Cats swatting or batting at kittens with their paws is a common sight in many households. If you’re a new cat owner witnessing this feline behavior for the first time, it can look quite alarming and concerning.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Cat hits kitten with paw as a form of communication and correction. It’s typically not meant to harm the kitten but rather to teach proper etiquette.
In this comprehensive article, we’ll explore in detail the various reasons why cats hit kittens with their paws, when you should be concerned, and how to curb this behavior through positive reinforcement.
Reasons Why Cats Bat at Kittens
Establishing Dominance and Setting Boundaries
Adult cats often bat at kittens to show their dominance and set boundaries. As kittens grow, they become more playful and curious, sometimes overstepping their boundaries with adult cats. A quick paw bat is a way for the adult cat to say “that’s enough” or “don’t do that.”
It helps establish the pecking order in the home. This is normal cat behavior, as long as the bats don’t lead to aggressive fighting.
Communication and Correction
Cats also bat at kittens as a form of communication and correction. For example, a mother cat may bat at kittens that are nursing too roughly. Or an adult cat may bat at a kitten trying to play at an inconvenient time. It’s a way to communicate “not now” or “be gentle.”
The paw bats help teach kittens boundaries and proper cat etiquette from an early age.
Overstimulation
Kittens are full of energy and curiosity, which can sometimes overwhelm an adult cat. All of that enthusiastic playing, pouncing, and pawing from a kitten can overstimulate an adult cat. A quick paw bat is one way a cat may react if they feel overstimulated.
It’s a warning to the kitten to settle down a bit and give them some space.
Instinctive Predatory Behavior
Batting at kittens can also stem from a cat’s natural predatory instincts. Cats are hunters, so they often enjoy pouncing, chasing, and batting at smaller moving objects. This includes batting at toys, strings, bugs, and sometimes kittens too! It’s not true aggression, just play behavior and instinct.
As long as the kitten isn’t distressed and the adult cat isn’t too rough, it’s nothing to worry about.
Attention Seeking
Sometimes cats bat at kittens simply to get attention. For example, an older kitten or adult cat may bat at a younger kitten to get them to play. Or they may want attention from their human and bat at the kitten to redirect the person’s focus.
Gentle paw batting can be an invitation to play or interact. However, persistent batting when the kitten is clearly not interested could signal some stress or jealousy issues.
When to Be Concerned About Paw Hits
Signs of Aggressive Hitting
If your cat is hitting your kitten in a way that seems aggressive, with claws extended or using a lot of force, that’s a major red flag. Aggressive hitting that seems intended to harm is never acceptable. Look for hissing, growling, or other angry vocalizations.
A cat who stalks then pounces on a kitten is showing predatory behavior that could lead to injury. If the kitten cries out in pain or fear, it’s a sign the hitting is too rough. Any time you see aggressive hitting that distresses the kitten, intervene right away by gently separating the animals.
Excessive Force
Even if your cat doesn’t seem angry when batting at a kitten, the hits can still be problematic if too forceful. Swats that make the kitten stumble or fall over may be excessively rough. The cat isn’t playing nicely if the kitten seems dazed, confused, or frightened by the strength of the hits.
While some interaction and correction of a kitten’s behavior is normal, the cat should not be knocking the kitten around. That level of force is frightening and risks harming the kitten.
Injuries and Marks
Check the kitten over after paw hits for any injuries. Small scratches, puffy paw print marks, mouth injuries, and bleeding all indicate the kitten is being struck too hard. Even if the skin isn’t broken, blunt force can cause bruising and muscle damage.
Repeated blows in the same area can lead to chronic pain or lameness. Never allow hitting that leaves lasting physical marks on the kitten’s body.
Fearful Body Language
Look at the kitten’s reaction after being pawed. A kitten who is fearful or intimidated may:
- Cower or cringe when approached by the cat
- Have a lowered tail, folded back ears, or a tense body
- Hide or try to retreat from the cat
- Cry, whine, or meow fearfully when hit
These signs indicate the kitten is becoming afraid of the cat. Stop the interactions that are causing this fear response.
