My kitten's kneading hurts! How can I stop her sharp claws?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Cat's knead to show contentment and love, but sometimes it hurts. Kneading behavior is thought to be the sign of a content cat, although excessive kneading of a person such as when you are in bed can be aggravating for the owner. If a cat is kneading it's paws into a person it is thought to mean that the cat is not only comfortable with you, but may have adopted you as a mother figure. Keeping her nails trimmed regularly can help make this less painful. Or gently move/redirect her to a more comfortable location when we does this.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The opening or kneading of the claws when happy or being pet is normal in cats. It DOES hurt if their claws are on your leg. Keep the nails short. You probably are not going to be able to teach him not to do something that is instinctual. If he starts to bite you then stop petting him and watch for clues from him that he has had enough petting: ears turning back, turning to look at your hand, tail flicking and stop touching him before he goes to bite. Try not to yell no at him if that triggers biting. Kittens are full of energy and they grow out of it eventually. Provide lots of toys and play time. Soon enough he will be a sleepy adult cat and you'll miss the hyper kitten! Have a good day!

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Unfortunately no. I would keep her nails trimmed, cutting them every 2-3 weeks. You can cover your bed with a blanket to protect your good bed cover. And you can apply nail caps. Other options is to keep her off the bed with noise deterrents. Kneading is a natural behavior for cats. https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/soft-claws-clear-cat-nail-caps I wish you the best!

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Kittens are very rambunctious creatures and require A LOT of stimulation to keep them entertained and tire them out. I recommend playing with toys that you can dangle from a distance from Woozy so he can't scratch or bite you. You can also shine a laser pointer around a room and he probably won't be able to resist chasing it. It is also very normal for kittens (and even adult cats) to "suckle" or "make biscuits" as some call it. This is when they bite and suckle on something like a blanket and knead with their paws. There are different theories as to why cats do this. Some think it is because they were weaned too soon. But another, more commonly accepted theory, is that this behavior is very comforting to cats, since it mimics them nursing on their mother. If he wants to suckle on your or your clothing, I recommend just giving him a blanket instead. I hope this is helpful!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Getting appropriate toys and scratching posts/mats can help tremendously is giving your little guy something GOOD to scratch. You can also use human nail clippers for a kitten this size to help blunt the tips. (Added bonus, he will tolerate it better when its time for the vet to examine his feet or trim his nails!) As he grows, you’ll have to graduate to a veterinary nail clipper. Best wishes to you and Oliver!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Shadowcat. Have you tried a product known as Soft Paws? They are soft caps that can be glued onto the nails. If you are unable to apply them at home, your veterinarian will be able to do so for you. I think it would definitely be worth a try! Good luck.

I see that Missy is 2 months old now. The activities that Missy is doing sound normal, but their teeth and nails are certainly sharp at that age. First, I would make sure to learn how to trim her nails and keep them short. I normally recommend trimming kittens' nails weekly because they grow so quickly. That will help quite a bit. Next, I would work on environmental enrichment for her to keep her mentally and physically busy. This website has a number of good ideas for that. https://indoorpet.osu.edu/cats One of my favorite things for cats is a no bowl feeding system like Doc & Phoebe ( https://docandphoebe.com/ ) that requires them to "hunt" for their food. You could also try a feeding ball. I also recommend using laser pointers and interactive cat toys like a Cat Dancer ( http://www.catdancer.com/ ) to get cats to play with you more appropriately. They key is to teach Missy new ways of playing with you that get her energy out, but do not hurt you! Good luck! I hope that was helpful and gives you some ideas. Thanks for using PetCoach.