Kitten Behaviour & Communication Guide
Photo by Anthony De Kroon
Kittens have a few ways of communicating with other cats and their humans, from kitten body language to various kitten sounds. And if there's one thing cuter than a kitten, it's a purring kitten! Not to mention a nuzzling kitten!
But as cute as they are, these sounds and signals are used to make important things known, so are worth paying attention to. If you've ever wondered why cats behave the way they do, understanding kitten behaviour is the perfect place to start. Here are a few of the most common elements of kitten communication and what they mean.
Key takeaways
- Kittens communicate through body language, sounds, and behaviour — learning to read these signals strengthens your bond
- Many “problem” behaviours are natural instincts that need appropriate outlets, not punishment
- Positive reinforcement and consistency are the foundation of kitten behaviour training
- Good nutrition and grooming support calm, balanced behaviour and overall wellbeing
Understanding your kitten’s body language
Your kitten may not have words, but their body is always talking. From the tip of their tail to the flick of their ears, kitten body language is one of the clearest ways they tell you how they’re feeling. The trick is learning to read the whole picture — one signal on its own rarely tells the full story.
Calm, relaxed kitten body language
A content kitten is a beautiful thing to watch. Look for a loose, relaxed posture, slow blinking eyes, and a tail held softly rather than rigidly. Your kitten might stretch out on their side, expose their belly, or simply sit with their paws tucked underneath. Slow blinks are a particular compliment — it’s your kitten’s way of saying “I trust you.” Slow blink back and you’ll be speaking their language.
Fearful or anxious body language
When a kitten feels unsure, their body makes it clear. Crouching low, ears flattened sideways or back, dilated pupils, and a tail tucked tightly around the body are all signs of fear or anxiety. Your kitten might also press themselves into corners or hide behind furniture. This isn’t naughtiness — it’s a kitten asking for space and time to feel safe.
Playful body language
Play is serious business for a kitten. A playful kitten will often crouch low with their hindquarters raised, tail twitching, ears forward and eyes wide and bright. This is the classic pouncing stance — your kitten is channelling their inner hunter. Wand toys and rolling balls are perfect outlets for this energy.
Affectionate body language
When your kitten wants to show love, they have a few sweet ways of doing it. Bunting (rubbing their head against you), kneading with their front paws, rolling over, and gently exposing their belly are all signs of affection and trust. Kneading is a leftover instinct from kittenhood — it’s what kittens do to stimulate milk flow from their mother, and they carry it into adulthood as a comfort behaviour.
Do’s & Don’ts — Reading body language
| Do | Don't |
| Let a slow-blinking kitten take the lead on affection | Approach a hissing, flattened kitten — give them space |
| Offer a gentle hand for sniffing before petting | Mistake a belly exposure for an invitation to tickle — for many cats, it’s a sign of trust, not a tummy-rub request |
Understanding your kitten’s sounds
Alongside body language, kittens have a whole vocabulary of sounds. From tiny meows to rumbling purrs, each vocalisation means something — and learning to tell them apart is part of the fun of kitten behaviour.
Meowing
Meowing is the sound kittens reserve mostly for humans. A short, bright meow is often a greeting or a request for attention, while a longer, more insistent meow usually means “feed me” or “play with me.” Over time, you’ll start to recognise your own kitten’s particular meows and what each one is asking for.
Purring
A purring kitten is usually a happy one — but not always. Cats also purr to self-soothe when they are unwell, in pain, or stressed. Knowing what it means when your kitten purrs at you is all about judging the context and how they seem in more general terms. A purr during a cuddle on the couch? Contentment. A purr at the vet or while hiding? Could be self-comfort. When in doubt, look at the whole picture.
Chirping and trilling
That funny little “brrrp” sound your kitten makes? That’s a trill or chirp — a sound cats use to greet each other and their favourite humans. You’ll often hear it when your kitten spots you across the room or sees a bird out the window. It’s an excited, friendly sound, and one of the sweetest in the feline repertoire.
Hissing and growling
Hissing and growling are warning sounds. They mean your kitten feels threatened, cornered, or fearful. Never punish a hissing kitten — they’re asking for space, and the best response is to back off and let them calm down. Hissing usually settles once the perceived threat is removed.
Yowling
Yowling is a longer, louder, more distressed sound than a meow. It can signal pain, distress, mating behaviour, or a serious health issue. If your kitten starts yowling suddenly or persistently, it’s worth a vet check to rule out anything medical.
