My kitten /cat retaliates when he's accidentally hurt or angered by something I do - am I right?

Question

I have a 4 month old kitten - adorable but I have noticed that he will retaliate if something causes him irritation/pain. Of COURSE I have never injured him deliberately but once I trod on his toe and he flew at me and bit me, then a few weeks back he was naughty and I picked him up by the scruff of his neck (which I've only done twice and first time he was fine) and again he bit me a few seconds after I put him down and was speaking in a gentle voice to him.

He did it again today after he trapped his paw near me on my computer desk. NOTHING to do with me but he still came up and bit me a good 20 seconds afterwards - like he was storing up to get revenge. I said no loudy and put him in another room but when I opened the door into the lounge again after coming up and giving me a big welcoming nuzzle he bit me again! The bites don't really hurt but I have trained him so carefully over the past few weeks and often days will pass without any bites at all and this seems to be the only time he goes for it. And am I reading into it but he looks like he hates me when he does it!

He's otherwise lovely and cuddly and generally predictable and I love him SOO much but this behaviour is TOTALLY freaking me out!

Answer 1

Sounds like defensive and redirected aggression. When you stepped on him and scruffed him, you hurt him. He reacted by biting to make you stop hurting him.

When he got his foot caught, he was in pain. He needed an outlet or expression for that pain and anger, so he bit what was available - you. Biting you after you let him out of the room was probably due to his still being agitated. Again, it was a release. Haven't you ever wanted to hurt something after you were hurt?

You can't humanely teach a cat to tolerate pain any better. Just do your best to avoid hurting him (no more scruffing) and stay clear of him for 15 minutes or so after he is hurt (as long as you know he isn't seriously injured).

Answer 2

He's just being a kitten. I wouldn't worry about it. If that's the worst he does, you're very lucky!

Answer 3

When a kitten is hurt, they bite. When a kitten is playing with you, they bite. My kitten attacks my feet every morning, biting me as if I were an intruder. Your kitten is just being a kitten. He is learning to be a cat thru his play. All these skills will be important to him when he grows up. Be patient.

Answer 4

He is just being a kitten.  All kittens act like that.  It is their form of playing.  

Don't worry -- he sounds like he loves you!!!  

Remember not to punish kittens for they don't understand it -- they don't have the intellectual capacity to understand punishment that you may use on a 2 year old.

Kittens just bite sometimes.  Afterall, they are teething.

I assure you, he just sounds like a normal boy!  

He is playing with you and trying to get your attention; I don't think it sounds aggresive.

Answer 5

I think he is just playing and your reading to much into it, just be patiant he's only a baby.