Playing roughly with any pet is not a good idea because it teaches them that it is fun to be aggressive with people and that can lead to the animal being put down. Do not let a kitten bite or scratch your hands. Move away if it does, and yell “Ow!” or “No!” and stop playing.
Don't use your hands to pin the cat down or wrestle with her. In addition to the danger of you ending up injured, it changes the tone from play to battle where the cat views you as an opponent. Cats don't wrestle their prey to the ground and they don't want to be wrestled to the ground by an adult human.
Be careful to never use your hands or feet as toys during play. Although it may seem cute with kittens, as your kitten grows into a cat, he will believe this is an appropriate form of play. Scratching or biting can lead to painful injuries and infections.
If your cats really are besties (sleep in close contact and share food and toys) the occasional bit of agonistic play is okay. But if your cats don't get on as well, you might need to watch for signs of agonistic behaviours. Tension between cats is not always obvious, but can affect their physical and mental health.
NEVER use your fingers or toes to play with the kitten. What might be cute at 10 weeks is painful at 10 months! Responding to a kitten's forceful rough play with force is inappropriate and must be avoided. Never hit, swat at, or scruff your kitten as this may inadvertently injure your kitten.
Never, ever use your hand to play with a cat. Or any other body part, for that matter. Rough hand play is a recipe for disaster, or at least a shredded hand, and if part of that shredding involves a cat bite, a trip to urgent care. So don't get started on that, or if you've already done that, stop now.
Lack of play and stimulation can also lead to stress-related health issues and obesity. Ideally, your cat is getting regular, daily interactive play with you. This is the best kind of play for supporting their health and behavior. However, many cats need more than we can provide directly.
If both cats are actively engaged in chasing, wrestling, pouncing, or other interactive behaviors without either one showing signs of being upset or stressed, then let them carry on. Otherwise, separate the cats for the well-being of all.
It probably feels like your four-legged fur baby has got it in for you, but these perceived acts of aggression are actually an indicator of affection. That can be quite difficult to fathom, right? But it's true; they're actually “love bites” rather than a defense mechanism.
Cats in particular can be very sensitive to touch and will let you know if they're OK with a cuddle or stroking via body language. Purring is almost always a good sign, but turning away, trying to escape, scratching or hissing are signs that it's time to stop.
Single kitten syndrome is the idea that young kittens, when raised with other young kittens and cats and then adopted into a home by themselves, can become aggressive, anxious, stressed, and even develop behavioral issues like inappropriate chewing/scratching and inappropriately using the litterbox.
Cats paw at us out of instinct, by accident, to give or get affection, and to get our attention. Most times, when cats paw at us, it means nothing serious. Sometimes, however, they are getting our attention to tell us that they are sick or in pain.
Play aggression in cats involves uninhibited biting, clawing, stalking, and attacking other cats. In most cases, this behavior peaks in the morning and evenings, which are the natural hunting times for a wild cat. Play can lead to overstimulation and escalate to aggression.
“Several shorter play sessions tend to suit many cats better than one longer one.” Four 10-minute sessions a day is a reasonable guidepost, says Dr. Osborne. Keep in mind, however, that every cat is different and has their own unique exercise requirements.
You can slowly increase your cat's physical and respiratory strength by consistently and incrementally extending your play sessions, but there is a point he just won't be able to pass. You're better off increasing the number of play sessions and keeping the length short than exhausting him in one marathon session.
Clap. Cats don't really like loud noises. Because of this, another option for disciplining your cat is to clap your hands a couple of times loudly. This will likely startle your cat and cause them to stop doing their destructive behavior.
The good news is, despite their reputations for being antisocial, cats love bonding and they do forgive and forget. So, if you're at a loss as to how you're going to rebuild trust and affection with your cat, don't fret.
Hissing and Vocalization
The sounds your cats make during play can tell you much about whether it's turning too rough. Hissing, growling, and screaming are the definitive clues that your cat is saying, “back off” to their brother or sister cat companion. Most cats don't vocalize when they are playing and having fun.
Never let the cats “fight it out.” Cats don't resolve their issues through fighting, and the fighting usually just gets worse. Interrupt aggression with a loud clap of your hands or spray from a water gun. Neuter the cats.
Fighting can lead to some nasty injuries on cats, especially from cat bites. It may also leave your cat feeling very stressed, which can also cause some serious illnesses, so it's best to do what you can to prevent your cat fighting in the first place.
Other cat health and behavior experts offer similar recommendations, with the total amount of playtime ranging from 20 to 60 minutes daily. Playtime should be split into multiple 10- to 15-minute segments as cats are naturally active in short bursts.
Cats, while often independent creatures, still crave attention and love, in addition to their obvious nutritional needs of fresh water, clean litter, and food. If you decide to bring a cat or kitten into your home, you should be prepared to spend at least 20 minutes a day giving your cat loving one-on-one attention.
Key takeaway. Understanding when and where it is safe to pet a cat is important for your safety and theirs. While every cat is different, most felines prefer to be pet on their back, chin, around the cheeks, ears, and on their forehead. Many cats dislike being pet on their tail, tummy, or feet.