Rambunchious Kitten
Rambunchious Kitten
I have only been on here to find help with raising my kitten. Now I need help with something else. My kitten just turned 9 weeks old. I know he is still a baby (mine LOL), but he is just always so rough when I play with him. I was told to try the water bottle idea, the problem is it doesnt phase him. When he was about 6 weeks old, he would always follow me into the bathroom and sit on my chest while i took a bath! (Odd?) So when I squirt him with the water bottle he just sits there and trys to chase the water stream. I dont want my hands and feet to keep getting scratches and cuts on them... what do i do???
Re: Rambunchious Kitten
Use your voice and physically distance yourself in the exact moment he scratches or bites you (not after a while). Say a loud "No!" or whatever you feel works, get up and leave him, or alternatively, if you feel he's really over the top, put him in another room for about 10 minutes (not longer).
When he plays nicely with you reward him with lovey talk, cuddles, maybe a treat. He will learn to interpret your different reactions.
One good alternative I found for my Tommy, who still at 8 years of age gets pretty wild sometimes, is a stuffed toy. It deverts his attention from my hands. As soon as he tries to bite me in the heat of play I give him the toy, which he then attacks and bites. This has actually developed into one of his favourite games - the toy fight. I have to throw it over and over, and he will chase it, jump and catch it, and then bite and 'kill' it. Good exercise for him as well
Just make sure there are always toys handy.
When he plays nicely with you reward him with lovey talk, cuddles, maybe a treat. He will learn to interpret your different reactions.
One good alternative I found for my Tommy, who still at 8 years of age gets pretty wild sometimes, is a stuffed toy. It deverts his attention from my hands. As soon as he tries to bite me in the heat of play I give him the toy, which he then attacks and bites. This has actually developed into one of his favourite games - the toy fight. I have to throw it over and over, and he will chase it, jump and catch it, and then bite and 'kill' it. Good exercise for him as well
Just make sure there are always toys handy.Re: Rambunchious Kitten
Thank you for your advice.. I do loudly say "no" and he just thinks I am playing, he's either rough or sleeping on my neck! When that happens I just hear the loudest little purr box. He has toys out the wazoo. He loves to chase BellBalls. He has them scattered over the house, but the second a foot or hand moves he's wild and aggressive. Could this be the male predatorial side of him? I also read that they play rough with someone who has hand raised them because they could have played with litter mates like that? What do you think?
Re: Rambunchious Kitten
It's because he is so young and probably didn't develop social skills with his siblings....this is why kittens shouldn't be taken from their mother until at least 12 weeks of age, so that they have a good start in development, human sociability, sibling sociability.
Follow the tips Ash suggested, and be patient. Kittens naturally stalk, bite, and kill their prey...he is learning natural kitten behavior. Divert his attentions to other toys when he bites you, and be consistent. He could also be teething, in which you could provide him with a safe toy to chew on (like a small rubber dog toy)
Follow the tips Ash suggested, and be patient. Kittens naturally stalk, bite, and kill their prey...he is learning natural kitten behavior. Divert his attentions to other toys when he bites you, and be consistent. He could also be teething, in which you could provide him with a safe toy to chew on (like a small rubber dog toy)
..........Traci
it's important to give the cat toys that are designed to simulate "prey" - if you use your hands for play the cat will bite and scratch at them. when he does this, give him a toy like a play mouse - or even a rolled-up sock - something to use that he can fight with. also make sure he has a good scratching post (they make some with catnip in them, my friend's cat loves his).