changes in circumstances.
• Overexcitement – if your cat has previously learned to associate biting with play, then they might believe that biting you is part of the fun.
• Miscommunication – since cats communicate many of their feelings through body language, there’s a chance you’ve missed signals they’re trying to send before they’ve resorted to biting you.
• Discomfort – it’s possible your cat is in pain or feeling unwell if they suddenly start biting you for no apparent reason. 

Why does my cat keep scratching everything?

While having your furniture damaged can be a big problem, your cat’s scratching behaviour could be caused by:

• Natural instincts – your cat will feel naturally inclined to keep their claws sharp, just as their wild ancestors did in preparation for climbing and hunting.
• Communication – if yours is a household of several cats, it’s highly likely they scratch against furniture to scent mark for the benefit of other cats.
• Entertainment – many cats enjoy scratching as a form of play or curiosity about different materials.
• Boredom – cats who don’t have opportunity to exercise their natural behaviours tend to resort to destructive behaviour.

1 – Check their health

Sudden changes in your cat’s behaviour, that result in biting and/or scratching, could indicate an underlying health concern. Contact your vet for advice – if there’s not a problem with your cat’s health, your vet might refer you to a feline behaviourist. 

2 – Create a sense of calm

The creation of a calm environment can help to lower your cat’s anxiety levels, which might relieve any biting and/or scratching behaviours caused by stress. 

Ways to cultivate a calm environment include:

• Ensuring all your cat’s needs are met, e.g. food, water, sleeping space, litter tray, scratching post, short bursts of play and affection on their terms, etc.
• Providing a safe space for your cat to hide when they feel overwhelmed.
• Keeping your home environment as quiet as possible.
• Cleaning any areas your cat has scratched (using cat-safe products) – which may lower their natural drive to repeatedly return to scratching at the same spots.
• Opting to use calming plug-ins – upon veterinary advice.

3 – Praise them whenever they’re gentle

Through positive reinforcement, you could train your cat to understand how to behave by rewarding them when they’re gentle or when they choose their scratching post over your furniture.

It’s also helpful to avoid reinforcing your cat’s unwanted behaviour, by ignoring them when they bite you or scratch at furniture. Sometimes, cats might bite or scratch to get attention. By removing your attention when they bite or scratch, you’re taking away the incentive for your cat to continue that behaviour.  

4 – Help them enjoy more exercise

For cats whose biting and scratching result from having too much energy, it’s essential to make sure they’re getting enough exercise. Developing a reliable routine that involves daily play for 10-15 minutes may support your cat to utilise any extra energy – plus, playing with your cat could strengthen your bond!

Inspiration for other games and homemade toys to encourage your cat to exercise can be found in our article about exercising your indoor cat.

5 – Redirect their energy

Redirecting your cat’s energy from biting you or scratching furniture can be effective at preventing their undesirable behaviour. If they’re about to bite you, put a toy in front of your cat and engage in playing with them instead of allowing them to continue biting. But, whenever your cat is scratching furniture, gently redirecting them to their scratching post, then praising them for using it, could eventually discourage them from being destructive.  

To speak to a vet expert at any time, from the comfort of your own home, you could download the Joii Pet Care app for extra support and advice.