What causes certain behaviours?
To understand kitten behaviour, it helps to look beyond the behaviour itself and ask what’s driving it. Kittens don’t act out of spite or naughtiness — they act on instinct, need, and experience. Here’s a deeper look at what’s really going on.
Instinct and predatory drives: Pouncing, stalking, biting, and climbing aren’t “bad” behaviours — they’re a kitten doing exactly what nature designed them to do. Kittens are tiny hunters in training, and those instincts need an outlet.
Developmental stages: The socialisation window (roughly 2–7 weeks) shapes a kitten’s confidence around humans and other animals. During adolescence (around 3–6 months), play aggression and boundary-testing are common as your kitten matures.
Environmental factors: Changes in routine, new people, other pets, moving house, or a lack of stimulation can all shift behaviour. Kittens thrive on predictability and enrichment.
Communication of needs: Often, a behaviour is simply a kitten telling you what they need — hunger, boredom, wanting attention, or a litter box that needs cleaning.
Health-related changes: Sudden changes in behaviour — hiding more, eating less, becoming withdrawn or aggressive — can signal pain or illness. When behaviour changes quickly, a vet visit is always a wise first step.
Common triggers for behaviour changes:
- Under-stimulation or boredom
- Insufficient play outlets for predatory energy
- Sudden environment changes (moving, new pets, new people)
- Inconsistent routines
- Teething (especially biting behaviour in young kittens)
- Separation from littermates too early
Common kitten behaviour problems and how to fix them
Even the sweetest kitten can develop habits that leave their humans scratching their heads. The good news? They’re all manageable with a little patience and the right approach. For every common kitten behaviour problem, there’s a gentle, positive way to guide your kitten toward better habits — the key is redirection, consistency, and rewarding the behaviour you want to see more of.
Biting and nipping
- Why it happens: Play instinct and teething — common during play and in young kittens; can become a habit if accidentally rewarded with attention or reaction
- How to fix it: Redirect to toys, avoid using hands as playthings, provide chew-safe toys, and reward gentle play. If your kitten bites during play, stop the interaction immediately and offer a toy instead.
Excessive meowing
- Why it happens: Usually attention-seeking or communicating an unmet need like hunger or boredom
- How to fix it: Make sure your kitten’s needs (food, water, clean litter, play) are met on a predictable schedule. Avoid rewarding demanding meows with food or attention — wait for a quiet moment to respond.
Scratching furniture
- Why it happens: Natural claw maintenance and territory marking — needs appropriate outlets like scratch posts
- How to fix it: Provide sturdy scratch posts near the furniture your kitten favours. Reward use of the post, and use furniture protectors or double-sided tape on off-limits spots.
Rough play / play aggression
- Why it happens: Pent-up predatory energy, often from under-stimulation; stalking and attacking hands or feet is often the result of using hands as toys
- How to fix it: Schedule daily interactive play sessions with wand toys. Never use hands or feet as toys — this teaches kittens that attacking humans is a game.
Litter box avoidance
- Why it happens: Stress, medical issues, or an unclean or unsuitable litter box
- How to fix it: Keep the box clean, ensure it’s the right size, and place it somewhere quiet and accessible. If the problem persists, rule out medical causes with a vet visit.
Early-morning wake-ups
- Why it happens: Kittens are most active at dawn and dusk
- How to fix it: A late-evening play session followed by a meal can help your kitten sleep through the night. Resist the urge to reward 5am meows with food or attention.
Climbing and jumping where they shouldn’t
- Why it happens: Natural exploration and exercise instinct that needs safe outlets
- How to fix it: Provide a cat tree or tall scratching post for climbing, clear high shelves of breakables, and redirect your kitten to appropriate perches with treats and toys.
Do’s & Don’ts — Fixing behaviour problems
| Do | Don't |
| Use wand toys and puzzle feeders to channel energy | Punish or yell — this creates fear and damages trust |
| Reward calm behaviour with treats and affection | Reward demanding meows with food or attention on the kitten’s terms |
A well-fed kitten is a calmer, more settled kitten. Choosing the right kitten food supports healthy growth and balanced energy levels, which can reduce restlessness and attention-seeking behaviour. When your kitten’s nutritional needs are met, you may notice fewer “I’m hungry” meows and more content, purring moments.
