Just like their big cat cousins, your little kitten is a natural hunter. In fact, their instinct to hunt is so powerful that they'll do it even when they aren’t hungry.
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Stopping Your Cat Biting
While your kitten is young, all those little nips are really just playfulness.
That’s because, in the wild, big cats never know when their next meal is coming from. Like them, your kitten is always on standby, ready and waiting for prey to come along.
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Bringing home prey
Like all big cats who live in the wild, your adorable little kitten is actually a formidable hunter.The main reason your kitten brings prey back home is to finish their hunt.
Hunting and catching prey is a big part of their natural behaviour, so there’s a good chance that your feline friend will sometimes like to bring their prey home.
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Getting the most out of playtime
Your cute little kitten is ready to hunt at all times. If they pick up the right combination of movement and sound, they'll find it hard to resist pouncing.
Play is an essential daily activity – especially for indoor cats.
It's a great idea to indulge this natural instinct so they don't start pouncing on you, your clothes or your furniture!
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Fun at feeding time
Your kitten loves to play, even at mealtimes. By livening things up a bit, you’ll stimulate your kitten’s natural hunting instincts and strengthen the bond you’re building with them.
Activities like these are a great way to make sure your kitten stays fit, active and healthy.
Feeding time fun
• Fill a plastic bottle with some Whiskas® Kitten Dry, leaving the lid off or cutting a small hole in the side so the dry biscuits fall out as your kitten plays with it
• Place some dry food in a brown paper bag and loosely close the end
• Put some dry food in a feeding ball"
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Types of Cat Flaps
Your little kitten has a natural instinct to protect both themselves and their territory. To begin with, therefore, they may see a cat flap as a hole in their “home defences”. It’s up to you to help them out, and give them the confidence to use it.
A basic cat flap is inexpensive and easy to install.
Getting your kitten used to the cat flap
• Fit the cat flap at the right height for your kitten to step through – this is usually about 6cm above the bottom of the door
• To begin with, prop open the cat flap slightly and tempt your kitten through it with treats and food
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Using A Cat Carrier
Your little kitten only needs their cat carrier when they have to go somewhere – perhaps to the vet or cattery. All the same, it’s a good idea to keep it out permanently, so your kitten comes to recognise it as a normal part of their world.
Try putting something inside the carrier that smells of them– like a blanket or toy.
Selecting the right carrier
The main questions to consider before you buy a carrier are:
• How easy is it to clean?
• How easy it is to get your kitten in or out?
• How safe will your kitten feel in the carrier?
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Dealing With Aggressive Cats
In the wild, big cats will naturally respond to threats by acting aggressively. Your kitten is no different. However, you might find your kitten acts aggressively even when there’s no reason for them to feel threatened – during playtime, for example.
Remember that your kitten is very little, and is still making sense of the world.
If this happens, don't worry – there are plenty of things you can do to restore the temper of your little feline friend!