How can you keep a kitten from scratching and biting people

Cats don't like loud noises and your kitty will pick up on your body language right away if you ignore her or act detached. Kittens will instinctively try to scratch and bite as a form of play, but it should not be in an aggressive manner. Also, cats need to release energy by scratching so it wise to have a scratching post handy so they can relieve their tensions by scratching. It is amazing but they instinctively know what to do when presented with a scratching device. Here in the United States at Target Store they sell a corrugated cardboard scratching slab. My cat took to it instantly and he does not scratch my leather sofa or carpet, etc. He knows that is his and that is what it is for. Included in the package is a little bag of catnip. What he usually does is he goes and eats some food and then scratches or after we finish petting him he goes and scratches. You should have your renter try that out. I think you might be pleasantly surprised with this contraption. And by all means please have your renter get her the stick with the feathers, etc. attached. That should do it.

As others have already said, scratching and biting is pretty normal behaviour for a kitten. It is actually just treating you as if you where it's mother and play fighting with you. A kittens claws and teeth won't hurt an adult cat (much) but your bare skin is much more vulnerable as I know very well from two years ago when a kitten that I was bringing up took to climbing up my legs at every oppotunity. He was on his own, (there was no other kitten that he could play with) so he looked on me as "mother" and all that he was trying to do was to get up to my head so that he could greet me properly. (nose touch and face rub ) He is now 2 years old and almost never tries to climb up my legs now! Last year I was bringing up two more kittens, and since there were two, they were able to direct their play fighting at each other and leave my legs alone! Part of your problem is that the kitten is on it's own and has no-one but you to play fight with. Providing toys that it can play with is OK but it would be better if you spent as much time as you can playing with it.

Kittens just scratch and bite. If you play games that encourage chasing they do it more. I would have to see what you mean though, as they do it in different ways. I have been known to use a spray bottle and spray them lightly and say "no" but some people do not agree with that. I have also had good luck, if the cat is scratching, with folding my hand around his paw and moving it and saying no. I do not hit or slap because they think that is a game and hit and slap back and claw you at the same time.

It is normal, but if it continues, a flick on the nose with a finger will discourage her. Not real hard, but try your best to get right in the area around the nose, it stings and makes them back off. I've finally had to resort to doing this with Booboo who is nearly 6 years old.

No it is not normal for kittens to scratch and bite if they are not being threatened or violated. In normal cases kittens are actually well behaved. I believe that kitten is a bad kitten and must be isolated because kitten has rabbis and I've heard the rabbis of cats is even more dangerous than that of dogs. I don't know if this is true but it is better just take the necessary precaution.

Scratching is one thing. It is normal. Kittens learning to climb have to dig their claws into something to pull themselves up. In an older cat, it would be helpful to have her nails cut. Biting is a different problem. I once had a cat that bit me so hard and so often that I finally had to have her put to sleep. The vet says that some cats are just like that. Even medication won't help.

It is very normal. Is there another cat or kitten? They teach each other, and if the kitten grows up alone, it won't learn to not bite and keep its claws in.

if he had another cat to play with, kitten that is, he would probably get out a lot of this aggression and be able to be more calm with people. are you sure the renter is not playing rough with him and causing this also? cat toys would probably help. he will eventually grow out of this i think.

use jeans, you will not feel the biting then

Dont worry, it's just behaving as a kitten should. I too was a dog owner and never had any experience of having a cat, until last year. When we first got this kitten he would bite and scratch us all the time, never stayed still either. He is a year old and is a totally different cat now, he only bites the dog now ha. I think they bite as they are teething and scratch as they don't even know the sharpness of their claws. Also try blow air into the kittens face if it bites or scratches, our cat hated this, so whenever he misbehaved we blew in his face to try stop him from biting again...it worked somewhat! Best of luck.

I am a registered vet tech and have had cats my whole life. Not only have I raised my own cats to be good house pets, I have guided others over the last 15 years to do the same. First of all, you are handling it correctly, by Scruffing the kitten and moving it away. Better than a firm "No!" would be "OWWW!" and pull away [nearly] dramatically pulling your arms and legs close to you. Then ignore them. This body language tells the kitten that the behavior is painful and unacceptable. Kitten play, by nature, is rough, it involves grabbing, biting, scratching (unintentionally), etc. As it is this play that prepares them for life as an adult because, by instinct & design, they are predators. Discourage rough play because, as funny and cute as it is as a kitten, it will encourage this throughout life. I don't need to explain how it is not cute when they weight 13 lbs. Encourage play with toys, especially the interactive type. Wands with feathers, toys on strings, a ball in a track that they can spin around, are all available at local pet stores. They encourage natural play and the interactive play strengthens the bond between cat and the people around it. Also the rings from gallons of milk and the like make great toys for cats of all ages. And they come free with a product you need anyway. Some cats learn to play fetch with them. Hope this helps!

Yea. This is normal for kittens. My cat did that alot when he was a kitten and would sometimes get very agressive but i would just look it in the eye and say NO! in a very firm voice and now he doesnt do it anymore. But you must make sure you let it know it is wrong or else it might still do it when it is an adult and when cats are fully grown their bites hurt!