Behaviour training
When we say “behaviour training” for kittens, we don’t mean obedience like you’d expect with a dog. Kitten training is really about positive reinforcement — guiding your kitten toward good habits by rewarding the behaviours you want and gently redirecting the ones you don’t.
Litter box training: Most kittens take to the litter box naturally, especially if they learned from their mother. Set them up for success with a low-sided box in a quiet spot, kept clean and accessible.
Scratch post training: Place scratch posts near areas your kitten already likes to scratch. Encourage use with catnip or toys, and reward them when they use it.
Bite inhibition: Teach gentle play by withdrawing attention the moment biting happens. Your kitten learns that gentle play keeps the fun going, while biting ends it.
Name recognition and simple cues: You can teach your kitten to come when called using treats and a consistent cue. Keep it fun, short, and rewarding.
Handling and socialisation: Gentle, regular handling builds confidence. Get your kitten used to being touched on paws, ears, and belly — this makes vet visits and grooming much easier down the track.
Quick training tips:
- Keep sessions short (2–5 minutes)
- Use high-value treats as rewards
- Be consistent with cues and gestures
- End on a positive note
Do’s & Don’ts — Behaviour training
| Do | Don't |
| Reward the behaviour you want to see more of | Use spray bottles or physical punishment |
| Keep training sessions short and positive | Expect perfection — kittens are learning, just like us |
Grooming
Grooming isn’t just about keeping your kitten looking adorable — it’s also a bonding ritual and a chance to check in on their health. Starting early helps your kitten see grooming as a normal, even enjoyable, part of life.
Brushing: Short-haired kittens benefit from a weekly brush, while long-haired kittens may need grooming every couple of days to prevent tangles and mats. Brushing removes loose fur, reduces hairballs, and keeps the coat healthy.
Nail trimming: Trim the tips of your kitten’s claws every couple of weeks. Use proper cat nail clippers, avoid the quick (the pink part), and pair the experience with treats so it stays positive.
Ear and eye cleaning: Gentle, occasional checks are usually enough. Wipe away any discharge with a soft, damp cloth, and contact your vet if you notice redness, odour, or persistent discharge.
Bathing: Most kittens rarely need a bath — cats are fastidious self-groomers. If a bath is necessary, use cat-safe products and keep the experience calm and warm.
Grooming as bonding: Regular grooming sessions are a wonderful way to build trust and check for lumps, bumps, skin issues, or parasites early.
Quick grooming tips:
- Start grooming early so your kitten sees it as normal
- Keep sessions short and positive
- Pair with treats and gentle praise
- Check skin, ears, and teeth while you groom
Grooming time is also a great moment to check in on your kitten’s overall health and nutrition. Learn more about kitten nutrition to keep your growing cat thriving.
How to communicate with kittens
Not sure how to communicate with kittens? Don’t fret, you don’t need to learn how to meow! Communicating with your kitten is all about body language, tone of voice, and patience.
Why not try the following things to start interacting with your new feline pal?
- Get down to their level — sitting on the floor makes you less intimidating and more inviting
- Offer a relaxed hand for them to sniff before you reach to pat
- Use slow blinks to show you’re friendly and non-threatening
- Keep playtime and cuddle time on a gentle, predictable rhythm
There’s no shame in talking to your kitten. In fact, it’s a great way to bond with your furry friend! Just make sure your tone and body language match the context. A higher-pitched, happy voice (the baby voice you naturally adopt for cute kittens) is great for showing affection and praise, whereas a firmer tone works for setting boundaries. It’s also important to be consistent when making commands by using the same words and gestures.
Discover more information in our guide to cat communication.
Choosing the right kitten food
Good behaviour and good nutrition go paw in paw. What your kitten eats fuels their growth, energy, and even their mood — so choosing the right kitten food is one of the kindest things you can do for them. Look for food that is complete and balanced for kittens, rich in quality protein, and appropriate for their life stage.
