Last Updated: 06/05/2026
Kitten behaviour: What's normal vs what's not
Having a new kitten can be exciting and overwhelming all at once. They seem cute and friendly one second and the next they are biting your hand. Let's discover what kitten behaviour is normal and what is not.
Author: Dr Angie Armstrong BVSc
Reading Time: 10 minutes - short read
Believe it or not, cats aren’t just small dogs and when it comes to kittens, their behaviour can feel a little confusing, even chaotic, especially for first time kitten parents. In this article we are going to break down kitten behaviour - the normal, the abnormal and the plain weird!
Bringing a new kitten home is incredibly exciting, but they can sometimes seem like little aliens! One minute they are fast asleep, and the next they are bouncing off the walls. It’s worth understanding what is normal kitten behaviour and the way your kitten is thinking and why they behave the way they do. By doing this, a close bond can be formed as well as the possibility of training out destructive behaviours.
This guide will break down what are normal kitten antics, flag potential kitten behaviour problems and help you set up the perfect home environment for a well-adjusted cat.
Decoding normal kitten behaviour
Kittens will communicate with people in a number of ways. By reading their body language, listening to the sounds they make, and understanding what is normal behaviour, they can tell us what they need from us.
Kittens can give a number of behavioural cues by using their body language to indicate their mood. By understanding each change in behaviour, we can learn what to provide the kitten with such as space, playtime or food.
Let’s look at some quirky, but completely healthy behaviours kittens do as they develop.
The Zoomies
Scientifically this behaviour is known as Frenetic Random Activity Periods (FRAPs). While this activity may look amusing or puzzling, it actually serves an important purpose for your cat. Zoomies are short and intense bursts of energy characterised by erratic movements such as running fast or running in circles or leaping onto furniture. These periods are often brief in nature and are more common in kittens than older cats. Zoomies are a normal behaviour and serve as a natural outlet for energy and heightened emotions. In cats, they often coincide with their natural hunting instincts and are most common during dawn and dusk when felines are naturally more active.
This playful behaviour can also be a representation of pent up energy or a cat that is not getting enough mental stimulation.
Vet Tip: Never try to pick up a zooming kitten; let them safely burn off the energy!
Vocalisations
Cats meow as a means of communication with humans. It is commonly observed in young kittens as a way to seek their mother’s attention. Vocalisation from your kitten could have a number of different meanings and it will depend on the context, tone or length. For example, a meow could indicate your kitten is hungry, or it could be a simple greeting or it could indicate they would like to play. Some cats may be more vocal than others and some breeds like the Siamese can be very vocal.
So how do we know what is normal and what may be excessive vocalisation? A lot of the time vocalisation will be normal but it may also be the sign of a medical problem. If your kitten or cat suddenly seems to vocalise more than they usually do, it can be useful to determine when it is occurring. The tone of the meow may change, distress crying may be longer and more drawn out with high-pitched yowls or screams. Older cats can have hyperthyroidism which can cause increased vocalisation as well as certain neurological conditions. Causes of pain or discomfort can also cause cats to vocalise more so watch out for any changes in behaviour and chat to your vet if you notice an increase in vocalisation.
Sleeping
Most cats sleep between 13 to 18 hours a day, although this does depend on their personality and age. Kittens sleep even longer than this averaging 18-20 hours a day and this will aid to fuel their rapid growth during those first few months.
Cats can have nocturnal tendencies so are more likely to sleep during the day and be more active at night. If you lay with your kitten during the day and especially before bedtime, you have a better chance of keeping them asleep at night!
Read our article about : Which cat bed should I choose?
Kitten aggression vs play: Knowing the difference
You may have recently acquired a new kitten and they are adorable and you want to play with them and cuddle them, but they may bite or be aggressive and this can be challenging to encounter. You may be asking yourself is this behaviour normal?
Why does my kitten bite me?
Cats are social animals and enjoy interactions with humans in their lives. Play biting and scratching is a normal behaviour of cats as they interact and explore the world with their feet and mouth. Kittens spend a significant amount of time learning instinctual behaviours such as stalking, chasing and pouncing. When your kitten bites or scratches, withdraw your attention and redirect their focus to suitable cat toys. To prevent this behavior, make sure you never play with your hands—always use appropriate toys and schedule dedicated playtime. Be proactive and give your kitten plenty of safe ways to get that playful energy out.
The big rule is to avoid punishment like squirt bottles or verbal scolding. This just creates fear and distrust, and it doesn't actually satisfy their urge to play. We want to train them by teaching them appropriate play boundaries and promote a positive and safe environment for you and your feline companion.