Defensive or Submissive Posture
Along with fear, an overly forceful cat may cause a kitten to become defensive or submissive. The kitten may react to paw hits by:
- Raising a paw to block swats
- Biting or scratching the cat
- Hissing, growling, or swiping back
- Rolling on their back or exposing their belly
- Avoiding eye contact with the cat
These self-protective reactions mean the kitten feels threatened and attacked. The situation needs to be addressed right away to prevent further escalation of aggression between the animals.
Stopping the Paw Hitting Behavior
Provide Appropriate Outlets
Giving your cat appropriate scratching posts, cat trees, and interactive toys can help redirect their energy so they are less likely to bat at the kitten (👍). Sites like ASPCA recommend vertical and horizontal scratching posts, ball tracks, and remote-controlled mice.
Rotating the toys keeps your cat engaged and lessens the temptation to play too roughly.
Keep Cats and Kittens Separated
When you can’t supervise, confine your adult cat to a separate room with their own food, water, litter box, and toys (this prevents injuries from escalating when no one is watching). Reintroduce them for short, supervised play sessions so they can become comfortable together.
Use Distraction and Redirection
If you notice swatting or aggressive body language, interrupt the behavior by offering a tasty treat, catnip-filled toy, or affection. This refocuses your cat’s energy in a positive way. Praise and reward non-aggressive interactions between the animals so they learn calm coexistence is preferable.
Clicker Training
According to the ASPCA, clicker training is very effective for modifying a cat’s rough play habits. If your cat starts getting too rowdy, click the device to grab their attention and offer a treat when they settle down. With time, the sound becomes associated with calmer behavior.
Pheromone Diffusers
| 83% | Success rate for pheromone diffusers calming aggressive cats in one study |
Feline pheromone diffusers can reduce tension between housemates by emitting chemicals similar to those released in a mother cat’s milk. The relaxing environment makes cats less likely to lash out from stress or territorial feelings. Models like Feliway are easy to find online or in pet stores.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is paw hitting normal for cats?
Paw hitting or slapping is actually quite common among cats. It’s typically seen between kittens or when an older cat is playing with a kitten. The paw hits are not intended to harm but rather to correct or discipline the kitten’s behavior.
It’s one of the ways adult cats teach proper etiquette to the young ones. So in moderation, paw hits are a normal part of social interaction and play for cats.
Should I punish my cat for hitting the kitten?
While startling, it’s best not to punish your adult cat for paw hitting the kitten. As mentioned, it’s a natural way cats communicate and set boundaries. Punishing your cat may undermine her status in the household and ability to correct the kitten’s behaviors.
Instead, distract and redirect your adult cat’s attention when the paw hits seem excessive. And make sure the kitten has a safe space to retreat if overwhelmed.
What is the right age to introduce a new kitten?
Experts generally recommend introducing a new kitten when they are at least 8 weeks old, are weaned from their mother, and have received their first vaccinations. An 8-12 week old kitten is better able to hold their own while your adult cat establishes dominance in the new hierarchy.
Kittens younger than 8 weeks may be overwhelmed. Introduce the animals slowly by keeping them separated at first. This allows them to become comfortable with each other’s presence and scents before physically interacting.
Some key tips for introducing a new kitten include:
- Have treats handy to reward friendly behavior
- Allow the animals to interact under supervision at first
- Ensure the kitten has a safe room if they need to get away
- Give your adult cat extra love and attention
With proper introduction techniques and patience, an adult cat and new kitten usually become trusting companions. But be prepared for some paw swats along the way as the kitten learns proper manners from your cat!
Conclusion
In summary, cat to kitten paw hits are typically not intended to harm when done gently. It’s simply a cat’s way of communicating boundaries, correcting behavior and establishing hierarchy.
However, aggressive hitting that seems excessive, causes injury or elicits fear requires intervention. With training, redirection and by providing appropriate outlets, you can curb this behavior.
Understanding the motivations behind this instinctive feline activity will help you determine when it’s problematic versus harmless cat-to-cat interaction.