A predictable feeding routine also helps support calm, settled behaviour — your kitten knows when to expect dinner, which means fewer “feed me” meows and more content purring. Explore the WHISKAS® kitten range to find the right fit for your growing cat and discover more kitten care tips in our helpful guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Kitten Care Articles
Your kitten's diet
Just like their big cat cousins, your kitten is a true carnivore. Their teeth, tongue and digestive system are all specially designed for eating meat. So to meet their natural nutritional needs, it’s important to get their diet just right.As a carnivore, your kitten needs lots of protein, and a complex balance of nutrients. Also, because your kitten is growing so fast, they need different levels of certain nutrients than an adult cat – including the right ratio of calcium to phosphorus.ProteinProtein is essential for your kitten's healthy growth, muscle tone, fur, skin and claws. Proteins are built from smaller units called amino acids. Some of these – such as taurine and arginine – are called essential amino acids, which means your kitten can’t produce them themselves. So you’ll need to provide them in their diet.Essential fatty acidsYour kitten needs essential fatty acids to help keep their skin, coat, reproductive system and metabolism healthy. They’re an important source of energy – and they also make their meals taste great!VitaminsVitamins are essential for your kitten's vision, bone growth and metabolism. There are lot of different vitamins, and each one has a very specific role. So if your kitten cuts their paw, one vitamin will help stop the bleeding while another will help repair the skin.MineralsMinerals give your kitten strong teeth and bones. The major minerals they need include calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, chloride and magnesium. You’ll find all these, in exactly the right amounts, in a complete kitten food.Carbohydrates and fibreYour kitten uses carbohydrates as an energy source. In addition, dietary fibre will help their digestive system.In addition to nutritional food it is important to provide your cat with the correct milk. WHISKAS® cat milk will give your cat a complete and balanced diet with all the proteins and nutrients they need to grow up to be a healthy, happy cat.
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How often should I feed my kitten?
Kittens start life with a tiny stomach, about the size of a human thumbnail. However, their bodies develop at such a rapid rate that they require different amounts of nutrition during specific growth phases. In this article, WHISKAS answers some common questions kitten owners have around how often they should feed their kittens and how much wet or dry food to give them. Can you overfeed a kitten? From a kitten’s first few weeks of life up until they reach four months, their metabolism is at its all-time high as they are constantly growing and using larger amounts of nutrients. It’s almost impossible to overfeed your kitten during this time. However, keep in mind that feeding kittens should be done frequently but in small amounts throughout the day, in order not to overload their tiny stomachs. How often should I feed my kitten? Newborn to seven weeks oldFrom the time that they are born, up until they are seven weeks old, kittens should be getting plenty of nutrition from their mothers’ milk. As long as their mother is eating a healthy diet, cat milk is the best kitten food over this period. In the case that your kitten’s mother is not able to feed their kittens during this time, you should feed the kittens about eight times a day at regular intervals, using cat milk from a small bottle. Take care not to substitute cat milk with cow’s milk because cats have difficulty digesting lactose. At two weeks old your kitten’s baby teeth should start coming in, then by three to four weeks they may want to try bites of solid food, which is a good time to get them familiarised with a food bowl. If you’re unsure about weaning your kitten off cat milk, ask a vet for advice.Two to four months oldBy eight weeks old your kitten should have all their baby teeth and be weaned off cat’s milk. Wet kitten food is best to start out with while their stomach and teeth are still tender. When your kitten is over three months old, you should add one and a half pouches of kitten wet food to their daily diet of four to five meals. If your kitten is ready for a mixture of wet and dry food, reduce the amount of wet food to between half a pouch and one pouch (one pouch = 100 grams). Then feed fifteen to twenty grams of kitten dry food accordingly.Four months to six months oldAt four months old a kitten is growing rapidly and requires more energy from their food. Increase the kitten wet food pouches to two and a half to three times a day, and reduce the number of meals in a day to four or five. When feeding kittens a mixed diet at this age, reduce the amount of wet food to two pouches and give fifteen to twenty grams of kitten dry food.Six months to twelve months old From six months, your kitten’s growth rate will slow down, meaning their nutritional requirements change. The number of meals per day can be decreased to two to four. Feed your kitten three pouches of kitten wet food per day or in a mixed diet, only two pouches and twenty to twenty-five grams of kitten dry food. Can kittens eat dry food only?Considering kittens’ baby teeth are small and tender, it can be difficult for your young kitten to eat dry food only. Kittens have two sets of teeth: baby teeth and adult teeth. Their baby teeth start showing at two weeks old and fully come in at eight weeks old. At four months old, kittens’ adult teeth start coming in and should be fully grown in by around six months old. While dry food has advantages such as being more convenient to serve, not spoiling as fast as wet food and helping to remove plaque on adult teeth, it also has disadvantages. For example, cats often become dehydrated because they do not think about drinking as often as they should. All cats have different food preferences including texture and favourite flavours, so if your kitten prefers dry food then you can feed them a dry food diet, as long as you make sure they are getting the right amount of nutrition their body needs. For two months and upwards, WHISKAS recommends that kittens get two-thirds of their daily calories from kitten wet food and one-third from kitten dry food. However, if you prefer to feed your kitten dry food only, always provide fresh drinking water for your kitten. To make dry food easier and more appealing to eat, mix it with a little fresh water and warm it up slightly to make it mushier and bring out the aromas. It’s also good to mix in a little fresh water if your kitten is not drinking enough from their water bowl. For further advice on achieving the best kitten food diet, contact a vet. Can kittens eat cat food?Before your kitten reaches adult age, you should not feed them cat food, as the nutritional balance won’t be right. However, at one year old, your feline friend no longer needs kitten food. You should wean them onto adult cat food to ensure they get nutritionally balanced meals every day.