How to tell play from true aggression
A crucial part of decoding your kitten's behavior is knowing how to differentiate between normal kitten play and actual aggression and this can be through learning what their body behaviour indicates. You can tell your kitten is just being playful if their ears are forward, their tail is twitching, they're performing bouncy sideways hops, or they are "soft" biting without breaking the skin. In contrast, signs of genuine aggression or fear include hissing, growling, ears pinned flat against their head, a tail puffed up, and hard biting.
How to redirect play biting
As mentioned we recommend never using hands or feet as toys. If your kitten does bite you, immediately stop the play session and say a firm “ouch” and then redirect them to an appropriate toy such as a kicker or wand toy.
Have a read of our articles: How to stop a kitten from biting and The best indoor cat toys
Kitten behaviour problems: What's NOT normal
There are certain behaviours that kittens may display that we don’t want to ignore as they may indicate a medical or behavioural issue that requires attention.
Toileting outside the litter tray
Kittens and cats will rarely eliminate outside the litter tray out of spite. Rather it indicates either a medical or behavioural concern which is leading to this behaviour. Ensure the litter tray is placed in a private area away from foot traffic as well as their food bowls and make sure there are an adequate number of litter trays available (have one litter tray plus one for each cat in the household). Keeping the tray clean will also encourage use so scoop solid waste daily and completely change the litter weekly.
If your cat is suddenly urinating or defecating outside the litter tray, it is recommended to have your cat checked out by the vet as some urinary diseases can be life threatening. If the vet rules out any medical cause, it may be a behavioural reason such as anxiety.
Extreme hiding and lethargy
A kitten will take time to adapt to their new surroundings and especially during the first few days or even weeks they may display nervous behaviour and seek hiding spots. This is an adjustment period for them and it can be stressful being away from their littermates for the first time and entering an unfamiliar environment.
If a kitten will not come out for food, even when left alone, or a normally active and playful kitten suddenly becomes lethargic, a vet check up is indicated in case there is an underlying medical or behavioural concern.
Destructive scratching
Scratching is normal marking behaviour for cats. They have scent glands on their paws for marking and scratching also removes old nails and allows the growth of new ones. If your kitten is scratching an inappropriate object, such as your couch, it is best to interrupt the behaviour and call them away and then reward them for listening and redirect to an appropriate area. To do this you want to have an appropriate scratching post or tree that they can use and you can reward them for using it by giving them treats or spraying catnip to encourage use.
Overgrooming
Kittens manage their own grooming routines and are well known for their cleanliness and grooming abilities. However cats may overgroom themselves and cause bald patches due to excessive licking. Cats can overgroom themselves due to a number of reasons, such as being itchy from fleas or an allergy, or behavioural cause like stress. Overgrooming does need to be assessed by your vet to help determine the cause and any possible treatments that may be required.
To learn more read our article : 5 Common cat behaviour problems and how to manage them
Optimising your home environment for your kitten
One of the most important aspects for preventing behaviour problems in kittens in ensuring adequate environmental enrichment.
Mental and physical enrichment
Implementing play sessions with your kitten in the morning and evening will provide routine interactions. Provide a variety of toys especially those that encourage pouncing and stalking as this will encourage exercise as well as bonding opportunities. Cats are natural grazers so providing their food in puzzles can help prevent obesity through more activity as well as providing mental stimulation with exploration and discovery.
Provide appropriate scratching outlets
Kittens like to instinctively sharpen their claws so invest in scratching posts to accommodate this. Attract them to the scratching post by spraying a pheromone spray or catnip, place their favourite toys on the scratching post and praise and reward them when they use their claws on the post. Place the scratching post where your kitten spends most of their time, and if they don’t use it try a different location.
Provide vertical space
Vertical space is a very important part of enrichment for your kitten creating areas for exploration and additional hiding spaces. Cat trees, shelves, perches and elevated hiding spaces such as window or wall hammocks are great options for creating vertical space for cats and giving them the opportunity to climb. Kittens feel more secure and safe when up high and also enjoy watching the world below them.
Calming aids
As mentioned, the initial adjustment period for your kitten in their new environment can be stressful for them. Some kittens may be more anxious than others and there are things we can provide to help make this adjustment smoother for them. Using a pheromone product like Feliway can help calm your kitten and reduce their stress levels.
FAQs
Still have questions about your kitten’s quirks? Our Pet Circle Vet Squad is here to help! Chat with us online for free, or shop our complete range of kitten essentials to set your new best friend up for success.
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History
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Fri Apr 24 2026
Written by Dr Angie Armstrong BVScDr Angie Armstrong BVSc
BVSc
Dr Angie Armstrong graduated from the University of Queensland in 2008 with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science and worked for a number of years in small animal clinics across South East Queensland.
