How To Stop A Kitten From Biting And Scratching Furniture?

If your kitten is scratching, biting or hissing at you and the other cats in the household, it’s time to take action.

Kittens are cute little bundles of energy that need to be trained so they know how to behave in a household with other pets and humans.

The good news is that kittens have an incredible ability to learn new things when they’re young. If you start training them right away, they’ll be much easier to handle as adults.

How to Stop your Cat from Scratching Furniture (8 Tips)

Takeaways
Training and behavior management can help with biting and scratching issues in kittens.
Providing appropriate toys and playtime can redirect their attention away from furniture.
Positive reinforcement and rewards can encourage desired behaviors and discourage unwanted ones.
Scratching posts and alternative surfaces should be provided to give kittens a designated place to scratch.
Consistency and patience are key when training kittens to stop biting and scratching furniture.

Trim The Claws

Trimming the claws regularly is a simple and easy way to stop your kitten from scratching. You can do this yourself using a cat nail clipper, or, if you are nervous about doing it yourself, take your kitten to the vet.

The vet will trim the nails while keeping them as long as possible so that they don’t hurt the cat when they walk on hard floors.

If you choose to cut their claws, be sure that you trim them frequently enough so that they don’t grow too long and catch on furniture or carpets (which can cause injury).

Addressing alpha dog behavior is crucial for establishing a harmonious relationship with your pet. Our article on stopping alpha dog behavior provides valuable insights and effective training techniques to ensure a well-behaved and respectful pet.

Use A Scratching Post

If your kitten is biting or scratching the furniture, consider using a scratching post. This way, you’ll be able to redirect his biting and scratching behavior into something that won’t damage your furniture.

Here are some tips for getting your kitten started:

Make sure the scratching post is tall enough for him to stretch up and scratch it while standing on his hind legs. The ideal height should be around 6 inches (15 cm).

Make sure the scratching post is sturdy and stable so he doesn’t knock it over when he scratches it with his claws. Also make sure that there aren’t any loose strings or threads hanging from it—because those are likely to end up in kitty’s mouth!

Finally, make sure that the material used on top of the scratching board (or base) attracts your kitten’s attention—he’ll want a surface that feels good under his paws!

Deterrent Sprays

Deterrent sprays can be used to keep your kitten from scratching furniture. These sprays are a temporary solution, however, and should only be used sparingly.

You should never spray the kitten with the deterrent spray, nor should you use it on the furniture in your home.

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Catnip & Catnip Spray

Catnip is a natural herb that cats love, and catnip spray is a great way to keep your kitten entertained. Cats love the smell of catnip and it’s a great way to distract them from scratching furniture.

To make your own catnip spray, you can use hot water or warm milk (depending on what kind of consistency you want) by adding 1 teaspoon of dried catnip per cup of liquid.

Stir it until the catnip dissolves completely into the solution, then store it in an airtight container in order to preserve its freshness for longer (you can also add other herbs like mint or lavender if you want).

To use: simply spray some onto your kitten’s toys or scratching posts and watch them go wild!

Point
Offer catnip toys or sprinkle catnip on scratching posts
Use catnip spray on toys, beds, or scratching surfaces
Introduce catnip gradually to observe your cat’s reaction
Provide fresh and high-quality catnip for maximum effect
Monitor your cat’s response to catnip and use in moderation

Play With Your Kitten

One of the best ways to stop your kittens from scratching and biting is to play with them. Playtime doesn’t need to be complicated, but it does need to be regular.

The easiest way to do this is by setting aside a few minutes every day where you play with your kitten(s) in a way that they enjoy and don’t get bored with.

A good place to start is with something like hide-and-seek. It can even just be hiding behind an object or furniture while they try and find you!

If you have more than one cat, another great game idea is “chase each other around the house”. This one works best if there are multiple doors leading outside; if not, then it might take some creativity on how exactly these two cats are supposed to get out (maybe through windows?). Just make sure that no one gets hurt when playing this game!

Be Patient

Being patient is key. Your kitten will learn quickly, but it’s going to take some time and patience on your part.

Set aside times each day when you can play with them and interact with them. If they are busy playing with toys, don’t try to distract them unless they have been scratching furniture for a long time (more than a minute).

If they are scratching furniture, do not yell at them or scold them in any way – this will just make the problem worse!

Is your dog constantly chewing on cat toys? Discover effective methods to tackle this issue in our comprehensive guide on stopping dogs from chewing on cat toys. By redirecting their attention to appropriate toys, you can ensure a peaceful coexistence between your dog and cat.

Keep Their Mouths Busy

Provide your kitten with toys to chew on. When kittens are teething, they will bite and scratch anything that feels good in their mouth.

Toys made of soft rubber or fabric can help distract them from biting your furniture or hands. Make sure you only offer toys that are designed for cats and avoid hard plastic items, which could damage their teeth and gums if they try to chew them.

Give them something to bite instead of your hand. If you’re getting bitten while trying to pet your cat, place a toy in front of its face so that it’ll go after the toy instead of your fingers!

Provide a scratching post for them to use instead of scratching the floor or furniture

Point
Provide chew toys and interactive treat dispensers
Offer dental chews and bones for chewing
Use puzzle toys to engage their minds
Incorporate food-dispensing toys in their routine
Provide appropriate rawhide or bully sticks

Give Them Stimulating Toys To Play With.

Give them stimulating toys to play with. Instead of simply using a catnip toy, use different types of toys that will keep your kitten interested.