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Kitten-proofing your home
Your kitten is a born explorer. By allowing them to explore their environment, you’ll help them establish a safe and secure territory. Their naturally inquisitive nature can also get them into scrapes, so keep your eyes open for potential dangers, such as:Open windowsFood left out in the kitchenBoiling saucepans and kettlesSharp knivesPoisonous houseplants (including lilies, ivies, philodendrons and poinsettias)Breakable ornamentsOpen fires and chimneysDetergents and chemicalsPlastic bagsElectrical equipment and cablesOpen washing machine and tumble drier doorsOpen toiletsChildren and unfriendly other petsAccidents happenHowever careful you are, your brave little adventurer may still get themselves into trouble. In the wild, their big cat cousins would naturally hide to lick their wounds and stay away from predators, so bear this in mind if you can’t find them and you think they may be hurt.In the case of an accident, keep your kitten calm with soothing words and gentle stroking, and take them to the vet straight away. Remember to keep your vet’s number handy so you can reach them quickly in an emergency.
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Kitten development: when does a kitten become a cat?
Kittens have an incredibly rapid period of growth and development in their first few weeks of life. They are born with the eyes and ears closed. They cannot walk but they crawl on their tummies and rely on their developing sense of smell to find Mum and feed from them.By 2 weeks of age, the kitten’s eyes have opened.By 3 weeks of age, the kitten’s ear canal has fully opened.By 4 weeks of age, the kitten can eliminate urine and faeces on their own, before this, they rely on the mum to stimulate them to excrete their waste. Their needle sharp deciduous (or milk teeth / baby teeth) are erupting through the gums.By 4 weeks of age, the kittens are starting to explore their surroundings a little wider away from mum and interact properly with their littermates. They are showing an interest in mum’s food and can now start to be weaned onto kitten food.Between 8-12 weeks of age, the kittens are old enough to have their vaccinations and to leave mum to go to their new home.By 4 months old, the deciduous teeth start to fall out as they are replaced by adult teeth. The kitten will have a full set of adult teeth by about 7 months old.At 5-6 months the kitten is old enough to be spayed or neutered.Kittens can start to look like adult cats by 6 months of age thus they need nutritional support for optimum health and development during their growth phase which lasts 12 months. We recommend that a kitten is fed specially tailored complete and balanced kitten food until they are 12 months of age, this is when they are considered an adult and can be fed adult cat food. Kitten care: Things to do to before you get your kitten.Register with a vetBuy a cat carrierBuy a bed, food and water bowls (buy shallow ones, cats don’t like deep dishes), litter tray, toys, brushes / combs.Buy kitten foodBuy a break-safe collar and have an identity disc made with your cat’s address details on itPrepare your home:Secure any trailing wiresEnsure all toxic plants, human foods, medicines, cleaning chemicals are out of the kitten’s reachCreate a scratching post or an area that it is ok for the kitten to fulfil its natural instinct to scratchSet aside a private area for the kitten to feel safe using a litter trayPlace food and water bowls in separate locations, cats don’t naturally like to eat and drink from the same areaCreate an area where your kitten can have peace and quiet and feel safe, such as a cardboard on its side, to the cat this is a safe haven, like a cave to retreat to.Litter tray: In the wild, big cats are careful about keeping clean. That’s why they don’t eat and go to the toilet in the same place. Kittens are no different, please keep the litter tray well away from the places where the cat eats and drinks. When you bring your kitten home:Book an appointment with the vet for:A health checkTo complete vaccination coursesFor flea and worming treatmentsMicrochipping is advisable so that you can be reunited if your cat gets lost
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