If your cat is exhibiting aggression and you don’t know if it is play aggression or aggression due to a serious illness, you should get it checked out by a veterinarian.
Avoid yelling, which could make matters worse.
Avoid picking up or moving your cat after they exhibit bad behavior since your touch could indicate a reward for the bad behavior. If your cat acts out very briefly and you don’t want to end the play session, you can use a short, five-second timeout. Your cat will realize that the biting or scratching results in the loss of their playmate. After five seconds, you can resume the play session. If the aggressive behavior continues, you should end the play session. [7] X Research source Some cats only like to be played with and pet in a certain way. If your cat won’t stop biting and scratching, try changing how you play with it and see if that helps.
If kittens are not given sufficient time to socialize with littermates and their mother, they may never learn how to play nicely. [9] X Trustworthy Source The Humane Society of the United States National organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfare Go to source A lot of social development happens between the second and seventh week of a cat’s life, but it isn’t until the six-month mark that cats start to really understand the social hierarchy in a household. If you get two kittens of about the same age, they will learn how to play nicely with each other. They will understand the pain inflicted by a bite or a scratch, as well as how to reduce such pain by playing nicely. [10] X Research source
You could also use wrestling type toys, such as furry animals that your cat can pretend to hunt and tackle.
Regular playtime can help strengthen the bond between you and your cat.
