Biting kitten needs activities
Q: Stinky, my 4-monthold neutered male kitten, frequently jumps on the back of Snow, my 17-year-old spayed female cat, and tries to bite her neck. This is causing Snow a lot of stress. Why is Stinky doing this, and is there some way to make him stop?
Dr. Nichol: Stinky and Snow? Seriously, are those their real names? And who wrote this question? Did Snow have something to do with it? Or was it Stinky, that little scamp?
These things can happen even in the best families. Despite being neutered, Stinky may be experimenting with sexual behavior, although kittens may also engage in predatory and play activity and get it all wrong. Consider what goes on just prior to the encounter. Mounting and biting Snow’s neck following a brief interaction could be Stinky’s idea of courtship. On the other hand, if this hoodlum hides behind a door and ambushes the old biddy as she shuffles off to bed, it’s likely that he’s honing his stalking and hunting skills. Or he may be taking a nip at the elder feline because he’s frustrated that she won’t play.
There is nothing wrong with your boy. While Snow may be lobbying you to ship him off to military school, Stinky just needs healthy after-school activities. Cats naturally hunt in the evenings. Help this gadfly scratch his predatory itch with feathers-on-a-stick or laser pointer on the wall games. Cast a “furry mouse” from a child’s fishing pole as you enjoy a mindless sitcom.
Stinky should stay occupied during the day as well. Rather than snacking on dry food, he can forage for his sustenance like the wild beast he truly is. Lose the food bowl and pack a couple of food toys with canned kitten food (ideal for healthy cats of all ages). He’ll work his jaw muscles and stimulate the specialized nerve endings in his face as he focuses on survival, rather than on adolescent shenanigans.
You can expand Stinky’s horizons even more by allowing him outside, keeping him safely in his yard with an Invisible Fence (505-474-7387). A playmate his own age could also enrich his life. Choose wisely. Match a confident, assertive personality to the rough and tumble Stinky or you’ll end up with a dictatorship.