Every kitten’s life is all about lounging and playing. While it seems like it’s all fun and games, in most cases, play is mostly about prey. Once kittens are aware of their tiny and quick power, they’ll play as soon as they know they can hoist themselves on their tiny paws. And sooner or later, you’ll realize you’ve got a little hunter in your home.

Although this can be quite charming and adorable at first, things can quickly go south when you don’t teach them how to play nice. Sometimes, they can be too playful and scratch your other furry family member, or in some other cases, they may even hurt you. That’s why you’ll often find cat parents showing off scratch marks as their battle scars, and while it seems funny, it’s always better to train your kitties to take it easy.

Why Keep Your Kitty’s Claws at Bay?

Aggressive playtime can be painful and with that in mind, it’s important to teach your feline friends how to play mindfully to ensure they hurt anyone in the process. This way, your kitty will learn how to socialize with other living creatures and not to see them as prey, allowing them to enjoy other people’s company, especially when they’re in an animal boarding facility.

As pet parents, you want the best for your furry loved ones because they are family too, and you can change this by training them on how to be nice. If you’re ready for some kitty training and need tips to help them play without leading to a bloody mess, keep reading!

Tips on How to Play Nice

Kittens learn how to bite from their mothers and littermates. When a kitten is separated from its family too early, it may not have the proper play behaviour, which leads to unwanted nipping — this is where you come in.

Know that you can still teach your cat the acceptable way to play. When you do this, you help them socialize better, and they can interact with other paw friends in cat boarding facilities and your home.

But when play escalates too quickly and becomes a bit rough, here are some tips that could help you:

• Avoid Letting Your Kitten Play With Your Hands or Feet: When you give them your hands and feet to play with, it gives them the wrong idea, pushing them to pounce on your hands and feet, thinking they are prey.

• Use a Fishing Pole Toy: Instead of using your hands or other body parts, consider using fishing pole toys while throwing a toy for them to chase.

• Encourage Playing with a Wrestling Toy: A great way to stay away from the first aid kit is by giving your kitties a wrestling toy to play with. These toys are often soft, so you don’t have to worry about them hurting themselves.

• Avoid Hitting Your Kittens: One of the biggest mistakes paw-parents make is to hit their little fur balls when they pounce or “play rough.” You don’t want to make them fear you, but you want to teach them how to play nice, so remember to be gentle.

• Say “No” Immediately: When you’re playing with your kitty, and they start gnawing on you, take your hand away and say no and give them a toy to play with instead.

• Take It Away: If your furry loved one starts “attacking” you during play, say no and take the toy away from them immediately. And once they’ve settled and stopped attacking you, you can return their toy to them right away.

The Bottom Line: Your Kitty Can Play, but They Should Play Nice

Encouraging your cat to play nicely can do loads to their development. They can learn how to be more social and play nicely with other family members and furry friends. When you follow these tips and practice proper cat training, you’ll encourage more mindful playing with your cats at home.

Are You Looking for Cat Boarding in Brandon, Manitoba?

If you’re looking for a place where your pet’s comfort is their priority, head over to The Paw Resort.

The Paw Resort & Wellness Centre is a family-owned 7,000 square-foot facility in Brandon, Manitoba, that offers a plethora of pet services. We provide mobile pet care services, boarding, paw spa, training classes, and more.

People trust us, and pets love us — trust us with your furry loved one today!