Attack or play?

[slvrwhispr]

Izzy's an estimated eight weeks old now... and she's totally nuts. One minute she'll be purring and snuggling up to you, the next she'll be biting your fingers and swiping claws at your head.

I thought I had some sort of ideas on how to discipline a small cat -- disengage them, give them toys to play with instead, firm no, time out -- but none of it seems to work. I was sitting on the couch watching television and Izzy was walking on the back of the couch. I turned to look at her, didn't even make any noise, and she swatted me in the forehead with claws out. I yelped, 'cause it hurt, and she ran under the couch... then ran back onto the couch, bit my hand, and ran back under. So I gathered a few of her toys and tried to get her to play with them, but she kept attacking my feet instead.

What should I do? I don't know how to handle a kitten with this much energy. I'm pretty sure it's just play to her, but none of the methods I'm aware of for teaching her that claws and teeth are unacceptable, seem to be working. Gimme some suggestions! Thanks.

[Ash]

This is the time when normally mommy would teach them some respect and set boundaries. If I was you I would try to imitate mother cat behaviour as best as possible. Give her a little slap on the head (of course not so that it hurts!) because that's what cat moms do. They also put a paw right in their face when they get too much. Or grab her by the neck which leaves her no choice but admit defeat. Cat mothers can look quite brutal with their kids but they never really hurt them.

[slvrwhispr]

Heh. I had to scruff her to get her in the bathroom for time-out, but it cost me a few bites and scratches to get at her. She's seriously like two different cats, loving to no end one minute, then totall out of her mind the next. I'm just banking on the fact that she'll calm down as she gets older.

I'll try being a little more firm with her. I just don't want her to be afraid of me, y'know?

[Ash]

Yes, I understand. You have to be firm but not harsh. Not always easy. I found that with my cats a loud "Sshh!!" works wonders. They hate that sound and immediately stop biting etc.

[Traci]

At 8 weeks, she is too young to be expected to learn the "rules" too fast, this takes time and patience. She is also expending alot of energy and using her natural-borne traits to "stalk, hunt, kill her prey", that being your hands, your feet, etc. It is normal behavior and should subside in time.

Try using a squirt bottle combined with a stern vocal "NO", at those times, and nothing more. It may take several attempts to teach her your hands are not chew toys, but at those moments, immediately use the squirt bottle with a short squirt, say "NO" and immediately divert her attention to something else. (use a small stuffed animal she can play with)

[slvrwhispr]

Thanks. Ash's "SHHH!" actually works pretty well. I don't know why, but she stops what she's doing, turns and looks at me, nuzzles my cheek, then runs off to play. *shrug* If it works! lol

[Ash]

That's amazing. Somehow they just hate that sound. If it works it's certainly better than having water all over your carpet and furniture