This can be anything from a ball on a string to interactive laser pointers, which will encourage them to use their natural predatory instincts and help strengthen their developing muscles at the same time.

Make sure they are safe and not toxic: When choosing any kind of toy for your kitten, make sure it is both safe and not toxic in case they chew on it or ingest any part of it while playing (such as when they bite into an indestructible ball).

For example, if you give them something like fur mice or tiny stuffed animals made with soft materials like cotton wool, be sure that it isn’t made out of polyester material; this is particularly dangerous for cats because it resembles raw chicken meat—the kind most felines love but should never eat!

Create A Safe Space For Them

The first thing you need to do if you want to stop your kitten from biting and scratching is provide them with a safe space.

Put up a partition in the room, or create some type of barrier that will provide them with their own little area where they can play without being bothered by other pets, or children.

This doesn’t have to be anything fancy—a cardboard box covered by a towel works great. Make sure it’s big enough for them so they can run around comfortably and get plenty of exercise while playing there!

When it comes to choosing cat toys for kittens, size matters. Learn about the ideal size of cat toys in our article on how small cat toys can be to provide safe and engaging playtime options that will keep your kittens entertained and prevent them from turning to furniture as a source of entertainment.

Give Them Attention And Love

You can stop your kitten from biting and scratching furniture by giving them lots of attention when they are not being destructive.

This means paying them lots of love when they are not in their favorite spot on the couch. Give them all the affection you have, every single day.

Make sure that your little furry friend knows that you care about them, and let them know just how much you love them.

Point
Spend quality time with your pet
Engage in interactive play sessions
Offer affectionate gestures and petting
Provide verbal praise and positive reinforcement
Show interest in their activities and needs

Provide Scratch-Friendly Alternatives

Cat trees. These are tall structures, with multiple levels and platforms where cats can climb, jump and play. They’re great for cats to scratch or sleep on.

Cat towers or condos. These look like miniature houses and come in all shapes, sizes and colors.

Some have perches at different heights so your kitten can easily reach each one as he grows larger over time; others are covered in carpeting, so your cat can scratch them comfortably while you watch TV or work on the computer nearby!

You may even want to consider placing one near the door so if there’s an emergency at night (like a fire alarm going off), then it’s easy enough for everyone nearby to escape quickly without disturbing their slumbering kitty friends sleeping inside their homes made out of cardboard boxes taped together with duct tape…but that’s not recommended because then what happens when there’s no more cardboard left?

Scratching posts: Kittens love nothing more than scratching things! Make sure they have plenty of options though – especially because most kittens get bored pretty quickly when it comes down too much repetition…and after all these years I still haven’t found anything better than those little “fingernail scratchers” which always seem just large enough for me but never quite big enough either way.”

Engage your creative side and make cool cat toys with our easy guide on creating cool cat toys. By offering unique and stimulating toys, you can divert your kittens’ attention from furniture and promote positive play behaviors.

Distract Them From Destructive Behaviors

Give Them Something To Do

If your kitten is biting or scratching the furniture, first you need to stop them from doing so. When they are biting and scratching, distract them with something else like a toy or treat. You can also spray catnip on their toys to get them interested in playing with it instead of your furniture.

Play With Them

This will help create a bond between you and your kitten by giving him something fun to do and keeping him entertained at the same time!

Just be sure not to overdo it since too much playtime can lead into his destructive behavior later on down the road when he gets bored again (and trust me – this happens!).

Conclusion

As you can see, there are a lot of ways to get your kitten to stop biting and scratching. You just have to figure out what works best for you and your cat!

FAQs

How can I discourage my kitten from biting?

To discourage biting behavior in kittens, you can try the following techniques:

Engage in interactive play with appropriate toys to redirect their biting instincts.
Avoid using your hands as playthings and provide them with chew toys.
Use positive reinforcement by rewarding them when they display gentle play behavior.

Implement time-outs by withdrawing attention and ending playtime if they bite.

What should I do if my kitten scratches furniture?

If your kitten scratches furniture, you can take the following steps:

Provide suitable scratching posts or boards as an alternative.

Encourage and reward your kitten for using the scratching posts.
Use deterrents like double-sided tape or aluminum foil on the furniture to discourage scratching.
Trim your kitten’s nails regularly to reduce the potential damage caused by scratching.

Is it possible to train a kitten to stop scratching the couch?

Yes, it is possible to train a kitten to stop scratching the couch. You can try these methods:

Offer attractive scratching surfaces near the couch.
Use positive reinforcement by rewarding your kitten when they use the designated scratching area.

Use deterrents like catnip spray on the couch or covers to make it less appealing.
Provide alternative activities and toys to keep your kitten engaged and distracted from the couch.

How long does it take to stop a kitten from biting and scratching?

The duration to stop a kitten from biting and scratching varies for each individual kitten. With consistent training and redirection, most kittens can show improvement within a few weeks. However, it’s important to be patient and consistent in your training efforts.

What if my kitten continues to bite and scratch despite training?

If your kitten continues to exhibit biting and scratching behaviors despite your training efforts, it may be beneficial to consult with a professional animal behaviorist or veterinarian. They can provide personalized guidance and advice tailored to your kitten’s specific needs.

Dr. Hellen James (Vet)

I’m Dr. Hellen James, a professional veterinarian with a deep interest in the ways that litter size affects the health of animals. I’ve spent years studying this subject and performing research on reproduction in many different kinds of creatures.