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Why Does My Cat Paw The Kitten? (Is This A Warning?)

If you have a kitten and noticed your resident cat pawing it you may be concerned or wondering why it happened…

Why Does My Cat Paw The Kitten?

When your adult cat paws the new kitten you’ve adopted, it means that they are establishing dominance. The adult cat in this scenario is telling the kitten who the boss is and teaching it not to encroach on the territory the cat has already marked. 

So, now you know. But, is your kitten in danger? Do kittens also do this to cats? How can you help to make them get along? Keep reading for these answers, and much more…

Is Cat Pawing The Same As Kneading?

Cat pawing is not the same as kneading, but the action might seem similar to look at. The act of kneading is an instinctual act that they’ve carried over from kitten-hood.

When cats are young, they often knead their mother’s stomach to help the milk flow from the teats. The act of kneading is similar to pawing, but it is softer and more comforting.

You might think it’s weird that an adult cat is kneading, but you should actually take it as a compliment. This behavior shows that your cat feels quite happy with you.

He or she feels warm, comforted, and loved. The cat considers you an equivalent for the love they held for their mother. Isn’t that so sweet!

If Your Car Paws Your Kitten Is It In Danger?

If your cat is pawing your kitten, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the kitten is in danger. It could be that your cat is just showcasing its dominance over the kitten and teaching the young cat but the feline hierarchy of the house. Although if the pawing is too aggressive, you might want to step in and separate them before the kitten gets hurt.

In this scenario, try using disciplinary techniques to show your cat what is the right behavior. Also, try doing some bonding exercises with your cat and kitten. Bring them closer together to show that you love and cherish both of them.

Keep an eye that the pawing doesn’t escalate to the hurting of the kitten. In this scenario, it is better to try disciplining behaviors with your adult cat. If any of your techniques don’t work, contact an animal specialist, and ask them for tips on cat behavior discipline.

What Can You Do To Help Your Cat And Kitten Become Friends?

The best go-to ways of helping your cat and kitten become friends are easy to do. Firstly, make sure that they both have their own space and territory. Keep their beds and food and little bowls in separate places.

Don’t give them catnip, as it is known to make some cats more aggressive than normal. Encourage fun activities, like giving them a ball of yarn to play with or opening a cardboard box and allowing them to go wild in it.

Lastly, yet importantly, make sure to give each of them individual attention. Cats are territorial and will not appreciate a kitten encroaching on their human.

Does The Pawing From Your Cat Hurt The Kitten?

If the pawing becomes too aggressive, then yes, it can hurt your kitten. If it’s just a normal swat to warn away the kitten, then no harm is done. If you feel that your kitten is being hurt, you should immediately remove the little cat from the situation and also calm down your adult cat.

The act of aggression can be due to many reasons like problems of territory, possessiveness of their human, a.k.a you, or a reaction to change.

If your kitten is hurt, immediately take it to the vet to make sure that the little baby is okay. To curb the aggressive pawing, make sure that you help your adult cat understand that the behavior they’ve enacted is wrong.

Make sure that the cat knows you still love them, and that will never change, but you won’t allow wrong behavior.

Do Kittens Paw Cats As Well?

A kitten can paw a cat as well. More often than not, this is a loving act. You’ll find that a kitten would knead or paw at an adult cat as a sign of affection.

For them, this act is likened to one of a child to its mother. The pawing of a kitten would be considered bad only if the kitten is aggressive or high-strung on catnip.

In this scenario, you should immediately discipline the kitten and teach it why the act was wrong. Kittens are resilient and adaptable. They’ll learn new behavior easily.

Another distinction of pawing and fighting in kittens you should know is when kittens playfully paw at their cats. This is an indication that a kitten wants to play and is trying to bait the older cat into playing.

Do Kittens Annoy Resident Cats?

Kittens do often annoy resident cats. Therefore, these cats need to be trained and carefully made used to the presence of a new cat, especially a kitten.

Cats are noble animals, often likened to royals, and like any royal, they are territorial. This is one of the first reasons that kittens annoy cats. The encroachment on the territory is frustrating for them.

Another reason why adult cats might find kittens annoying is the sheer energy that kittens possess. An older cat might sit around lazily on top of a cushion, comfy and warm all day, without needing to move.

The only reason the cat would move would be for food or to use the litter-box. A kitten, on the other hand, has unrelenting energy, like a 4-year-old child on a sugar high.

They need constant entertainment and stimulation. One of the reasons why adult cats feel annoyed with them. After all, why would a resident cat, comfortable in its position, want to run around to sniff and paw at everything. They find it above themselves.

Do Kittens Paw Their Owners Sometimes?

Kittens often paw their owners, especially if the owner or adopted human is loving and caring. If your kitten has given you the gift of pawing you, then you should feel lucky and treat that action as the gift it is. This means that you have done your job as a good kitty-parent. Your kitten feels safe with you, knows that you love him.

Once the safety and love have been established, your kitten will often paw you when they want cuddles, when they want to play, or even when they want food.

It’ll be their go-to action to get your attention. That paid with some well-intentioned mews and purrs will make sure that you know exactly why your little kitten is wanting your attention.

If A Kitten Paws Away Its Food Is That A Bad Sign?

A kitten pawing away its food is not a bad sign, and you shouldn’t worry. There are 4 top reasons why your kitten might be pawing away its food, and they are nothing to worry about. It could be that you’ve given her too much food. The kitten could also be trying to keep their food space clean since cats love grooming.

The kitten could be hiding food for later, a type of hibernating trait that female cats often have. Lastly, the kitten could be trying to hide the scent of the food from other cats in the house. It is, like all others, an instinctual act.