My 4-month-old kitten bites and scratches when I pet her. How to stop?

Question

Lily is 4 months old and tries to bite me and scratch me when she is purring how do I stop her from biting and scratching me? Lily is the white cat with patches. Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Female | spayed | 4 months and 1 day old | 10.4 lbs

Jessica Desrosiers · Accepted Answer

Cats can often get hyperstimulated when being pet, and in response may lash out by biting or scratching suddenly seemingly out of nowhere. In most cases, they will give subtle signs beforehand such as tail flicking, ear flattening, stiffening of the body, etc. It's best to avoid being bit or scratched by stopping petting if you notice these signs, or if Lily seems to be getting too worked up. Letting her calm down and then approach you on her own after can help ensure she is calm enough to pet again. You can also try to redirect her kitten behavior/energy by offering her a toy to pounce and chew on/hold in her mouth while being pet, or play with a distance toy such as a laser pointer or feather on a stick to get out the extra energy before a cuddle session.

My 4-month-old kitten bites and scratches when I pet her. How to stop?

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